A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Jo Ann Cuscurida, D.C., was celebrated on Thursday, July 18, 2019, at the Seton Residence Chapel in Evansville, Ind.; burial followed at St. Joseph Cemetery, Evansville. Sister Jo Ann died on July 13, 2019, at Seton Residence, Evansville. Sister was 86 years of age and 62 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born December 15, 1932, in Waco, Texas, Sister Jo Ann (baptized Jo Ann) was one of two children born to Michael and Millie Estell (Zahirniak) Cuscurida. Sister Jo Ann was a 1950 graduate of Waco High School in Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Mo., in 1956, and her Master’s Degree in Nursing Service Administration from DePaul University, Chicago, Ill., in 1965.
Sister Jo Ann entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis from St. Louis Catholic Church in Waco, Texas, June 1957. Following initial formation, Sister Jo Ann served as a Nursing Supervisor at St. Mary Hospital, Milwaukee, Wis., (1958 to 1962) and at Charity Hospital, New Orleans, La., (1962 to 1963). After competing her graduate studies in 1965, Sister Jo Ann was missioned to Providence Hospital, Mobile, Ala., where she served as Director of Nursing Service (1965 to 1966); then, she served for several months as a Nurse at Hotel Dieu Hospital, New Orleans, La., (1967). Sister served twice as Director of Nursing Service; first, at Providence Hospital in Mobile, Ala., (1967 to 1969), and then, at Providence Hospital and Medical Centers in Southfield, Mich., (1970 to 1981). Sister Jo Ann then served as Vice President of Nursing at St. Joseph Health Centers & Hospital, Chicago, Ill, (1981 to 1987; Sister was also Local Community Superior there, 1981 to 1984).
For the next 23 years, Sister Jo Ann served in Governance as a full-time Board Chair (1986 to 2009) at the following health centers: St. Thomas Health Services in Nashville, Tenn., (1986 to 1991); St. Vincent Hospital & Health Service in Indianapolis, Ind., (1987 to 1991); St. Mary’s of Michigan Medical Center in Saginaw, Mich., (1991 to 2009); and St. Mary Hospital in Milwaukee, Wis., (1991 to 1996). In 2009, Sister Jo Ann entered the Ministry of Prayer at Seton Residence, Evansville, Ind.; she served there until her death.
Sister Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Michael Cuscurida, Jr., of Waco. She is survived by family friend, Madeline Kosler; cousins in Greece; many friends; and her Sisters in Community.