Sister Esther taught in Omaha schools

Servant of Mary Sister M. Esther Joyce, whose 67 years of religious life included teaching for 19 years in the Archdiocese of Omaha, died Nov. 19. She was 97.

Private funeral services were held Nov. 23 at the Servants of Mary motherhouse, followed by burial in the motherhouse cemetery, both in Omaha. A public memorial Mass will be offered at a later date.

A Chicago native, Sister Esther entered the Servants of Mary in 1953, professing first vows in 1955 and final vows in 1960.

Her education included degrees from the former Duchesne College and Creighton University, both in Omaha, as well as two colleges in Michigan.

In addition to teaching at schools in Detroit and Chicago, Sister Esther taught from 1958 to 1977 at elementary schools including then-Pius X and the former Holy Ghost, and Marian High School, all in Omaha.

Upon leaving teaching in 1983, she served in her order’s Servite Appalachian Ministries in Harlan, Kentucky. She retired in 1999.