Dominican Sister of Peace Joann Luttrell entered into eternal life on April 9, 2020, at the Sansbury Care Center in St. Catharine, KY. Sister Joann was born in 1936 in Louisville, KY, to Mary Cecilia Barr and Bishop Luttrell.
She decided to enter religious life while she was studying nursing at Nazareth College (now Spalding University). While visiting the St. Catharine Motherhouse with Father Raymond Smith, she heard God’s call and never looked back. She entered the Congregation on her twentieth birthday in 1956.
Sr. Joann continued her studies, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Science from St. Catharine College in 1956 and her Master of Arts in Nursing from Catherine Spaulding in 1962.
She ministered at the Congregation’s St. Catharine and Sansbury infirmaries in her early years before expanding her skills to serve as a nurse, administrator and chaplain at institutions in Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio.
Sister Joann liked to refer to herself as a “jack of all trades.” A perfect example of this was her time at Sacred Heart Village in Louisville, KY. Hired as Director of Congregate Living, Sister Joann also served as Director of Mission for three institutions, planned a monthly in-service for Department Directors and filled any free time with pastoral visiting.
Sister Joann delighted in telling stories about some of her patients, but always with a gentle humor that made her love and care for her patients plain for all to see.
Her gifts and talents did not go unnoticed by the Congregation. She was elected to the Governing Board three times, and she was happy to serve her community.
Sister Joann continued to care for her community with prayer and service after moving to our Saint Catharine Motherhouse. She began her final ministry of prayer and presence at Sansbury Care Center in 2012.
She is survived by her twin sister, Jane Klobe, three brothers, John, George and Robert Luttrell; and nieces and nephews.
A private service was held on April 14, 2020. Sr. Joann was interred at the St. Catharine Motherhouse Cemetery in St. Catharine, KY. The sharing of memories and a Memorial Mass will take place at a later date.
Memorial gifts in Sister Joann Luttrell’s memory may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Drive, Columbus, OH 43219 or submitted securely at OPPeace.org.
To donate in Sr. Joann’s memory, please click here.
To view a printable PDF copy of Sr. Joanne’s memorial, please click here.