Sister Joanne McGovern RGS, of Milton, MA, passed away peacefully  at Brigham and Women ' s Hospital in Boston on Friday, April 10, after a long and courageous struggle with cancer.

She was born in Pittsfield, MA on May 21, 1944 to the late Joseph P. and Eleanor M. (Lambert) McGovern.  She graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1962 and from the College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY, in 1966.  In 1975, she received a Master ' s Degree from Suffolk University in Boston.

She entered the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in Peekskill, NY in 1966; her ministry as a Group Life Supervisor and Social Worker took her to Hartford, CT at the former House of Good Shepherd and to Madonna Hall in Marlboro, MA.  In 1980, in addition to her ministry within the order, she began her career at the Department of Children and Families (formerly DSS) as a social worker in the Framingham Area office.  For 20 years, she worked tirelessly to support and engage families and ensure that children were safe.

In 2000, Sister Joanne was promoted to the position of Ombudsperson  in the Commissioners Office in Boston.  As an Ombudsperson, she provided guidance and support to families on behalf of the Commissioner until her retirement in 2011.  During her  32 years with the Department, Joanne always had a smile and a positive perspective, even during the most difficult situations.  She was a bright light to families and colleagues alike.  She was a special person who developed many close friendships with her DCF family and she will be forever missed by them, as well as by her Good Shepherd Community and everyone else who knew her.

Upon her retirement from DCF, she joined her dear friend and colleague, Sister Mary Hart, at the Sister Mary Hart Children ' s Program in Roxbury, MA; her initial role in the program was as coordinator of the Boston College student volunteers.  She then assumed the role of Program Director, where she was dearly loved by the children, their families, the volunteers from many Boston area colleges, and the staff.  As Executive Director, she remained involved in this program until her passing.

Sister Joanne was an active and beloved member of St. Katherine Drexel Parish, Roxbury, MA, for many years.  She also served as the Coordinator of the Boston Good Shepherd Associates.

Sister Joanne is survived by her brother, Joseph P. McGovern and his wife, Christine, of LaJolla, CA and her sister, Mary Jane M. Kreiger and her husband, John, of Leesburg, VA; by her nieces, Kathryn Kreiger McCarthy and her husband, Michael, of Great Falls, VA, Amy Kreiger Wigmore and her husband, Michael, of Arlington, VA, Sarah Kreiger of Brooklyn, NY, and Mia McGovern of LaJolla, CA.  She is also survived by her great-niece, Kaitlin Rose McCarthy and her great-nephew, Jack Wigmore, as well as by all of her beloved sisters in the Good Shepherd Community.

A Mass of Christian Burial, celebrated by Rev. Peter A. Gregory and Rev. Oscar Pratt, will be offered for Sister Joanne on Saturday, April 25, 2015, at 10 AM at the Good Shepherd Center Chapel, 406 Hemenway St., Marlborough, MA.  Visiting hours at the Chapel will be on Friday, April 24, 2015, from 4 to 8 PM, with a Prayer Service at 7 PM.  Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Fitzgerald & Collins Funeral Home, ( www.CollinsFuneral.com ), 378 Lincoln St, Marlborough, MA.  In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sister Joanne may be made to:

The Sister Mary Hart Children ' s Program

c/o Julie McGovern

31 Wachusetts Ave.

Lawrence, MA  01841

Sister Joanne devoted so much of her life, love, and amazing spirit to this program which provides after-school and summer programs to children in the Roxbury area.

The family of Sister Joanne McGovern would like to express their most sincere thanks to the Doctors and Staff of the Thoracic Oncology Department at Dana Farber and Brigham and Women ' s for the incredible and compassionate care which she has received; to the Massachusetts Department of  Children and Families, to the staff at Fuller Village in Milton, MA, t o her community, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, and to all of Sister Joanne ' s friends who have been so generous and loving to her throughout this difficult journey.