Sister Johanne McCarthy, CSJ, 83

Sister Johanne McCarthy, CSJ (Sister Agnes Marina), 83, died Tuesday, Nov. 12, at Samaritan Hospital in Troy. She had been a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet for the past 64 years. 

Sister Johanne was born in Syracuse on Sept. 6, 1936, daughter of the late Joseph and Alice Foreman McCarthy. After graduating from St. Anthony’s High School, Sister Johanne entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Troy on March 19, 1955 and professed final vows on Aug. 6, 1962. She received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in elementary education, both from The College of Saint Rose. 

For 35 years, Sister Johanne served as a teacher, principal and business manager in schools of the Albany and Syracuse Dioceses. She also worked for several years in parishes in both dioceses as pastoral associate and parish life director. In addition, Sister Johanne was administrator of St. Joseph’s Provincial House in Latham, for 10 years. 

Sister Johanne is survived by her beloved sisters: Agnes (Joe) Smithling, Martha (Paul) Valenti and Maureen (Bob) Pesek; by several nieces and nephews and their families, with special mention of her nephew, Mark Pesek, and her grandniece, Jennifer (Dominick) Rizzo and their children, Joseph, Alexander and Lucas, whose frequent visits brought Sister Johanne great joy; her dear friends, Sister Joan Killoran and Mary Jo Coleman; and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was held in the chapel of the Provincial House on Nov. 19. Donations in Sister Johanne’s memory may be made to the Development Office, Sisters of St. Joseph, 385 Watervliet Shaker Road, Latham, N.Y., 12110.