Sister Joan Dodge, RSM

BRENTWOOD — Sister Joan Dodge, 85, formerly Sister Mary Eucharia, a Sister of Mercy of the Americas Mid-Atlantic Community, died Jan. 21 at Maria Regina Residence here. She was a Sister of Mercy for 65 years.

She entered the novitiate in Syosset on September 8, 1947 and made her final vows in 1953. Sister Joan graduated from St. John’s University in 1961 with a B.S. in education and from Manhattan College in 1970 with a M.A. in math. She gave many years of dedicated service in education in the Dioceses of Rockville Centre and Brooklyn: Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Syosset (1950-52, 1961-72); Mercy Juniorate, Brooklyn (1952-59); St. Mary’s, Roslyn (1960-61); and Catherine McAuley High School, Brooklyn (1975). She also taught in Panama and was an adjunct professor for Fordham University.

From 1975 to 1982 Sister Joan worked as pastoral associate at St. Nicholas Church, Brooklyn and for many years she was involved in retreat work and spiritual direction at St. Edward the Confessor Church, Syosset; St. Nicholas Church, Brooklyn; Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, Wyandanch; and at Mariondale and Emmaus Retreat House in upstate New York. In 1994 she retired to the Convent of Mercy in Brooklyn.

She is survived by her brother Chester Dodge, sisters Virginia Dodge and Carol VanDorf and loving nieces, nephews and cousins. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at Our Lady of Mercy, Syosset, on Jan. 25. Interment followed at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.