Mass of Christian Burial for Sr. Mary Joseph Mead, 91, of Norfolk, will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 16 at the Immaculata Monastery, 300 N. 18th Street in Norfolk. Burial will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Norfolk. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Dec. 15 with a Wake Service at 7 p.m. at the Immaculata Monastery.
Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.
Sister Mary Joseph surrendered all to Christ on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025.
Maedell Dorothy Mead was born to Anthony and Selma (Dineen) Mead on Dec. 12, 1933. Her eldest sister, Darlene, died of a heart condition at the age of five. Maedell then grew up with one other sister, Annella Schmidt, and her only brother, Virgil, in rural Minnesota.
As a young girl, Maedell worked at Graceville Holy Trinity Hospital for some months in the summer. It was there she came to know the sisters and began to realize her vocation. At the age of 16, she decided to complete her senior year of high school in Raeville, Nebraska.
She became a postulant in December of 1950 and a novice on June 4, 1951 when she received her religious name, Sr. Mary Joseph. She then made her first profession in Norfolk on June 12, 1952 and her final vows on June 13, 1955 with companions Sr. Mary Salus Linde, and Sr. Andrea Polt. Noteworthy of this date was the missioning of Sr. Salus, a physician from Germany, to Daegu, Korea and the blessing of the cornerstone for Assumption Academy by Archbishop Bergan.
Ever willing to being a pioneer sister, she joined Sr. Heribalda Ostenrieder, Sr. Diemud Gerber (superior) and Sr. Ignatia Lordeman in 1957 to serve at the St. Augustine Mission at Winnebago. For 16 years, Sr. Mary Joseph used her diverse skills while caring for the children where she was in charge specifically of the girls.
In 1973, encouraged by 1st Priory Chapter, the decision was made to established a mission in Jackson, Kentucky, to serve the poor in the Appalachian Mountains. It was realized with the announcement of the first missionaries: Sr Mary Joseph, Sr Roselle Koch, and Sr. Margaret Mary Bean on Foundation Day, Sept 24, 1973. Always a good driver, she is remembered for driving from Norfolk to Jackson – a distance of 970 miles. After two years in Jackson, she returned to Winnebago and was assigned as matron of the little boys. Even in her advanced state of dementia more recently she recalled these days in Winnebago by “scolding the boys” for misbehaving.
In 1984, she found her way back to Minnesota. For nearly 28 years, she would apply her talents to her jobs as a respiratory therapist and in charge of central supply. Sr. Mary Joseph was truly a “Jill of all trades” with a large variety of talents and ministries. Always attentive she is remembered for her decorating the entire hospital and convent for every imaginable holiday and celebration, especially St. Patrick’s Day. The community decision to divest from our hospital in Graceville and to close the mission was especially difficult for her.
Upon moving to Norfolk she took up her ministry of the dining room with great attention to detail and she had a lot of joy decorating for all feasts and holidays. No matter where Sr. Mary Joseph was, she took her “Irish Pride” with her and March 17 was a day for true celebration and maximum decorating.
Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.homeforfuneralsinc.com.
