A funeral Mass for Sister M. Joyelle Proot, SSND, was celebrated Nov. 7 in the Theresa Center chapel at Sancta Maria in Ripa, St. Louis. Sister Joyelle died peacefully Oct. 31 at de Greef Hospice House in St. Louis. She was 79.
The oldest of three children, she was born to Kathryn (Dougherty) and Harold Proot on March 23, 1946, in St. Louis. She was baptized on April 7, 1946, at Resurrection Church and named Judy Ann. She attended St. Martin of Tours Grade School and Rosati-Kain High School, both of which were staffed by School Sisters of Notre Dame. While she participated in many high school activities, her greatest discovery was her attraction to art.
She felt a call to religious life and was drawn to SSND by the joy and commitment of her teachers and mentors. She entered the candidature at Sancta Maria in Ripa on Aug. 23, 1964. She and her classmates were received into the novitiate on July 29, 1965, at the Saint Louis Cathedral. She was given the name M. Joyelle. She pronounced first vows on July 30, 1966, and final vows on July 30, 1971.
Sister Joyelle earned a bachelor’s degree in art from the former Notre Dame College in St. Louis in 1968. She continued her education at Arrowmont School of Art and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and the Maryland Institute of Art in Baltimore.
Sister Joyelle was a high school teacher at St. Francis de Sales High School (1968-70) and Notre Dame High School (1970-78) in St. Louis. She served in research at Maria Center on the campus of Sancta Maria in Ripa (1978-80) and as a co-director providing adult education opportunities (1978-91).
She was an administrator for early childhood education at Hope Center Preschool in St. Louis (1991-92). During her years of ministry at Most Holy Trinity Parish (1992-2005) in St. Louis, she served in a variety of ways: ministering to families, pastoral associate and associate principal of the elementary school.
In 2005, she became a member of the Futuring SSND Charism Team for the former St. Louis Province. In 2012, she began to serve as a designer and artist for the Design for Spirituality and Charism ministry of SSND.
During her years of ministry, Sister Joyelle developed numerous workshops and designed program covers, prayer cards, greeting cards and other printed pieces. She used her artistic gifts to enhance congregational, province, individual and parish celebrations and liturgies. Along with Sister Genevieve Cassani, SSND, she designed a number of exhibits depicting the history of religious congregations and schools. With her artist friend Jean Lopez she designed various exhibits in conjunction with the St. Louis Artists Guild.
Sister Joyelle was a member of the design team for the renovation of the Theresa Center chapel, the Caroline Center reflection room and was instrumental in the production and installation of the Blessed Theresa sculpture at Sancta Maria in Ripa.
Sister Joyelle’s designs flowed from her deep faith and love of God, nature, her family and those she met. Design was for her a sacred ministry to express God’s love and care for all. She deeply loved her family and friends and delighted in providing treats for them as they shared a meal or had a good time visiting. Her smile and joy reflected her union with God. As a spiritual guide and artist, she sought to bring beauty into the world and a deep sense of God’s love for all of creation.
Sister Joyelle was preceded in death by her parents, Kathryn and Harold Proot, and her brother Joseph. She is survived by her brother Kevin, family members, friends, School Sisters of Notre Dame and SSND associates.
Burial was in the Sancta Maria in Ripa cemetery.
