RIP, Sister Joan Tierney OLSH, Eulogy
“God is love and anyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in them.”
These words from the first letter of St. John capture well the driving force behind our dear Sister Joan’s life, a deep faith in the one who called her and loved her unconditionally. At approximately 6.15pm on Monday 10th June, our dear Sister, Joan came face to face with the one she had lovingly and generously served for close to seven decades as a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
To Joan’s niece Margaret and her husband Bernard, her nephew Michael, and her relatives, and friends, who loved her so much and are deeply saddened by her death, we offer our deep sympathy and love. You know well her deep love for you, her pride and joy in you, and her gratitude to you. We also offer sympathy to those who join us via live streaming especially our Sisters in Bentleigh where Joan spent many happy years.
Joan Monica Tierney was born in Sea Lake, VIC on 21st June 1932 to Bartholomew and Hannah Tierney, the last born of 7 children. Her father was a saddler, and the Depression was very hard on those in small rural towns and so, when Joan was five, her parents made the decision to move to Melbourne. Life was difficult and her father struggled to find regular work, after a short time in Melbourne Joan’s father suffered a heart attack and died. The following year Joan’s mother, Hannah died of Pneumonia. What a sad time this was for such a young child. Joan, being the youngest went to live with her aunt and uncle in Ascot Vale. Soon after, WW11 broke out Joan was sent to board at Our Lady of Sion, Sale where her sister had joined the Sion Sisters. At age 13 Joan returned to her Aunt and completed her schooling at Academy of Mary Immaculate in Fitzroy.
Joan was a prudent young woman and on leaving school she was convinced that Jesus was calling her to follow him in religious life but upon completing school Joan decided to get a job as a bank clerk in Melbourne. Knowing how social Joan was it is not too difficult to imagine her enjoying life as a young woman, going out with friends, dancing, singing and of course reading. Joan's friends and colleagues commented that she was staunchly loyal and supportive in all circumstances, someone who would always have your back, no matter what. She was known as a down to earth, practical person, whose dry sense of humour made her surprising and endearing company.
In July 1952 Joan wrote to the Provincial of the time; ‘Our Divine Lord has left the way clear for me and I would like to enter in the Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and being a decisive young woman added ‘in November’. Joan was drawn to our Congregation through her close relationship with Sisters Carmel and Julienne Mack whose mother was great friends with her mother and her Aunt. Also, Joan’s cousin, John Tierney was an MSC priest. In November of 1952 Joan entered the Novitiate at Hartzer Park and made her first vows in 1955.
Thus began Joan’s lifelong ministry and her epic journey as a passionate, enthusiastic educator and missionary in schools across Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, NSW and Queensland. She also ministered overseas in Nauru. She was an excellent teacher and had a genuine love for her students and their families.
Later Joan was responsible for school administration in a number of schools as the principal. In this position she took great interest in the education and welfare of the students in the schools, and she cared for the staff. Joan enjoyed organising various activities and trips for the staff and the students. She had a particular gift with those students who struggled with school and in her later years chose to work with remedial students. Joan was greatly loved as a teacher and principal. Parents kept in touch with her and appreciated what she did for their children when they were struggling.
After Joan completed her teaching Apostolate she worked tirelessly as a volunteer for the St Vincent de Paul Society, supporting the poor and marginalised who held a special place in her heart.
In 2006 Joan returned to the place where she first heard God calling her to religious life, Melbourne. Her years here were spent as a member of the Bentleigh community. These were happy years living in a loving community sharing faith and friendship. She enjoyed her daily household tasks, helping with the liturgy and garden, she enjoyed watching her favourite TV shows, reading her many novels, sharing conversations with the Sisters, regular chats and visits with her family and so much more. Joan was a good friend to many. Whilst Joan was living at Bentleigh, she was able to catch up with parishioners whose children she taught years before especially at Moorabbin. She was always interested in their families and how they had progressed over the years.
As Joan reflected on her life as a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart it was Alice Springs, where she spent twelve years, that she said had a significant impact on her. Joan had a deep respect for our first nations people and enjoyed the layback lifestyle in a town like Alice with salt of the earth people.
The above words speak of Joan’s achievements, and they were many and significant but behind the achievements is wonderful woman and committed, faith-filled Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
I would dare say that anyone who ever met and chatted with Joan never forgot her. The first words that come to me at the mention of Joan’s name are: spirited, determined, courageous, as well as persistent, in love with her vocation and the Congregation. She was a very forthright person who had a great sense of justice and was attentive to people’s needs especially those who were sometimes forgotten. She had a sharp and curious mind, a great sense of humour, and an appetite for good conversation and was an excellent storyteller. Joan was a people’s person, she loved being with and talking to people on any level. Joan could sit over a cup of coffee and chat about any topic that was of interest to the other person or herself. She loved her family and her Sisters in community whom she referred to as friends.
In 2021 as Joan’s mobility and health were declining, she moved to Holy Family Community at Kensington to receive more care, not long after with her health failing, Joan went to St Joseph’s Aged Care Facility. Initially this was a time of struggle for Joan but within a few weeks Joan told me that she had received a beautiful grace from God, she felt content and completely at peace at St Joseph’s. It was here she was beautifully cared for until her death.
We thank God for the many gifts given to our dear Joan, we thank the Tierney family, whom Joan loved greatly, for sharing her with our religious family.
We thank you Joan for your interest in us, your friendship. May your courageous soul now rest in peace.
Philippa Murphy FDNSC
Provincial Leader
