April 6, 2011

A Mass of Christian Burial for Franciscan Sister Joan Elise Smith was celebrated March 29 at the motherhouse chapel of the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Ind. Sister Joan Elise, 83, died March 24 at Christ Hospital.

A native of Dayton, Sister Joan Elise entered the Oldenburg Franciscan community in 1946 and professed her final vows in 1952. She was a teacher, librarian and media instructor in both elementary and secondary education. She taught at Bishop Fenwick High School in Middletown; the former Our Lady of Angels High School in St. Bernard; Badin High School in Hamilton; and Catholic Central High School in Springfield. She retired in 2008.

Sister Joan Elise is survived by her three sisters, Dorothy Colwill, Eleanor Gardner and Ruth Sweeney. Interment was in the congregation’s cemetery.