Sister Joan Gormley

Sister Joan Frances Gormley, age 70, of Emmitsburg, died, Friday October 19, 2007 at Gettysburg Hospital.

She was born October 6, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pa., the daughter of the late John F. Sr. and Dorothy E. Hihns Gormley. She was a professor for over 20 years at Mount St. Mary's Seminary.

The hallmark of Sister Joan's ministry was a faithful and single minded devotion to Christ and His Church. Sister Joan was Professor of Scripture and Homiletics at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland for 20 years. A native of Philadelphia, Sister Joan held a Bachelor's Degree in Humanities from Trinity College, a Master's Degree in Classics from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from Fordham University. She completed postgraduate work at the "Ecole Biblique" in Jerusalem. Before going to Mount Saint Mary's she also taught classics and theology at Trinity College in Washington, D.C. She was also fluent in many languages.

Sister Joan entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Nemour in 1955 upon graduating from Notre Dame High School, Moylan, Pa., where she was "Valedictorian" for her senior class. She also served in many congregational ministries until she followed the call to serve the Church in a new way by becoming a Consecrated Virgin in 1994.

For the past 13 years she resided with the Daughters of Charity at Saint Joseph's Provincial House, Emmitsburg.

Sister Joan authored numerous articles and translated the work of Saint John of Avila. Inspired by the life of Saint Therese of Lisieux she was privileged to have access to the personal papers of the saint.

Sister Joan was a gracious and loving presence in the lives of all who knew her. She exemplified the love of Christ for all.

Joan was the beloved daughter of the late John and Dorothy (Hihns) Gormley. She was predeceased by her brothers James and Michael Gormley.

Joan dearly loved her family and she will be sadly missed by her brothers and sisters. She is survived by Dorothy Hunt of Forest Hills; Patricia Weyler of Holmes, Pa.; Linda Rowe of Newark, Del.; John Gormley Jr. of Pennsylvania; Joseph Gormley of Tampa, Fla.; Frank Gormley of Downingtown, Pa.; Mary Joan Ricker of Swarthmore, Pa.; Kevin Gormley of Milmont Park, Pa.; Julie Gormley of Brookhaven, Pa. and Michelle Taylor of Holmes, Pa.; as well as her 30 nieces and nephews, in whom Joan took special interest and delight.

Relatives and friends may call from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at the Saint Joseph's Provincial House, 333 S. Seton Ave., in Emmitsburg, followed immediately by a service hosted by the Sisters from the Daughters of Charity. Family may also call at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24 before the Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Bernard's Chapel at Mt. Saint Mary's Seminary, Emmitsburg, with Msgr. Steven Rohlf as celebrant.

A brief service and burial will be held at 3 p.m. the same day at Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, Pa.

In lieu of flowers, contributions my be made in Sister Joan's name to the Daughters of Charity, Emmitsburg, or Mt. Saint Mary's Seminary, Emmitsburg.

Arrangements are by the Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home in Emmitsburg.