Sister Joan (formerly Sister Vincent Marie) Curran, Daughter of Charity, of St. Louise House in Menands, New York, died on May 14, 2023. Sister was born April 14,1935 in Stoneham, Massachusetts to Francis and Mary (McNabb) Curran. She grew up in Melrose, Massachusetts with her sister Eleanor Brazeau and her brother Dr. Richard F. Curran. After graduation from St. Mary’s Academy, Sister Joan entered the Daughters of Charity in Emmitsburg, Maryland in December 1953.
Her first ministry was in education at Our Lady Queen of Peace School in Washington, D.C., (1955-1961). During this time, she studied nursing at St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg, Maryland where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1960. Sister later received a Master of Science in Public Health Management from Boston University in 1969.
Sister had varied experiences in healthcare and mission services in the East Coast hospitals of the Daughters of Charity in Washington, D.C. (1962-1963); Jacksonville, Florida (1963-1967); Boston, Massachusetts (1967-1970); Buffalo (1974-1978), Troy (1978-1981), and Rochester (1988-1992) New York; and Pottsville, Pennsylvania (1981-1988). She helped to start a new ministry for the Daughters in Vineland, New Jersey. Later she was active in Parish and Social Ministries in Albany (1996-2003) and Syracuse (2003-2005), New York. She came to St. Louise House in Menands, New York in 2005, where she served in the Ministry of Prayer until her death. Sister Joan served as the Local Community Superior in Vineland, New Jersey (1970-1974) and in Troy, New York (1978-1981).
Sister was predeceased by her parents; her sister, Eleanor and brother-in-law, Richard Brazeau; and brother, Dr. John Curran and sister-in-law, Suzanne. She is survived by nine nieces and nephews and many grand nieces and nephews.
A Wake service was held for Sister Joan on Thursday, May 18 at DePaul Chapel, 96 Menand Rd., Albany, New York. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Friday, May 19 followed by interment in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands.