Sister Joan Looney, OP, a member of the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary, Sparkill, New York, died on February 2, 2011, in Siena Hall, Sparkill, NY. Born in New York City May 12, 1938, Joan Marie was the daughter of Daniel and Mary Flynn Looney. Joan Marie entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on September 8, 1956, and became known as Sister Joan Mary, professing her first vows in 1958 and final vows in 1963.
Sister Joan earned a BS in Education from St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY; an MS in English from City College of New York and an MS in Pastoral Counseling from Iona College, NY. During her professional life, Sister Joan was an elementary school teacher and administrator in the Archdiocese of NY and the Diocese of Syracuse. She taught at St. Rose of Lima, New York, NY (1958-59); St. Helena, Bronx, NY (1959-61); St. Paul, Valley Cottage, NY (1961-66); St. Catherine, Binghamton, NY (1966-69); St. Vito, Mamaroneck, NY (1969-80) where she also served as principal from 1972-80. From 1980 –88 Sr. Joan served on the Leadership Team for the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill. From 1988-97 she was Coordinator of Newburgh Ministry, Newburgh, NY. In 1997 Sr. Joan moved to Charleston, SC where she ministered at Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach on St. Johns Island, SC from 1997 to the present. Sister Joan is survived by her sister Eileen Spencer of Yonkers, NY; her nephew John Spencer, wife Rachel and daughter Madeline of Albany, NY; her niece Jennifer Truax, husband Adam and children Jack, Claire and William of Brick, NJ, cousins and friends.
We have been blessed with Joan’s life among us. We will remember her for the loving, gentle and peaceful person that she was and for her commitment to non-violence in our society and world. We celebrate her life of 72 years and ask the good Lord to bring her home to the kingdom promised. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.