Mary Joan Dacey, CSJ
May 16, 1936 – January 15, 2025
Compassionate, dependable, friendly
James and Johannah (Gleason) Dacey of St. Louis welcomed their daughter, Mary Joan, on May 16, 1936. Growing up in North St. Louis, she attended Holy Rosary School and was taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph. After two years attending Laboure High, an all-girls’ school, the Archdiocese made the decision to make Laboure co-ed, as well as De Andreis High School, formerly an all-boys’ school, co-ed. Students were then assigned to the closest school, which was De Andreis for Mary Joan.
Mary Joan’s mother had two first cousins that were Sisters of St. Joseph: Sisters Joan Marie [Gleason] and Margaret Ellen [Gleason]. Mary Joan felt certain that had some influence “on my choosing the Sisters of St. Joseph.” She entered the community in 1954 and received the habit and the name Sister Mary Michaeline in 1955. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Fontbonne College (now University) in 1970.
When Sister Mary Joan decided she wanted to make some kind of difference in the world, it came to her that “teaching young children certainly was touching the future and making a difference.”
Her ministry as a primary teacher began in Kansas City, Missouri, at Holy Rosary School (1957), followed by St. Viator School, Chicago (1959); and St. Mary Magdalen (1963) and St. Jude (1965), both in St. Louis; St. Rose of Lima, Houston (1968); St. Mary, Littleton, Colorado (1971); St. Anthony of Padua, St. Louis (1973); and St. Gregory, St. Ann, Missouri (1974).
S. Mary Joan moved into teaching intermediate students at St. Francis Xavier in Brunswick, Georgia, in 1976 and then at St. Anthony of Padua in St. Louis seven years later. In 1996, S. Mary Joan left the teaching ministry and spent a two-year sabbatical at the New Life Center in Middleburg, Virgina.
She returned to Missouri in 1998 and accepted the position of activity coordinator at the St. Elizabeth Adult Day Care Center in Maplewood. After some transition time in 1999, S. Mary Joan became a member of the Development Office staff at St. Joseph's Academy (SJA) in St. Louis (2000).
S. Mary Joan moved to Nazareth Living Center in 2012, where she participated in the ministry of prayer and presence along with her fellow housemates.
MEMORIES
Sister Joan Lacey: She was always very gracious and had a beautiful smile. [She] loved to read, go to the show ... liked to sing. [She] seemed to enjoy any community where she lived ... got along with everyone [and] was always appreciative of what was done for her.
Sister Barbara Volk, who lived with S. Mary Joan at St. Joseph's Academy: Sister was a very easy-going person who was always pleasant and friendly. She really enjoyed reading. She was the on-call substitute for SJA and she was always kind, professional and dependable. The girls respected her and she functioned well as their 'in-house' sub, filling in with her quiet presence.