Kind, generous, hard-working, and devoted to education, Sister Jo Ann will long be remembered by the students she taught, their families, and the people with whom she ministered in Our Lady of the Angelus Parish

Sr. Jo Ann Schwarz, SCSister Jo Ann Schwarz (Sister Miriam Loreto) was born April 21, 1942 in Manhattan, one of three daughters of Chester and Loretta Diemar Schwarz. Jo Ann attended Our Lady of Good Counsel School and Cathedral High School in Manhattan. She worked for two years at Blue Cross/Blue Shield as a statistician before entering the Sisters of Charity of New York on September 8, 1961. Sister Jo Ann earned her BA in English from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, an MS in Elementary Education and an MA in Theology, both from Saint John’s University. She later earned NYS permanent certification in the elementary grades.

Sister Jo Ann’s first teaching assignment was in Saint Monica School in Jamaica, Queens, where she taught grades three and six and then became Principal. In 1973 she began her ministry of thirty-eight years at Our Lady of the Angelus Parish in Rego Park, first as eighth grade teacher for seven years and then as Parish Coordinator for thirty-one years. In those many years, Sister Jo Ann earned the confidence and trust of five pastors who allowed her to direct the Religious Education Program, lead inquirers to the Catholic faith through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), oversee sacramental preparation for children, and organize assistance for the elderly of the parish. In 2011, when Sister Jo Ann’s health declined, she moved to the Convent of Mary the Queen. In 2015, she and a group of sisters from Mary the Queen formed a retirement community at Frances Schervier Nursing Center in the Bronx.

Kind, generous, hard-working, and devoted to education, Sister Jo Ann will long be remembered by the students she taught, their families, and the people with whom she ministered in Our Lady of the Angelus Parish. Sister Jo Ann kept an interest in several hobbies, had a good sense of humor and loved being with people. She enjoyed sharing community with the sisters with whom she lived and spending time with her family and friends.

We rejoice with her now as she is welcomed by our loving God who greets her, “Welcome home, my good and faithful servant.” Be at peace, Sister Jo Ann.

The Mass for Sister Jo Ann will be video streamed at 10:00 am on Monday, May 7, 2018 from Mount Saint Vincent Convent. If you wish to join us on line, the link is below:
https://venue.streamspot.com/217aa3db

 

Date of Death
May 2, 2018

Age
76

Wake
Mount Saint Vincent Convent Assembly Room
6301 Riverdale Ave., Bronx, NY 10471
718.601.5370
Sunday, May 6, 2018
2:00 – 6:30 pm
Prayer Service 4:30 pm

Mass of Resurrection
Mount Saint Vincent Convent Assembly Room
Monday, May 7, 2018 10 am

Burial
St. Joseph Cemetery
Yonkers, NY

Missions

Diocese of Brooklyn

  • St. Monica, Jamaica
    1965–73, Teacher, Principal
  • Our Lady of Angelus, Rego Park
    1973–80, Teacher, Gr. 8
    1980–2011, Parish Coordinator