Keohane Funeral Home

Sister Joanne Westwater of Quincy, passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2015, at the age of 84.  

Born in Boston on May 5, 1930 to the late Joseph and Martha (Early) Westwater, Sr. Joanne was a devoted Sister of the Good Shepherd for over 50 years.  Sister of the late Agnes, Joseph, Donald Westwater and Evelyn (Westwater) Doyle, she is survived by her sister, Sister Martha Westwater, SCH, of Wellesley, her brother Robert Westwater and his wife Marie, of Reading, and her sister-in-law, Lou Westwater of McLean, Virginia.  Sr. Joanne is also survived by 11 nephews and nieces, and 23 grand-nephews and grand-nieces, who were the lucky recipients of her fun and generous spirit.  Sr. Joanne was put on this earth to save it and she spent every ounce of her being focused on doing so.  An unwavering advocate for the poor and those in need of counseling, she was committed to serving those communities, and was still actively ministering people until her passing.  Sister Joanne was well known and dearly loved and will be especially remembered for her huge heart and her unique way of getting things done. 

Sister Joanne graduated in 1947 from St. Margaret’s School in Dorchester, MA and later attended Boston College where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1953 and a Master of Science degree in Social Work in 1955.  She also earned a certificate in Theological Studies from Providence College in 1962. 

In 1963 Sister Joanne entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in Peekskill, NY where she received her formal training in the care of children and families.  She made her first profession of vows in 1966 and pronounced her final vows in 1977.  Sister Joanne was a psychiatric social worker in the residential program at Mt. Florence in Peekskill, NY until 1969.  Sister was then missioned to Madonna Hall in Marlborough, MA and was named Director of Social Services until 1971.  From there, Sister was missioned to Peekskill, NY and continued her work with the girls in residence at Mt. Florence and in the Group Home program as a psychiatric social worker.  In 1976, Sister went to Madonna Heights in Dix Hills, NY where she worked with the girls in residence as a psychiatric social worker and therapist.  In 1985 Sister Joanne returned to Boston and began work at the Family Counseling Center in Braintree, MA.

In 1992 Sister realized her dream and began a new Good Shepherd Program, Maria Droste Services, in Quincy, MA. The mission of Maria Droste is to provide professional counseling and holistic therapies with respect and compassion so that each person may recognize his/her individual worth and find reconciliation within oneself and with others. She served as the Director of the program until her retirement in 2005.   Sister Joanne continued to volunteer her services as a group therapist at the Maria Droste program in Quincy until her death.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Friday 4-8 PM in the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St., QUINCY. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 8 AM on Saturday prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Joseph’s Church, Quincy at 9 AM. Burial in Mt. Benedict Cemetery, West Roxbury.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Maria Droste Counselling Services, 1354 Hancock Street, Suite 209, Quincy, MA 02169, will be greatly appreciated.