Sr. Johanna A. Murphy SSCM

Sister Johanna Murphy, age 103, passed away Thursday, December 15, 2016 at Presence St. Mary’s Hospital. She was born March 21, 1913 to Robert and Josephine (nee Schumacker) Murphy in Chicago, Illinois. Sister attended Senn High School in Chicago graduating in 1932. She received her Bachelors in Education from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee in 1951 and her Masters in Education from Loyola University in Chicago in 1954. She received Teachers’ Certificates for Elementary and High School and Lifetime Supervisory Certificates for Elementary and High School, as well. From 1936 to 1982, Sister Johanna devoted her life to teaching. She taught at Our Lady Academy in Manteno, Illinois from 1936 to 1959. At St. Patrick Academy in Momence, Illinois, she served as principal from 1959 to 1964. She returned to Manteno for three years and then moved to Geneva, Illinois, serving as both teacher and principal at St. Peter School from 1967-1975. In 1975, Sister Johanna moved to Kankakee teaching and serving as principal until moving to Brooklyn Center Minnesota in 1982. In 1984, she returned to Kankakee and served as Superior of her community, Provincial Councilor and Coordinator of St. Laurence Parish. In 1993, she “retired” and served as parish visitor for St. Joseph community. In 2004, Sister moved to Batavia, Illinois, where she beautified the spacious grounds with her gardening expertise. In 2010, she moved to Hopkins Park, Illinois, where she resided until March, 2016 when she moved to St. Mary’s Community. In the past few years, Sister Johanna celebrated two significant occasions. In March, 2013, an open house reception was held for her 100th birthday with all of her sisters, friends and family at Presence St. Mary’s Hospital. She repeated it all again in August, 2016 when she celebrated her 80th Jubilee as a religious sister. Sister Johanna was so grateful and humbled by the number of friends and family who attended both of the events. Visitation will be held 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at St. Mary’s Hospital Chapel in Kankakee. Visitation will also be held from 10:00 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. on Monday, December 19, 2016 at the hospital chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 12:00 Noon on Monday at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Kankakee. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Beaverville. Memorials may be made to the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary. Arrangements by Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home in Bourbonnais.

Sr. Johanna A. Murphy SSCM

March 21, 1913 - December 15, 2016