Dominican Sister of Peace Joan (Sr. John Marie) McGough (90), a Pittsburgh, PA, native, died at Mohun Health Care Center, Columbus, OH, on October 10, 2025.
Sr. Joan was born to Mary Vesta Myers and John Thomas McGough in 1934. She entered the congregation in 1960 and took her final vows in 1968. Sr. Joan served God’s people for the last sixty-two years.
Sr. Joan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Ohio Dominican College (now Ohio Dominican University), Columbus, OH, and a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine (Kent State), Independence, OH .
Sister Joan served faithfully as a Registered Nurse throughout Ohio and later as a Podiatrist in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio. She especially cherished caring for the residents of Saint Mary of the Springs Infirmary and Mohun Health Care Center.
In her funeral preaching, Sr. Ellen Dunn shared with a smile, “I truly believe that if Joan had lived in St. Dominic’s time, she would have scolded him for walking barefoot and carrying his shoes everywhere — even if he was practicing poverty! Sr. Joan, on the other hand, was practicing good healthcare sense.”
In a letter to the Congregation, Sr. Pat Twohill shared a touching memory:
“When Joan officially retired from her private podiatry practice, she chose to continue ministering as a volunteer. The manager of Stygler Village in Gahanna commended her service, writing, ‘It will never be known, this side of eternity, the relief Dr. McGough gave to those she ministered to here at Stygler Village and Stygler Commons. She truly represented God—with skin on.’”
She was preceded in death by her parents John and Mary Vesta Myers McGough, her sisters, Mary Catherine, Ellen Zollinger, Patricia Flodine and Sister Mary Vesta McGough, OP and her brother, John McGough, Jr. She is survived by her sister, Rosemary Holmes and nieces and nephews.
A Vigil of Remembrance Service was held on October 16, 2025, at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse Chapel, Columbus, OH.
The funeral liturgy followed on October 17, 2025, then followed by burial at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Memorial gifts in Sister Joan’s memory may be submitted securely online or sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr, Columbus, OH 43219.
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