Life is changed not ended

Sr Joan Marie Mack nds

Born 27 April 1944, Entered eternal life 25 June 2023

Eulogy given by Sr Mary Barbuto nds 

We gathered together to farewell Joan because our lives had been touched and enriched by Joan in many ways.

Joan enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles, and, in a sense, all of us who gathered at Joan’s recent Requiem Mass are a piece of the jigsaw that, if put together would reflect the many dimensions of Joan’s life.    

Joan joined the Congregation in February 1967 at the age of 23 and made her first commitment in May 1969.  Over the years Joan’s faith and relationship with God has been nurtured through her daily prayer and her consistent outreach to those in need.

As a consequent of growing up with parents who were always doing something for other people, either in the school community, the neighbourhood or through St. Vincent de Paul, Joan learned to care for others especially those who were vulnerable. 

Her love of and concern for elderly people had its origins in her Nan – her maternal grandmother – who, in her later years lived with her family. This concern for the welfare of others led Joan to begin to study nursing at Sacred Heart Hospital in Moreland where she graduated as a registered nurse and midwife.  Joan’s long-term dream of caring for elderly people, and in particular our aging sisters, was about to begin. In subsequent years she has been the primary carer for most of our sisters, until she herself became ill two years ago.

Joan’s first appointment as a nurse was at Sacred Heart Hospital in Moreland (now known as the John Fawkner Hospital). This was followed by some 20 years of service at St. Joseph’s Tower Nursing Home where she was a Charge Nurse for most of those years. Joan was dedicated and diligent in her service of others, bringing not only physical healing but also spiritual and emotional healing to her patients and their families.  

It was Joan’s strong desire to bring healing to others that led her to further her studies and to transition to hospital pastoral care, first at St. Joseph Tower and then as a Catholic chaplain at Peter MacCallum and St. Vincent’s Hospital.

Attending a Congregation meeting in Brazil in 1996 which included an immersion experience in the work of our sisters there, an extended time at Santa Teresa Mission Station as well as   several visits to our missions in the Philippines have all contributed to Joan’s strong commitment to creating a world of justice and peace. For Joan this commitment was expressed by her many community-based involvements which included volunteering at the Aboriginal Elders Community Service, St. Vincent de Paul, Parish hospital visitation, to name a few. Until a few months ago, in her usual unassuming self-giving manner Joan was knitting tiny clothes for the Red Nose Treasured Babies Program.

Joan’s knitting bag was always close by and in between being our Province Bursar for several years and caring for our elderly sisters, she would be knitting for her craft market. For many years Joan, helped by Margaret, her sister and a small group of friends made items for the monthly craft markets that were held in local shopping centres. With the proceeds our sisters in the Philippines were able to support a community health program among urban poor, including training of health workers and providing basic equipment.

Joan was a natural home maker. She was happy cooking up tasty healthy meals or bringing ‘a surprise’ home (usually chocolate!) when she went shopping. During her last stay in hospital, she told me of her intention to do some baking for us when she came home. She valued and enjoyed the company of her family, the sisters and her friends.  She liked to mark the birthday of each sister and looked forward to preparing a simple but special afternoon tea or meal for them.  

Joan enjoyed gardening and delighted in establishing and caring for her veggie patch. Her fresh, home-grown veggies were always welcomed. A few years ago, when we returned to our newly renovated home Joan planted some daffodil bulbs. The first blooms were always eagerly expected and duly admired and placed in a prominent place in our lounge room. A couple of weeks ago Joan asked if the daffodils were up. I was able to take a photo of them just sprouting and she was pleased to see how they are multiplying. Another annual project was planting sunflower seeds. The seedlings would be carefully tendered and then be transplanted into the garden near the front gate to be shared by our neighbours and walkers passing by. 

Almost two years ago Joan was diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer. Over the past couple of years Joan underwent treatment and major surgery. The surgery took place during the second Covid lockdown. For ten long weeks Joan endured her ordeal of recovery and rehabilitation with no face-to-face contact with family, sisters, or friends. She emerged from this experience, strengthened by the experience of the Divine within sustaining her, and with a deep appreciation of the attention and care she had received from her medical team.

Joan’s profound faith and trust in God as well as her bravery and resilience have been inspirational for all of us who have been privileged to share her journey to her eternal home.

Rest in peace Joan.