Sister Joan Bastress, I.H.M., served in multiple ministries in Archdiocese of Baltimore July 9, 2026By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries A funeral Mass for Sister Joan Bastress, a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, will be offered at 11 a.m. on July 10 at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Dunmore, Pa.. Sister Joan died July 3. She was 92. Born in Baltimore, Sister Joan was one of five children in her family, including the late Monsignor Arthur Bastress, longtime pastor of St. Alphonsus in Baltimore. She entered the Order of the Discalced Carmelites in Brooklyn, NY, on Oct.. 19, 1952, made temporary profession of her vows on July 12, 1954, and final profession of her vows on June 10, 1957. As a Carmelite, she was known as Sister Therese Joseph of the Sorrowful Mother. She joined the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scranton on June 19, 1975. Sister Joan held a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Marywood College in Scranton and a master’s degree systematic theology from St. Bonaventure University in New York. In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Sister Joan served at St. John the Evangelist in Frederick (1983-89), St. John the Evangelist in Columbia (1989-92), Our Lady of Good Counsel in Baltimore (1992-94), St. Jerome in Baltimore (1994-98), St. Joseph in Sykesville (1998-2001) and St. Charles in Pikesville (2001-03). Sister Joan also served as administrator of pastoral services at the School Sisters of Notre Dame Motherhouse in Towson (2004-06) and as a pastoral aide at Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore (2006-07). She was a volunteer at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium (2006-07) and a pastoral minister at Good Samaritan Nursing Center in Baltimore (2008-17). Elsewhere, she served in Pennsylvania and New York. More obituaries Sister Michael Kathleen Deane, former longtime Rosedale principal, dies Sister John Francis Schilling, St. Frances Academy’s biggest fan and transformative leader, dies at 81 Sister Mary Katharine Brent dies at 106 Mike Ditka dies at 86: A life of football, fire, and Catholic faith Bishop Dewane recalled for his ‘remarkable legacy of faithful service’ to Church Deacon Carlos Morales, who served Church in Puerto Rico and Maryland, dies at 82 Copyright © 2026 Catholic Review Media Print
Sister John Francis Schilling, St. Frances Academy’s biggest fan and transformative leader, dies at 81
