Sister Joan Teresa Harrington, CSJ, 86

Sister Joan Teresa Harrington, CSJ (Sister Mary Howard), 86, died Dec. 13 at Samaritan Hospital in Troy. She had been a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet for the past 65 years.

Sister Joan was born in Syracuse on May 10, 1934, daughter of the late Howard and Mary Rauch Harrington. After graduating from St. Anthony’s High School in Syracuse, she worked for New York Telephone Company for two years. On March 19, 1955, Sister Joan entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Troy and professed final vows on Aug. 6, 1962.

Sister Joan received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in psychology, both from The College of Saint Rose, and pursued post-graduate studies in theology from Springfield College in Mobile, Ala.

For 28 years, Sister Joan served as teacher and principal in schools in the Albany and Syracuse Dioceses as well as in the Dioceses of Atlanta and Savannah, Ga. In addition, she served as a pastoral minister in St. Patrick’s Parish in Adams­ville, Ala., and as director of religious education in Our Lady of Sor­rows Parish in Birmingham, Ala. In 2011, Sister Joan retired to St. Joseph’s Provincial House in Latham

Sister Joan is survived by her beloved family: three sisters, Susan Harrington, Eileen (Casey) Smith and Ann (the late Jim) McDonald; one brother, Charles (Mary Beth) Harrington; their families; her sister-in-law, Jean Harrington; her brothers-in-law, Tom Hartnett, Larry Woods and Tim Nau; many friends; and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet with special mention of her dear friend, Sister Ellen Spellman. In addition to her parents, Sister Joan was predeceased by two brothers, Daniel and Howard Harrington; and three sisters, Mary Lou Woods, Gail Nau, and Kathleen Hartnett.
Due to the continued health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no funeral services for Sister Joan at this time. A Memorial Mass will be scheduled at a later date.