Sr. Joan Mooney

Sister Joan Francis Mooney, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery, West Hartford, CT died at Jefferson House in Newington, CT on November 6, 2025. Born in Manchester, CT on December 15, 1933 of the late Michael Francis Mooney and Alice Elizabeth Griffin Mooney, Sister Joan Francis entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on August 31, 1961 and celebrated her Perpetual Profession of Vows on July 2, 1969. At the time of her death, Sister Joan Francis was 91 years of age and in her 64th year of Religious Life.
Prior to becoming a Sister of St. Joseph, Sister Joan Francis had graduated from St. Francis School of Nursing in Hartford, CT and was a staff nurse at Manchester Memorial Hospital, Manchester, CT. Upon her entrance into Religious Life, she continued her studies and, over time, she earned a BA from the Diocesan Sisters College, West Hartford, CT, a BS from St. Joseph College, West Hartford, CT and an MA in Theological Studies from Weston School of Theology, Cambridge, MA. Having completed her required studies at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Brighton, MA, Sister Joan Francis received her Clinical Pastoral Education Certificate which prepared her to be a chaplain.
Sister Joan dedicated twenty years of caring service at St. Joseph Hospital in Stamford, CT as Head Nurse and Medical/Surgical Supervisor, Director of Nursing, and Coordinator of patient/staff education. Sister Joan Francis also ministered at St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury, early on serving as Nursing Supervisor of the Intensive Care Unit and, later in life, as a Chaplain in Pastoral Care.
After leaving St. Mary's Hospital Pastoral Care Department, Sister Joan Francis continued pastoral care among her Sisters in West Hartford, CT where she quietly and lovingly directed a group of Sisters who provided spiritual programs for the Sisters.
As a skilled and dedicated professional, Sister Joan Francis is remembered for her excellent commitment to quality care, advocacy, integrity and teamwork. However, she is better remembered as a gentle, caring woman of deep faith, for her respectful, compassionate, quiet, and comforting manner. For all of this, Sister Joan Francis was once recognized by St. Mary Hospital as Employee of the Year.
Whether in community with her Sisters, or at Armsmear with her neighbors, or with her family whom she loved, Joan brought warmth and a listening heart. All who knew Sister Joan Francis will miss her caring presence, her gentle disposition and her wonderful sense of humor.
In addition to her Sisters in Community, Sister Joan Francis is survived by a nephew, John Bycenski and nieces, Elizabeth Charter and Linda Godey and their families.
Sister is predeceased by her parents, her sister and brother-in-law, Corrine and John Bycenski, and two sisters, Ann Kleinschmidt and Sister Carole Mooney, CSJ.
Relatives and friends may gather to celebrate Sister Joan's life on Thursday, November 13, at the Sisters of St. Joseph Provincial House Chapel, 27 Park Road, West Hartford, CT for a Mass of Resurrection at 11:00 a.m., with calling hours from 9:30 a.m.–10:45 a.m. Burial will immediately follow the Mass at the Sisters of St Joseph Cemetery on Ringgold Street in West Hartford. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider a memorial donation to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 650 Willard Ave., Newington, CT 06111 or online at https://sistersofsaintjoseph.org Fisette-Batzner Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington has care of arrangements.