A funeral Mass was celebrated April 26 for Sister Joan Ann Springman, OSU, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Alton, Illinois. Sister Joan Ann died April 18 St. Agnes Home in Kirkwood at age 87.
She was born on Feb. 24, 1934, at her home in Alton, the youngest of eight children of Joseph J. and Elizabeth (Valerius) Springman. She entered the Ursulines in July 1953 and professed her vows in January 1956, becoming known as Mother Mary Immaculata. She knew she wanted to be a religious from the time she was in the second grade.
Sister Joan Ann earned a bachelor’s degree in voice from Webster University and a master’s degree in liturgical music, with concentration in pipe organ, from DePaul University in Chicago.
Throughout her life, Sister Joan Ann was well known for her superior organ skills and beautiful voice.
She taught kindergarten and elementary grades — and music to students of all ages — throughout the Central Province, serving in Kirkwood; Alton, Collinsville, and Oak Park, Illinois; New Orleans; and Frontenac, Minnesota. She taught music at Ursuline Academy from 1978-82 and was the organist and choir director at St. Ann Church in Normandy from 1986-91.
Burial was at St Patrick’s Cemetery.
