March 30, 2016

Sister of Providence Joan Mullen dies, was president of community

 

REGIONAL

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, March 31, at 10 a.m. in the Providence Place Chapel. 

 

HOLYOKE – Sister of Providence Joan Mullen, formerly known as Sister Mary Joan of Arc, died March 29 in the 59th year of her religious life. 

Born in Easthampton, she was the daughter of the late James and Stella (Lebeau) Mullen.  She graduated from the former St. Michael High School in Northampton and from the former Providence Hospital School of Nursing as a registered nurse before entering the Sisters of Providence in 1958. 

She received her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Boston College in 1963. Then she earned a bachelor of science degree in physical therapy in 1966 and a certificate in hospital administration, both from St. Louis University, and a master of business administration degree from Western New England College in 1989. 

She ministered at the former Farren Memorial Hospital in Montague City for more than 20 years, from 1966 to 1988, serving as the supervisor and chief physical therapist in the Physical Therapy Department; as director of nurses and director of the Physical Therapy Department; as assistant administrator/patient care; and as vice president of the hospital.  When Farren Hospital closed in 1988, she opened a private physical therapy practice, Montague Physical Therapy, in Turners Falls. 

In 1993 she was elected to the Sisters of Providence Executive Council and was appointed vice president and served two, four-year terms. During this time, she was chairperson of the Providence Mother House Renovation Committee, which oversaw the renovation of the Mother House into Providence Place. She was a member of many committees, including the Advisory Committee for Tannery Brook and the Queen of Peace Centennial House.

In 2001 she was elected president of the Sisters of Providence and served two, four-year terms, through 2009. In her second term, she oversaw the construction of Mary’s Meadow, a small-house concept nursing facility, which has received national five-star recognition for quality. For many years, she served on the Sisters of Providence, Inc. Board of Trustees, the sisters’ Finance and Investment Committee, the Retirement Fund Committee, Endowment Trust Board, and as chairperson of the Providence Place/Mary’s Meadow Board of Trustees.

In addition, she was member of the Sisters of Providence Health System Board of Trustees for many years, and at various times, served on its Finance Committee, Executive Committee and as chair of the Mission Committee. Earlier, she was a member of the board of Franklin County Home Health-Agency on Aging, the Nursing Program Advisory Committee for Greenfield Community College, and the Management Team for the Hospice of Franklin County. 

In 2013 she was once again elected to the Sisters of Providence Executive Council, serving as vice president, and also was chair of the Providence Place/Mary’s Meadow Boards.  She was a long-time member of the American Physical Therapy Association.  She is survived by her sisters in community; her niece, Joy Brooks; a nephew, David Brooks, and his children, Justin and Emily, all of Easthampton; and numerous cousins and friends.

The wake is today, March 30 from 3-7 p.m. at Providence Place, 5 Gamelin Street, Holyoke, with a wake service at 6:30 p.m. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, March 31, at 10 a.m. in the Providence Place Chapel.

Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Providence, 5 Gamelin St., Holyoke, MA 01040.