GREEN BAY — Sr. Joanne Williams, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross, Bay Settlement, died Dec. 13 at McCormick Assisted Living in Green Bay. She was 89.
Sr. Joanne was born in Green Bay on Nov. 1, 1935, to Anthony and Bernice (Lannoye) Williams. She attended St. John the Baptist School in Howard where she was taught by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross. The sisters’ spirit and simplicity ignited Sr. Joanne to join the order. A few months after graduating from St. Joseph Academy, Green Bay, she entered the community and was received in 1955. She professed vows in 1957.
Sr. Joanne received certification as a nursing assistant from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay. She served as a homemaker at St. Kilian Parish, New Franken; St. Boniface, De Pere; Holy Trinity, Casco; and St. John the Baptist, Howard.
She worked in food service, did general labor and was a nursing assistant at McCormick Memorial Home (now McCormick Assisted Living). She was food coordinator at the Chapel House of Prayer, Champion, and a cook at Holy Name Retreat House, Chambers Island. Sr. Joanne also provided service at the motherhouse and outreach in the local community.
Sr. Joanne’s pastimes included listening to classical music, playing Cribbage, Sheepshead and Zilch, and watching the Packers. She enjoyed nature, hiking, recreation with the sisters and visiting family.
Preceding her in death were her parents; a sister, Carole Lietzow; a brother, Glen Williams; and a brother-in-law, Melvin Lietzow.
Sr. Joanne is survived by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross and Associates; a brother, Allen (Mary Jo) Williams; a sister, Mary (Joseph) Boncher; a sister-in-law, Dolly Williams; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Visitation for Sr. Joanne will take place from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, at Holy Cross Church, 3009 Bay Settlement Road, Bay Settlement. The funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery.