Sr. Joan Drega (Josephine Mary), DC, age 88, died at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Md., on Feb. 7, 2025.
She was born April 27, 1936, in Baltimore to Francis Walter and Florence (Ziomek) Drega. Before entering the Community, Sister Joan was a member of St. Elizabeth Parish in Baltimore. She graduated from Seton High School in Baltimore in 1954 and entered the Daughters of Charity on January 26, 1955. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education in 1965 from St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg. In 1977, she earned a Master of Arts Degree in Teaching In Elementary Studies from Trinity College in Washington, DC and then in 1986, she earned an M.S. in Elementary Education Administration from the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio.
After a period of initial formation, Sister Joan was missioned to teach at St. Ambrose School in Endicott, N.Y. (1956-1960). After this, she went to St. Vincent Home in Saginaw, Mich.as a Group Worker (1960-1962). Following this assignment, Sister Joan was an elementary teacher in several schools: St. Peter Cathedral School in Wilmington, Del. (1962-1963); St. Francis School in Staunton, Va. (1963-1969); St. Dominic School in Baltimore (1969-1970); St. Pius X School in Greensboro, N.C. (1970-1975); and St. Catherine Labouré School in Wheaton, Md. (1975-1980). From 1980-1981 she served as a secondary teacher at Holy Cross Regional School in Lynchburg, Va. After that, she returned to elementary schools: Portsmouth Catholic Elementary School as a teacher (1981-1982) and as principal (1982-1985); and St. Joseph School in Martinsburg, W. Va. as a teacher (1985-1988).
Her next three missions were as principal: St. Catherine Labouré School in Wheaton (1988-1992); Saints Peter and Paul School in Oak Hill, W. Va. (1992-1994) where she also served as the local community superior; and St. Joseph School in Petersburg, Va. (1994-1997). She then assumed the role of Development Director for the former Daughters’ Southeast Province in Emmitsburg (1998-2006). Her next mission was in Jacksonville, Fla., as the Daughter of Charity Foundation Liaison at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Riverside, Mich. (2006-2014) and then served in the same role at St. John Providence Health System in Detroit, Mich. (2014-2015). Following this, Sister Joan worked in the Development Office at Providence Health in Novi, Mich. (2015-2020).
In 2020, she was missioned to Bethany Community in Emmitsburg where she served in Development at Seton Heritage Ministries. Sister Joan was known for her keen sense of humor, love of life, and her crab feast fundraisers, always with the focus of assisting those who were living in poverty. In 2022, she was missioned to Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg where she served in the Ministry of Prayer until her death.
Sr. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Lawrence Drega and Raymond Drega, and her sister, Frances Susie. She is survived by nieces, friends, and her Sisters in Community.
A Wake Service was held on Wed., Feb. 12 in the Villa Chapel in Emmitsburg. The Mass of Christian Burial took place the following day in the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Burial followed at the Sacred Heart Cemetery on the grounds.
Donations may be made in her name to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63108.
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