Sr. Joan Spearing, SHCJ

Joan Spearing, SHCJ

November 17, 1932 – February 16, 2025

Teacher, Administrator, Pastoral Care

Rosemont, Pennsylvania – Joan Spearing, a Sister of the Holy Child Jesus for 65 years, died peacefully on Saturday, February 16, 2025. She was 92. 

Sister Joan was always fully present when engaging with others, including the Sisters, her family, students, friends, and colleagues. She listened with an attentive ear and loved with a warm, caring heart. 

A friend and colleague of Sister Joan shared: “With Joan, it was all about giving others the tools to make their way toward God. She understood God’s silences because she trusted others to use their gifts to speak for the goodness of God.”

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sister Joan first encountered the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus in elementary school, at Saint Agatha School, before continuing on to Saint Leonard’s Academy for high school. In 1957, she entered the Society and made her final vows in 1964. She became well known by her religious name, Mother St. Maura. 

Sister Joan began her teaching ministry at her alma mater, Saint Leonard’s Academy (1959-61), and then moved to Holy Child Academy in Sharon Hill (1964-73). 

Sister Joan returned to school to study theology and psychology in 1973. For the next 20 years, she served in higher education and pastoral and counseling ministries, including at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California (1976-79) and Marylhurst College in Marylhurst, Oregon (1979-94). 

In 1991, Sister Joan and her colleagues established Cornelia Pastoral Counseling near Portland, Oregon. In 1994, she moved to West Linn, Oregon, to serve as a spiritual director and counselor. 

In March 2017, Sister Joan made her home at Holy Child Center in Rosemont, Pennsylvania, where she shared her gentle spirit and kindness with all. 

Sister Joan earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Villanova University in 1967, a Master of Divinity from Washington Theological Union in 1976, and a Doctor of Ministry from the American Association of Pastoral Counselors in 1989. 

In eternal rest, she joins her parents, Leonard and Johanna (McAneny); brother, Leonard and his wife, Florence; brother, Danny; nephew, Joseph: and grandnephew, Len. She is survived by her sister, Pat McLaughlin; sister-in-law, Eleanor; and many dear nephews, nieces, grandnephews, and grandnieces.

Friends and family are invited to a Prayer of Remembrance on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., and a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, February 24, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at Holy Child Chapel, 1341 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, Pennsylvania 19010. Preceding Mass, friends and family are welcome to attend the visitation at 10:00 a.m. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Society of the Holy Child Jesus – American Province, 1341 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, Pennsylvania 19041, or made online at https://www.shcj.org/american/donate/.