News & Happenings

Remembering Sister Madeleine Joy, SP

Sister of Providence Madeleine Joy, formerly known as Sister Mary Mercy, died on February 10, 2023 in the 63rd year of her religious life. Born in Worcester, Mass., she was the daughter of the late William and Madeleine (Tardif) Joy. She attended the High School of Commerce in Worcester Mass. Sister Madeleine was a registered nurse when she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1960, having graduated from the St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing. She later received her BSN degree from Boston College School of Nursing.

Over the years, Sister Madeleine ministered as a nurse at the former Farren Memorial Hospital in Montague City, Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Providence Hospital in Holyoke, the SP Infirmary, and the Adult Day Care Center run by the Geriatric Authority of Holyoke. She also was an instructor at the former St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsfield, Mass.. In 1972, Sister Madeleine joined the Bureau of Exceptional Children and Adults as a home visitor, serving for several years in the Pittsfield area. After receiving certification by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, she began ministering in the Pastoral Care Department at the Providence Hospital. Since 1996, she served at the Farren Care Center in Montague City and at the Mercy Medical Center in Springfield. She touched the lives of hundreds of people through her work with the Mercy Cancer Support Group, grief groups, and — where she ministered to residents and staff and initiated the “No One Dies Alone” program for those with no family.

Sister Madeleine provided spiritual counseling, support groups, and retreats at Genesis Spiritual Life and Conference Center in Westfield for those recovering from substance use. At Providence Place in Holyoke, she continued to lead reflection groups and prayer services. Earlier in the 1980s, she was a pioneer in providing spiritual services to persons with HIV/AIDS in Western Mass.

Sister Madeleine was a member of the American Nurses Association and from 1989-1992 and was Regional Director for the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. She was the recipient of the 1997 YWCA Women of Achievement Award and the 2004 Angel of Hope Award from the Caritas Cancer Center.

Sister Madeleine is survived by her Sisters in Community, her sister Constance Cronin of North Andover, MA and two nieces Patricia Joy – Seattle, WA; Anne Marie Tennison – Federal Way, WA; and six nephews John Joy – Graham, WA; Michael Joy – Edgewood, WA; John Cronin – North Andover, MA; Daniel Cronin – Haverhill, MA; Christopher Cronin – South Dartmouth, MA; and William H. Joy, Jr. – Graham, WA.

The Wake will be held on Tue., Feb. 14, 2023 from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm at Providence Place, 5 Gamelin Street, Holyoke, Mass., with a Wake Service at 6 pm. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wed., Feb 15, 2023 at 10 a.m. in the Providence Place Chapel, preceded by a period of visitation from 9:00 am to 9:45 am.

To send your condolences, please email the Sisters of Providence President’s Office. Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Providence, 5 Gamelin St., Holyoke, MA 01040.