Jo Ann Showalter SP
August 24, 1946 - July 26, 2024
Obituary
(Sister Jo Ann)
Sister Jo Ann Showalter, age 77, a Sister of Providence for 29 years, died July 26, 2024 at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, Wash.
Vigil: Monday, August 26, 2024, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, Wash., at 6:30pm. Funeral Mass: Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, Wash, at 9:00am. Bonney Watson Funeral Home is overseeing arrangements.
She was born Josephine Ann Herb on August 24, 1946, in McMinnville, Ore., to Donald and Verna Herb. Sister Jo Ann was the eldest of seven children and, being the oldest child in a large family, she had many childcare responsibilities for younger siblings. She graduated high school in 1964 from Central Linn High School, Halsey, Ore.
Sister Jo Ann first thought of being a Sister when she was 12, but was too young to enter a religious community. She continued her schooling, and also enjoyed a busy life as a wife and mother, but the call to religious life kept coming back, even after raising two sons from a marriage that ended. After discerning and attending a Sisters of Providence vocation retreat, Sister Jo Ann knew where she was going to be. She entered the Sisters of Providence community in 1993, became a Novice in 1994, received First Vows in 1996 and Final Vows in 2000.
Sister Jo Ann’s educational achievements include: an AS degree in Medical Radiography, Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, Ore. (1967); a BA in Religion, Philosophy, Pastoral Care, Marylhurst University, Marylhurst, Ore. (1999); and a MA in Earth Literacy, St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind. (2008). She also attended many continuing education workshops, classes and seminars.
Sister Jo Ann ministered as an ultrasound technologist at Providence Milwaukee Hospital (1995-96) and Providence Portland Medical Center (1996-99). She served on the religious community’s formation team, both as a member and as a director (2000-2007) and in religious community leadership as a councilor (2005-19). She also valued working with the Providence Associates. Because of her passion of earth sustainability and environmental causes, Sister Jo Ann was always educating herself, and helping others on how to be good stewards of the earth.
Sister Jo Ann was especially grateful for her religious community and the many ways she was able to help those in need. She had an infectious love of life and readily shared her beautiful smile. She will be immensely missed.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her son Cloyd Showalter, Jr. She is survived by her son, Ralph Showalter, her brothers, Stanley Herb, Donald Herb, Thomas Herb, and Matthew Herb; her sisters, Sharon Thompson and Cecilia Dulin; and by the Sisters in her community.