Sister Joan Monica was Cedar Rapids native

Dominican Sister of Peace Joan Monica McGuire, a native of Cedar Rapids, Nebraska, died Nov. 21 at Sansbury Care Center in St. Catharine, Kentucky. She was 90.

A funeral Mass will be held Dec. 1 at Sansbury Care Center Chapel. Burial will be in the St. Catharine motherhouse cemetery.

A Dominican for 67 years, Sister Joan Monica entered religious life in 1955 and professed final vows in 1958.

She earned a bachelor of arts degree in history and English from Siena College in Memphis, Tennessee, a master of arts in theology from Loyola University in Chicago and a licentiate and doctorate in sacred theology/ecumenism from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

She ministered as a teacher at St. Michael School in Orland Park, Illinois, Spalding Academy in Spalding, Nebraska and Academy of Our Lady in Chicago. She also was the regional coordinator of the Western Region for the former Dominican Sisters of St. Catharine in St. Catharine from 1969 to 1972.

Sister Joan Monica was elected president of the former Dominican Sisters of St. Catharine from 1972 to 1980 and then served on the leadership board from 1992 to 1996. She became director of Ecumenical Affairs and Interreligious Affairs with the Archdiocese of Chicago from 1987 to 1992, returning to that position in 1996 until 2013.

In 2014, Sister Joan Monica moved to St. Catharine Motherhouse in St. Catharine, where she provided community service. Then in 2017, she moved to Sansbury Care Center, also in St. Catharine, where she began a ministry of prayer and presence.

Sister Joan Monica is survived by a sister, Winifred (Winnie) Becker of Normandy Park, Washington, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Memorial gifts may be sent to Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr., Columbus, OH 43219-2098, or www.oppeace.org.