Sister Joan Mary McDermott (Sister Mary Prague), formally known as Joan Elizabeth McDermott, died Sunday, April 30, 2023, at St. Patrick’s Manor in Framingham, Massachusetts
She was a graduate of St. Bernard’s High School in 1952 and entered the Sisters of the Presentation on September 24, 1952. She made her final profession of vows on August 20, 1958.
Sister received a bachelor’s in English from Regina Coeli College and a master’s in religious education from Fairfield University. She furthered her studies with the Catholic Hospital Association in ministry to the aging and Infirm and completed studies at the Catholic Hospital Association Hospice Institute.
Her ministries included: teaching primary grades at St. Bernard’s & Sacred Heart (Fitchburg), St. Leo’s (Leominster), St. Mary’s (Ayer), St. John’s & Holy Rosary (Clinton), St. Patrick’s (Whitinsville), St. Stephen’s (Worcester), Massachusetts, and St. Catherine’s (Riverside), Connecticut. Sister Joan spent seven years caring for the sisters at Holy Family Convent Infirmary (Fitchburg).
Sister extended her work with the Presentation Sisters, serving the poor in Mexico, Jamaica and Trinidad.
She followed a path as adult religious faith formation at the Christian Life Center in Keene, New Hampshire, and St. Rose of Lima as pastoral assistant in Northboro, Massachusetts.
In 2016 she was awarded the Retirement Fund for Religious Award in the Diocese of Worcester.
Besides her Presentation community, Sister Joan leaves her sisters Bonita Brennan and Patricia Stone, as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family.
She is predeceased by her parents Lydia (Jacobson) McDermott and Joseph McDermott, and her siblings Agnus Grainger, Barbara Grainger, Theresa Goguen, Elizabeth Hunt, and Joseph.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Curley-Marchand Funeral Home, West St, Leominster, Massachusetts.
A calling hour will be held May 4, 2023, prior to the funeral at 9:30 a.m. at St. Leo’s Church, Main St., Leominster, Massachusetts. The funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m.
Burial will follow at St. Bernard’s Cemetery, Fitchburg.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Sisters of the Presentation, 84 Presentation Way, New Winsor, NY 12553