Obituaries

Sr. Joan Marie Boberg, CDP (aka Sr. Francis Xavier) died peacefully at Holy Family Home on July 29, 2023. She was a professed member of the Congregation of Divine Providence for almost seventy-two years. Born in Covington, Kentucky in 1932 to John Theodore and Mildred (Fagedes) Boberg, she made her first profession of vows in 1951. Sister professed final vows in 1956.

Missioned in 1951 to teach at Christ the King School, Lexington, Sr. Joan Marie pursued her bachelor’s degree by attending summer classes at Villa Madonna College (now Thomas More University). After graduation in 1965, she began work toward her master’s (M.Ed., Xavier University, 1970) while adding the responsibilities of being a school principal to her teaching work in the classroom, first at St. Francis School in Pikeville (1965-1966), and then at Corpus Christi School, Newport (1966-1969). She served in Congregational ministry as Director of Formation and influenced the spiritual formation of many young sisters. Sr. Joan Marie was then elected Vicar-Councilor of her CDP Province (1973-1979) and, in the following term, Provincial Superior (1979-1984).

In 1984, Sr. Joan Marie began a year of sabbatical at the University of Notre Dame, a blessed and happy time during which she continued to discern the next step in God’s plan for her. A wonderful phase of Sister’s ministry began when she was appointed Director of the Catholic Social Services Bureau in 1985 by Bishop William Hughes, a ministry through which she served God and God’s people for the next two decades.

A very few highlights of her leadership during that time include the establishment of Catholic Charities, Inc., as an umbrella organization for Catholic Social Services and the Parish Kitchen to serve the needs of the people of Northern Kentucky (1987); expansion and renovation of the Parish Kitchen (1997); and new and expanded facilities for CSS in Latonia to better serve clients (2004). She also oversaw the creation of the first CSS plan emphasizing the treatment and prevention of substance abuse and violence. In many ways, Sr. Joan Marie became “the face of CSS in the community.” The City of Covington acknowledged her prodigious contribution to the well-being of the community by giving her the key to the city and declaring August 26, 2005 “Sr. Joan Marie Boberg, CDP Day.”

Sr. Joan Marie also served for many years as a trustee at St. Elizabeth Medical Center; Director of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities; a member of the Social Concerns Committee for the Catholic Conference of Kentucky; and was a founding member of Associated Catholic Charities of Kentucky. She was known as a woman with “a passion for the poor.” A deeply spiritual person and a brilliant administrator and organizer, Sr. Joan Marie was most of all a true woman of Providence. Sister retired from her last ministry as Director of Pastoral Care at the community’s Health Care Center in early 2023.

She will be deeply missed by her religious community, the Sisters of Divine Providence; her sisters Pam (Mike) Wagner and Lynn Mowery; her brother Jack (Gerry); and her many nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues. Her sisters Claire, LaVern Schute, Rose Welscher, Diane Beck; and her brothers Ken, Nick, Dan, Rick and Steve preceded her in death. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Mother of God Church, Covington, KY on Thursday, August 3, at 6:30 p.m., followed by reception in the parish hall. Visitation from 4:00 p.m. to just before Mass, with wake at 5:15 p.m. Interment of cremains in convent cemetery at a later date. Memorials to the Congregation of Divine Providence, 5300 Saint Anne Drive, Melbourne, KY 41059. Online condolences can be expressed at www.dmefuneral.com. Dobbling, Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Homes assisting with services.