Obituary of Sister OSF

Sister Joan Preising, OSF Of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, died at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, Joliet, Illinois, where she resided, on October 22, at the age of 105. She was a member of the Joliet Franciscans for 86 years. She was born Ruth V. Preising in Cleveland, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Mary (Cukr); three brothers, George, Robert and Harold. She is survived by her brother John, nieces, nephews, cousins and her Joliet Franciscan sisters. Sr. Joan earned a bachelor's degree from DePaul University and a master's degree and doctorate in chemistry from the University of Illinois. After a short time as a high school teacher, Sr. Joan spent the rest of her professional life as a chemistry professor. She taught at the College of St. Francis, Joliet, from 1939 to 1969, and at Crosier Seminary in Onamia, Minn., from 1969 to 1977. Before her retirement to Our Lady of Angels in 1981, she tutored at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and the Will County Jail. Sr. Joan wrote many scholarly articles as well as textbooks and a memoir of her life as a Franciscan sister. She received many awards for her work as a professor of chemistry, most notably from the American Chemical Society. A scholarship at the University of St. Francis bears her name. The wake will be at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, 1201 Wyoming Avenue, Joliet, IL (Wyoming and Rt. 30) on Thursday, October 25, 2005, from 2:00 - 6:45 p.m., with a prayer service at 4:45 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be Friday, October 26, at 9:00 a.m. from Our Lady of Angels to Resurrection Cemetery in Romeoville, IL. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, 801 North Larkin Avenue, Suite 101, Joliet, IL 60435-3442. Arrangements by: FRED C. DAMES FUNERAL HOME (815) 741-5500