Joy Elaine Gilder, CSJ
March 12, 1940 - August 8, 2024
(S. Frances Michael)
Outgoing, wanting to serve, diligent worker
Elvin (aka Mike) and Mary Frances (Fisher) Gilder of St. Louis welcomed their fourth child on March 12, 1940. Joy Elaine was brought home to meet her brother, Jim; and sisters, Carol and Connie. Joy shared that “her mother was a strong, strong influence on the family. My dad was very quiet, a very sweet, gentle man.” The Sisters of St. Joseph taught in their parish school, Our Lady of the Presentation. Joy said, “I have happy, happy memories of grade school. ... The sisters always looked happy. They were friendly. ... I was very involved in my parish as I grew up, in CYC and, as soon as I could play softball and basketball, I was always on the teams. I was a very outgoing person and loved to be outside. I enjoyed people.” She attended Mercy High School. When some Mercy sisters kidded about whether she ever thought about being a sister, Joy told them, “I have no idea if I’m going to be a sister or not, but I will say one thing, if I become a sister, it will be a Sister of St. Joseph.”
Joy entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 15, 1958, receiving the habit and the name Sister Frances Michael in 1959. In 1963, she was assigned to Little Flower Grade School in Mobile, Alabama, as a primary teacher, followed by St. Luke the Evangelist in St. Louis (1966) and St. Patrick in St. Joseph, Missouri (1968). Then, she took time to study at Fontbonne in 1973. Next, Sister Joy taught primary at Immacolata in St. Louis (1974) and was then sent to St. Rose of Lima in Houston, Texas, in 1976, where she continued to teach primary. Joy enjoyed the friendliness
of the people there. When a dog arrived on the property, Joy happily took care of it. A doghouse in the backyard with “Shagg” painted over the opening was its home.
“Shagg was afraid of storms and she would leave her “house” and frantically scratch at our back door,” shares Sister Helen Oates. When the door opened, the words ‘Go to Francis’ would send the frightened dog racing up the steps to Frances’ room."
In 1983, Joy’s dad was diagnosed with cancer. Leaving her beloved Houston, Joy returned to Missouri. She was missioned to St. Cletus in St. Charles. The following year, she came to St. Jude Vill Capri Manor in St. Louis, where she visited the senior citizens and did other tasks as needed. Joy moved on to community service at Nazareth Living Center from 1985 to 1992. She returned to the classroom for a year as an assistant to a teacher with middle school students at St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf in Chesterfield. Her ministry changed again in 1993 when she became a staff member at the Provincial House in St. Louis.
Returning to the classroom in 1996, S. Joy aided preschool and daycare children at Child Garden School in St. Louis. Her next position was in the mailroom at the Carondelet Motherhouse as an assistant for printing/mailing. In 2008, she was hired to visit neighborhood seniors for Carondelet Community Betterment Foundation (CCBF) in St. Louis. In 2012, she became a volunteer at CCBF. In 2014, she retired to the Village at Nazareth, continuing to volunteer as needed. In 2019, she moved to Nazareth Living Center, ministering in prayer and presence.
By Sister Helen Oates