Joan Holliday (1934-2024)

Sister Joan Holliday was born in Wenatchee, Washington, to Helen Josephine (Stadler) and Virgil Malone Holliday on April 4, 1934. Though not a baptized Catholic, she encountered the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Peace at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Wenatchee and toyed with the idea of becoming a sister from an early age. Sister Joan was encouraged in discerning her vocation by Sister Stephen McBride, CSJP, who was nursing at St. Anthony’s Hospital during those years. She was baptized in Saint Joseph Church in Wenatchee in July of 1951 and was confirmed the following year in the same parish.

Sister Joan entered the novitiate in Bellingham, Washington, and pronounced first vows in March of 1956. Her first assignment as a teacher was at Sacred Heart School in Bellevue, Washington. Recognized by all as a master teacher, Sister Joan filled assignments in several schools in Washington and California. But, after twenty years of teaching in community-sponsored schools, Sister Joan wanted to contribute financially to her parents’ retirement years. To do that successfully, she applied for and received a dispensation from vows in 1976. For the next 14 years, she taught at Burlington-Edison High School in Burlington, Washington, where, again, she was recognized as an outstanding teacher. Sister Joan reentered the community on November 22, 1988, and pronounced final vows in June of 1993.

Throughout her life, Sister Joan was deeply interested in government and leadership. For years, she held an active role in community chapters and assemblies. She was a member of the Board of the League of Women Voters and, in retirement, the “go to” person when an explanation of a voting issue was needed. Sister Joan explained but always left the decision to the individual.

Sister Joan was a deep thinker and always ready to inquire into any new idea. She loved scripture and often on days when we had poetry sessions, her contribution would be a poetic translation of one of her favorite psalms.

At St. Mary-on-the-Lake, Sister Joan contributed her gifts as master gardener by adding to the beauty of the grounds in many ways, always making sure that each season had its own flowering grace. Her cooking skills were in great demand, not only on festive occasions, but on a regular basis. And, quite frequently, teams of workers, who came in to do a special project, found a special treat waiting for them at break time. Sister Joan also enjoyed sewing beautiful, colorful pill-box hats to match to her daily attire.

Sister Joan Holliday died at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue on April 18, 2024. She was buried in Holyrood Cemetery, Shoreline, Washington, on May 15, 2024.