Sister Joan Tuberty, 92, died peacefully on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minn.
Joan Marie Tuberty was born on December 27, 1928, in Albert Lea, Minn., to James H. and Beulah (Espey) Tuberty. She had two older brothers, James T. and Robert B. Tuberty.
Joan was a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondolet, St. Paul, Minn., from 1948-1969, and a member of the Order of St. Clare, Bloomington, Minn., from 1977-1986. She transferred to the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls in 1986 and made final vows on April 8, 1989. However, she continued to keep in touch with the Poor Clare Sisters who had moved to Rochester, Minn.
Sister Joan earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from the College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minn., and a master of science degree in psychiatric and nursing education from Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. Later she studied macrobiotics in Boston and psychosynthesis in Minneapolis.
As a Sister of St. Joseph she ministered as a nursing instructor, associate professor of nursing, clinical specialist in psychological nursing and nursing consultant. She taught at Catholic University, the University of St. Catherine and the University of Minnesota. Later she ministered as a counselor and spiritual director. From 1992 to 2016 she served as a spiritual guide, counselor and teacher of Centering Prayer at St. Olaf’s Church in Minneapolis. She was a founding member of WomenSpirit, an ecumenical organization to explore and nourish women’s spirituality. During this time she lived at Exodus House, a Catholic Charities transitional housing facility where she provided counseling and support to the occupants.
In 2016 health issues caused her to move to the convent in Little Falls. She continued to be active in centering prayer groups and in spiritual direction, both with her sisters in Little Falls and with her many contacts around the world.
Sister Joan was a very intelligent, creative and loving person who could see the light in other people’s eyes and truly be present to them. As a member of the contemplative Poor Clare Sisters, she became very interested in the Eastern Christian tradition and this led her to use her artistic talent to write icons. She had a deep understanding of wholistic spirituality, and she shared that knowledge with the many people she counseled through the years. In her own words, she said, “I am a Franciscan Sister, rooted in the richness of our tradition which is to live the Gospel with joy and generosity…it is the love of Christ that urges me on. People need to make that space inside of them available to grace and to honor that sacred space in others. As we come to know stillness in our lives, we become available to the beauty that surrounds us, to see the stars, the flowers, the beautiful things that are in our world.”
Sister Joan was preceded in death by her parents, brothers and sister-in-law Frances A. Tuberty. She is survived by sister-in-law Beverly Tuberty; nieces Virginia Ann (Bob) Holmes, Yvonne Pilot and Joan Tuberty; nephew Timothy (Patricia) Tuberty; as well as several great and great-great nieces and nephews; a multitude of friends, many of whom were the recipients of her spiritual guidance and wisdom; and her Franciscan Community.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 11 a.m. on July 6, 2021, at St. Francis Convent.
