Obituary: Sister Joan Roach, OSU
Sr. Joan Roach, (OSU) (Also known as Sister Kathleen) died peacefully at Mt. Notre Dame Health Center on December 24, 2021. A member of the Ursulines of Brown County for 65 years. Sister Joan is the sister of Deborah Roach North (Stephen) of Cincinnati, Ohio and Sister-in-law of Jerry Wiedemer, and aunt/great aunt to many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Anne Doyle Roach and John Roach and her sisters, Sheila Roach Wiedemer and Mary Roach.
Sister Joan began her ministry as an educator at St. Louis School in Owensville, Ohio, and Ursuline Academy in Cincinnati. She moved to Atlanta, Georgia to teach at Pius High School. Sr. Joan also served in Pastoral Care and the Ethics Committee at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta and Allegheny General Hospital in Pennsylvania.
Returning to Cincinnati, she engaged in pastoral ministry at St. John Church in West Chester and St. James Parish in White Oak. A memorial Mass was celebrated on January 15, 2022, at St. Vivian Church.