Sister Joan Bastress, IHM

Sister Joan Bastress, IHM, (formerly Sister Therese Joseph of the Sorrowful Mother, OCD) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Friday, July 3, 2026, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.

Born on April 22, 1934, in Baltimore, MD, and given the name Joan Marie, Sister Joan was the daughter of the late Arthur and Frances Sellman Bastress. She entered the Order of the Discalced Carmelites in Brooklyn, NY, on October 19, 1952, made temporary profession of her vows on July 12, 1954, and final profession of her vows on June 10, 1957. She joined the IHM Congregation in Scranton, PA on June 19, 1975. Sister Joan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies from Marywood College, and a Master of Arts degree in systematic theology from St. Bonaventure University.

Sister Joan served as director of religious education and pastoral associate at the following: St. Rocco Parish in Pittston, PA, from 1976 to 1978; St. Clare Parish in Scranton, PA, from 1978 to 1980; Most Holy Rosary Elementary School in Syracuse, NY, from 1980 to 1983; St. John Parish in Frederick, MD, from 1983 to 1989; St. John the Evangelist Parish in Columbia, MD, from 1989 to 1992; Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Baltimore, MD, from 1992 to 1994; St. Jerome Parish in Baltimore, MD, from 1994 to 1998; St. Joseph Parish in Sykesville, MD, from 1998 to 2001; and St. Charles Parish in Pikesville, MD, from 2001 to 2003.

Sister Joan also served as administrator of pastoral services at the School Sisters of Notre Dame Motherhouse in Baltimore, MD, from 2004 to 2006; pastoral aide at Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore, MD, from 2006 to 2007; volunteer at Stella Maris Hospice in Towson, MD, from 2006 to 2007; pastoral minister at Good Samaritan Nursing Center in Baltimore, MD, from 2008 to 2017; and support service staff member at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, from 2017 to 2025.

From 2025 until the time of her death, Sister Joan was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Monsignor Arthur of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and John (Jack). Sister Joan is survived by two brothers, Paul of Westminster, MD, and Robert of Sykesville, MD, and their families. She is also survived by the members of the IHM Congregation

The funeral will be Friday, July 10, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 1510 University Avenue in Dunmore, PA. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Friday, July 10, between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A prayer service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow Mass on Friday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.

Prayer and Funeral

Reflection

Given by Sister Mary Elaine Anderson, IHM Leadership Team Member

Good morning to all who are present in this chapel and via livestream. Welcome to this funeral Mass and celebration of the life of Sister Joan Bastress. A heartfelt welcome especially to Sister Joan’s family, her brothers Paul and Robert and their families, to the extended family and Joan’s friends, the sisters in Household 2A with whom Joan lived, and the members of her mission circle, Tierra Maria.

Sister Joan was born on April 22, 1934, in Baltimore, Maryland. She was the third child and only daughter of the late Arthur and Frances Sellman Bastress. She grew up surrounded by her four brothers—Arthur, John, Paul, and Robert. It was in the warmth of her family that Joan first encountered God and embarked on a spiritual journey … a journey that would lead her to this day in which she finally rests in the embrace of the One she has been seeking all of her life.

Joan attended St. Bernadine Elementary School and the Institute of Notre Dame for her secondary education. She sang in the choir and participated actively in the CYO. A sister who was two years behind her in school remembers Joan as being popular, a great dancer, and “able to run anything.”

After graduating from high school in 1952, Joan entered the Order of the Discalced Carmelites in Brooklyn, New York, where she made her final profession of vows on June 10, 1957. As a Carmelite, she was known as Sister Therese Joseph of the Sorrowful Mother. As her religious name suggests, Joan had great devotion to Saints Thérèse of Lisieux, Teresa of Avila, and Joseph. She asked that an image of St. Joseph be included within her funeral booklet and that we sing the Stabat Mater during this prayer that precedes Mass. Joan was grounded in Carmelite tradition and had a Carmelite heart that remained with her throughout her life.

On June 19, 1975, Joan entered the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, Pennsylvania, where she was officially incorporated three years later on June 11, 1978. As an IHM, Joan was known by her baptismal name, Joan Marie. A friend, with whom I spoke, described her as having the spirit of Joan of Arc. She was a woman of integrity and fearless about expressing what she thought.

In the year 2000, Joan had the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to France where she visited historic sites connected to her Carmelite roots, devotion to Mary and patroness Joane of Arc. Her description of the pilgrimage gives you insight into who Joan was, what captured her heart, and held her in awe. These are her words written in a letter to Sister Anne Munley:

I had a wonderful pilgrimage in France visiting the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal in Paris, St. Therese’s home and Carmel in Lisieux, the Grotto in Lourdes and Notre Dame Cathedral in Rheims. When you go to Lourdes, you immediately realize that Our Blessed Mother truly graces it with her presence. We were in Rheims for Pentecost and that was also a glorious experience. I went there to honor my patron, Jeanne d’Arc, and I was not disappointed. The ancient bells pealed out for fifteen minutes, the grand organ played and a Men/Boys’ Choir sang for the Mass of the Holy Spirit. My traveling companion said she could almost see the King of France coming down the aisle! This is the place where Joan of Arc had the king crowned back in 1429. I was thrilled to be there!

Joan had a great appreciation for fine liturgy. She was a musician and played both the piano and organ. During her sabbatical, Joan took violin lessons. She was a lifelong learner who kept abreast of many topics, especially those related to theology and spirituality. A sister in Joan’s mission circle told me that Joan was a gift to their members. She appreciated Joan’s creativity in planning prayer and her ability to read and analyze Church and congregational documents and then explain the meaning in ways that were simple and practical.

I suspect that those were the same skills that Joan used throughout her years of ministry as a Director of Religious Education and pastoral aide and minister.  As an IHM, she first ministered in the states of Pennsylvania and New York. From 1983 to 2017, Joan served in a variety of settings, including parishes, hospitals, and nursing homes in Maryland. In 2017, she returned to Scranton, Pennsylvania, where she became a support staff member of Our Lady of Peace Residence and, more recently, until the time of her death, a prayer minister.

Today we give thanks for Joan’s witness of unconditional and self-emptying love for all God’s people. We will remember her as a faithful servant who followed in the footsteps of Jesus and the example of Mary, his mother.

On the day of her profession, Sister Joan Bastress signed a vow card, committing herself to a life of poverty, chastity and obedience. We place this card with her now, as an acknowledgement that this life of fidelity to God through her vows has been fulfilled.