November 29, 1937- January 16, 2024
Sister Joy Giovannoni died Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
Sister Joy was a proud San Franciscan, born to an Irish mother and an Italian father. Joy’s father chose her name and told her, “You will live up to your name and be joyful.”
As a student at Star of the Sea Academy in San Francisco, she met the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Following graduation, she joined our community in 1955. In 1958, she began her first mission experience as a grade school teacher. Eventually, she was teaching in high school. Twice she was missioned in Hawaii. While she loved San Francisco, she may have left her heart in Hawaii after a total of almost 30 years there.
The word “joy” brings to mind many qualities of her life. Joy’s joyful ways will be missed. Her legacy of love and laughter will long be remembered in our hearts and memories.
May she rest in peace.
I am so sad to hear of Sister Joy’s passing. She and I were summer roommates in the Doheny mansion in the early days when we were young sisters. As a former member (Sister Stephanie Marie) she greeted me so excitedly at her 50th jubilee and still called me “Queenie!” My condolences and prayers for her family and loved ones. Heaven will be a truly Joy-filled place.