Sister Joanne Williams was born Nov. 1, 1935, in Green Bay to Tony and Bernice Williams. Her father was a farmer and her mother was the best cook ever. During harvest time her father shared his machinery with the area famers which meant lots of meals for everybody. As the oldest daughter, Joanne helped her mother with cooking and baking, not knowing how much this experience would aid her in her future food service and health care ministries.
As a child, Joanne attended St. John the Baptist School in Howard where she was taught by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross. Their spirit of joy and simplicity ignited in Joanne the desire to become one of them. A few months after graduating from St. Joseph's Academy in Green Bay, she entered the Community and was received in 1955. Sister Joanne served at St. Kilian, New Franken; St. Boniface, De Pere; Holy Trinity, Casco; the Chapel at Robinsonville (now the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help); and for more than 30 years at the McCormick Home in Green Bay (Read "For the comfort and care of elders at McCormick").
Sister Joanne is known to be joyful, patient and very kind to all, especially the elderly. She says that wherever she goes she tries to make people feel at home and appreciated for who they are. "I try to treat every person as if l were caring for my own Mother."
Sister enjoys listening to classical music, playing cards, and watching a good Packer game. She loves nature and hiking.
"I feel I have been blessed in so many ways," says Sister Joanne. "I treasure prayer time and the support I share with my Sisters in Community."
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