Sister Eleanor Joyce, 95, a Sister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, died May 27, 2015, at Mother Joseph Manor.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Eleanor will be Saturday, May 30 at 11 a.m., in Blessed Sacrament Chapel at Presentation Convent, Aberdeen. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a Scriptural Wake service Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Father David Janes, will be celebrant and homilist.
Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery with Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.spitzerfuneralhome.com.
Eleanor was born May 4, 1920 in Rockham, SD to Sabina (Knox) and Raymond Eugene Joyce. She attended St. James Academy, New Rockford, ND (1933-1936) and then finished her senior year at Notre Dame High School in Mitchell, SD (1937). Eleanor (known as Sister Alice) entered Presentation Convent September 1, 1937 and made her first profession of vows August 12, 1940. Sister Eleanor received a teaching certificate from Notre Dame Jr. College in 1940. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from Cardinal Stritch College in Milwaukee, WI in 1942 and a Master of Arts Degree from Catholic University, Washington, DC in 1960. Sister Eleanor ministered in elementary and high schools as a music, Latin, History, and Journalism teacher. She served in Milbank, Huron, Mitchell, Bridgewater, Mitchell, Sioux Falls, Dell Rapids, and Aberdeen, SD. She was registrar at Presentation College from 1973-1980. She served as organist, religious education director and instructor in the parishes of Woonsocket, Lebanon, Parkston, Ethan, Redfield, SD and Winsted, MN from 1981to 1986. She returned to Presentation Convent in 1986 and did volunteer work as secretary, tutor, switchboard operator and driver.
Sister Eleanor is survived by her community family of Presentation Sisters; two sisters, Sister SaBina Joyce, PBVM, Aberdeen and Rose Anne (Edward) Colella, Sioux Falls and one brother, Reverend James Joyce, Sioux Falls. She is preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and SaBina Joyce, one sister, Bernadine Knapp and four brothers, Dr. John, Thomas, Ronald and Raymond Joyce.
Memorials are preferred to Presentation College for the Joyce Family Scholarship Fund.