Joan Campbell, SP
June 13, 1937 - November 4, 2018
Obituary
JOAN CAMPBELL, SP
(Sister Joanne)
Sister Joan Campbell, age 81, a Sister of Providence for 62 years, died November 4, 2018, at Swedish First Hill Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Vigil Service: November 8, 2018, at 6:30 PM, and Funeral Mass: November 9, 2018, at 11:00 AM, both at St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Seattle, WA, after Mass and reception. Bonney Watson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Joan Campbell was born June 13, 1937 to John and Vera (Smith) Campbell, in Seattle, Washington. She was the youngest of three children. Joan entered the Sisters of Providence in July 1955 at Mount St. Vincent, Seattle, Washington, and in January 1956, she became a novice. In July 1957 she professed first vows and received the name Sister Joanne, and in August 1962 she professed final vows.
Joan graduated in 1955 from Holy Angels High School, Seattle, Washington. In 1962, Sister Joanne (Joan) earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Seattle University. In 1969, she received a Masters of Education degree from the University of San Francisco, California. She received her Masters of Arts degree in theology in 1989 from St. Mary’s College, Moraga, California. Sr. Joan also earned several accreditations: 1969 – Chaplaincy, and 1989 – President, both from the American Catholic Corrections Chaplains Association, Baltimore, Maryland; 1989 – Certification Standards, U.S. Catholic Conference, San Antonio, Texas.
Sister Joan’s first ministry from 1957-82 was in education as a teacher and principal in Washington: Vancouver – Providence Academy and Our Lady of Lourdes schools; Yakima – St. Joseph and Apple Valley schools: Seattle – St. Francis of Assisi and St. Alphonsus schools; and Longview – St. Rose School.
In August 1982, Sr. Joan began her Chaplaincy Program at Western State Hospital, Steilacoom, WA. Then from 1983-2001 she ministered as a chaplain and detention coordinator in California: Archdiocese of San Francisco; Dublin – U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Institution; in Washington: Federal Detention Center in SeaTac.
In 1990 Sr. Joan received several honors: a Certificate of Commendation from the Sheriff’s Office of San Francisco, California; Certificate of Correctional Practices, Department of the Treasury, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, Georgia; and as president of the American Catholic Correctional Chaplains Association, Sr. Joan represented U.S. Catholic chaplains in Rome at the first International Congress of Catholic Chaplains in 1990. It was at this time that she had the honor of meeting with Pope John Paul II to discuss the serious issue of incarceration in the world.
When Sr. Joan retired in 2002 she volunteered as chaplain at the Heritage House at the Market in Seattle, and continued to be an active member and advocate of numerous associations and committees: American Correctional Association, (ACA), American Catholic Correctional Chaplains Association (ACCCA), National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), and spokesperson for the Sisters of Providence advocating against the death penalty in the state of Washington and globally. She resided at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, where she enjoyed and cherished spending time with family, friends and her sisters in community.
Sr. Joan is preceded in death by her parents, and brother, John. She is survived by her brother Patrick (Kathleen), sister-in-law, Sue (John), nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016.
Sister Joan was the nicest person and fun loving one that we have ever met in a long time,, our hearts go out to her family and sisters at St Joseph Residence, We will miss her. She was a member of our weight loss group TOPS in West Seattle.
I had the privilege of working with Sr. Joan at SeaTac and was always impressed with her presence and respected by all. May she be rewarded for all her Detention Ministry.
For some strange reason, I only met Sr. Joan this past summer, when she joined us in protest of the death penalty for the entire four day annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty at the US Supreme Court. She stayed with us at the homeless shelter where many of us are housed during this event. Joan was such a terrific spirit, lifting us up, praying, and regaling us with many stories of her experiences. She was so excited just to be with us, and I invited her to share during one of our evening teach-ins. Sr. Joan gave what may have been her final public speech on this issue. This video is worth watching from the start, but you can also fast forward to where Sr. Joan starts, near the 17 minute mark. https://www.facebook.com/fastandvigil/videos/1809500202451070/
Joan – you are loved. You are missed. Your impact was great, and yet there is much left to be done. You leave big shoes to fill… Love, –abe
Sister Joan was a truly lovable and kind person who made a positive difference in the world. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family.
Sr. Joan will be missed by me. She was a favorite of mine among the people working to abolish the death penalty. Sr. Joan was always a teacher and loved to share her knowledge of the journey that God had led her on.
Sister Joanne, God’s Peace To You.
I have Fond memories of Sr. Joan. Our paths crossed numerous times over the years thru our death penalty abolition efforts.
I’ve known Sister Joan since her entry into the Bureau of Prisons in Dublin, CA. We connected immediately. Many times we humorously quarreled about each of our political views. We had a standing bet every four years, if a republican won the presidency then she would take me to lunch but if a democrat won I would have to repay the favor.
Sister then ‘followed’ me up to FDC SeaTac and then she retired from the Bureau in 2001. We’ve kept in touch ever since. I loved to hear about all of her experiences over the years.
I was deeply saddened when I heard of her passing but I know I have an angel looking down upon me. RIP Sister Joan, Love ya!
This past summer Joan joined us for a family reunion. We are grateful to have had that time to renew old memories and share with Joan her latest works of mercy.There were no borders, no limits to Joan’s love for others. She was indeed a valiant woman of God, an inspiration and a dear friend.
Peace to you, Joan
Sister Joan was a saint. No one could have done more with one precious human life than she did. She will be my inspiration forever.
We’ve stood on Joan’s shoulders before, and the foundation is strong with plenty of work to do. Thank God for her life and legacy. Our love and sympathy to our dear friends of the Sisters of Providence.
I had the pleasure of meeting Sister Joan this summer in Washington, DC, where she was advocating for an end to the death penalty. I rejoice that she was able to see abolition in her home state shortly before her death. Sister Joan showed amazing resilience and faith-filled joy despite years of ministry in some of the darkest corners of this country. I will carry her spirit with me as we continue the work!
And thanks, Abraham J. Bonowitz, for sharing the fb link. Bless Sr. Joanne for all her work toward prohibition of the death penalty.