Sister Mary Joan Welch

Sister Mary Joan Welch, 85, of the Sisters of Notre Dame, died Friday, July 25, 2008 at the Notre Dame Long Term Care Center.

Sister Mary Joan was born Julia E. Welch in Holden, daughter of Walter H. and Mary (King) Welch.

She graduated from Ascension High School and earned Bachelors degrees in Psychology and English from Emmanuel College. She received her Masters degree in Education from Fairfield University, Conn., where she also did advanced studies.

She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1942. She was a teacher in several Notre Dame schools in Dorchester and Connecticut and served as Principal of St. Aloysius School in New Canaan, Conn. from 1967 to 1974 and at St. Rita School in Hamden, Conn. from 1975 to 1983. She then served as secretary for St. Mary School in Shrewsbury until 1991 and was an assistant in the Development Office at Julie Country Day School in Leominster, before retiring in 1995.

She leaves a sister-in-law, Barbara Welch of Worcester; three nephews, Michael W. Welch of Worcester, James P. Travers of Charlestown and John Welch of Holden; a grandniece, Elizabeth Welch and three grandnephews, John, Patrick and Peter Welch and her sisters in religion, the Sisters of Notre Dame. She was predeceased by her brother, John E. Welch, two sisters, Mary K. Travers and Joan E. Welch, and a nephew John Travers.

Calling hours at the Notre Dame du Lac Chapel, 555 Plantation St., Worcester, are Wednesday, July 30, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. The funeral Mass will follow at 6 p.m. in the chapel. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Leicester.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Notre Dame Retirement Fund, 468 Poquonock Ave., Windsor, CT 06095.