Sister Joann (Joann Frances) Lukefahr died on July 12, 2023 at Seton Residence in Evansville, Indiana. Sister Joann was born on March 30,1938 in Perry County, Missouri and was one of four children of Simon W. and Marie (Huber) Lukefahr. Sister graduated from St. Vincent High School in Perryville, Missouri in 1956 and entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis, Missouri in 1957.
After initial formation and a B.A. in History from Marillac College in St. Louis, Sister Joann served as a teacher at Marian School in Montebello, California (1961-1969), and then at Holy Trinity School in Dallas, Texas (1969-1977). She attended Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas where she received an M.Ed. in Counseling and Guidance (1978). She was sent to St. Stephen Grade School in New Orleans, Louisiana to serve as a teacher and guidance counselor (1978-1980) and was then missioned to West Plains, Missouri as a teacher at St. Mary’s Regional School and a Parish Visitor at St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart Parishes (1980-1987) until she began her service as a Pastoral Associate at St. Vincent DePaul Parish in Perryville, Missouri (1987-1997). Sister received a CPE in 2000 through study at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, Christian Hospital Northeast, Barnes-Jewish St. Peter’s Hospital, St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center and Forest Park Hospital. She was then named Chaplain at DePaul Health Center in Bridgeton, Missouri (2000-2005). In 2005, Sister Joann entered the Ministry of Prayer at The Sarah Community in Bridgeton, where she served from 2005 until 2013, before coming to Seton Residence in Evansville, Indiana where she continued to serve in the Ministry of Prayer until the time of her death.
A Wake Service was held on Friday, July 14 in the Seton Residence Chapel followed by the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial took place in St. Joseph Cemetery. Sister was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Simon (Joe) Lukefahr and Rev. Oscar Lukefahr, CM and she is survived by her sister Mary Lukefahr, other loving family members, her Sisters in Community and many friends.