Sr. Joan Ronayne, RSHM, died at Marymount Convent, Tarrytown, NY, on Saturday, April 11, 2020, after a long illness. 🙏❤️
Sister Joan Ronayne RSHM, previously known as Sister Austin, was born in Co. Cork, Ireland, on July 7, 1930, to John and Mary Spillane Ronayne and had been a member of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary for 71 years.
She entered the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary on July 16, 1948 at Marymount in Tarrytown, NY, where she made her first vows on February 11, 1950. She made her final vows on August 29, 1955 at the Motherhouse of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary in Béziers, France.
She received a BA in English and Latin from Marymount College, Tarrytown, NY; an MA in Speech and Drama from Columbia University; and an MA in Theology from Fordham University.
Sister Joan taught at Marymount Secondary School, Tarrytown, NY (1950-1955); at Marymount International School, London, England (1955-1956); and at Marymount College, Tarrytown, NY (1956-1959). She was principal of Marymount Secondary School, Tarrytown (1959-1964) and of Marymount International School, London (1964-1966). For thirty years, Sr. Joan taught theology at Marymount Manhattan College, New York, NY (1968-1998).
In 1998, Sr. Joan retired from teaching and moved to Marymount Convent, Tarrytown, where she was living at the time of her death.
She is survived by her brother, Patrick Ronayne, County Cork, Ireland, nieces and nephews, and by the members of her religious community.
Services
Due to the current pandemic crisis, burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery, White Plains, NY will be private. A memorial Mass at Marymount Convent will be scheduled at a later date.
Gifts in her name may be made to:
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, 50 Wilson Park Drive, Tarrytown, NY, 10591