Sister Joan Rokicki, RSM

SR. JOAN ROKICKI’S OBITUARY
“I AM ENERGIZED BY FRIENDSHIP, THAT CHOICEST OF ALL HUMAN GIFTS.” THIS WAS THE BELIEF OF THE REVERED
CATHERINE MCAULEY, FOUNDRESS OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY IN 1831. FRIENDSHIP WAS A CRUCIAL, COMPASSIONATE,
DYNAMIC PRACTICE OF SR. JOAN ROKICKI, RELIGIOUS SISTER OF MERCY. SHE DELIVERED THE WARMTH AND WONDER
OF FRIENDSHIP’S KINDNESS AND RESPECT AFFIRMING EVERY SOUL’S IMPORTANCE. THROUGH HER CAME HEALING
ENERGIES OF MERCY, ACCEPTANCE, FAIRNESS, COLLABORATION, LOVE, TRUST, TRUTH, INNOVATION, RELIABILITY, AND
PROBLEM SOLVING. SHE, ALONG WITH HER CO-WORKERS, CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE THEY HELPED TO
ENHANCE THEIR LIVES. SR. JOAN WAS INSPIRED, AND SOMETIMES, ASTONISHED BY THE LOVE RETURNED TO HER.
THAT RETURNED LOVE WAS AN ESSENTIAL LIFE NUTRITION FOR HER WORK.
“ON THIS MY HUMAN JOURNEY, I WILL TRY TO SEEK THE PATHS THAT COMFORT, STRENGTHEN, HEAL THE WOUNDS
AND INJURIES CAUSED BY HOMELESSNESS, VIOLENCE, INJUSTICE, PREJUDICE, NEGLECT, ISOLATION, ABUSE OF
POWER, POVERTY, HUNGER, AND GREED. SOMETIMES I FEEL OVERWHELMED AND HELPLESS THERE IS SO MUCH NEED
..... I WONDER ..... WHAT CAN I DO? .... CAN I TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE? .... CAN I REALLY COMFORT? ....
CAN I CONSOLE? .... THEN, I STOP....... I PONDER...... THERE IS A GREATER POWER THAN ME! THAT HELPS ME KNOW
THERE IS POSSIBILITY WHEN I TRUST IN HELP FROM THE GREAT SPIRIT. MY LIFE HAS BEEN ENRICHED BY ALL OF YOU
I HAVE MET. ..... I AM MOVED BY SOMETHING DEEP WITHIN TO WORK TOGETHER TO CHANGE A PROBLEM FOR THE
BETTER. WHAT MOVES ME SO? ...... PERHAPS IT IS THEIR FAITH OR IS IT THEIR FEAR? PERHAPS IT IS THEIR HOPE OR
IS IT THEIR HURT? PERHAPS IT IS THEIR LOVE OR IS IT THEIR LONELINESS? I TRUST ..... WHATEVER IT MAY BE .....
JUST TRUST THAT ‘SOMETHING’ CHANGED IN THEM ..... BECAUSE WE MET!” [SR. JOAN ROKICKI] “THE KINDNESS OF
FRIENDSHIP HAS A POWERFUL, MYSTICAL, UNCOMPETITIVE, HEALING ENERGY SO THE WONDER OF ITS SACRED
GENEROSITY TRANSFORMS RECEIVER AND DONOR ALIKE.” [Ewalt] SR. JOAN HAS LEARNED AND BENEFITED FROM HER
OWN HUMAN FRAILTIES AND MISTAKES WHICH THEN RENEWED HER STRONG BELIEF: “KINDNESS IS LOVE IN WORK
BOOTS!” AND OFF SHE’D GO WITH HER WELL KNOWN INTUITIVE ENTHUSIASM TO WORK WITH SOMEONE IN NEED.
TOGETHER, THEY WOULD FIND SOLUTIONS!
JOAN MARY ROKICKI WAS BORN IN NEW BEDFORD, M.A. DECEMBER 27, 1934 AND DIED SERENELY ON OCTOBER 17,
2024 TWO MONTHS BEFORE HER 90 TH BIRTHDAY. SHE RECEIVED ANGELIC CARE FROM EVERYONE. MORE THAN FIVE
YEARS AFTER HER STROKE IN 2018, THE CONSTANT CARING COMPANIONSHIP OF HER CHERISHED SISTERS OF MERCY
HELPED ARRANGE WHAT SHE HAD BEEN LONGING FOR: A MORE SPIRITUALLY ENRICHED ENVIRONMENT. THIS PAST
FEBRUARY, SR. JOAN TRANSFERRED TO THE JEANNE JUGAN RESIDENCE OF THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR IN
PAWTUCKET. HER DESIRE FOR A DEEPER SPIRITUAL ATMOSPHERE WAS JOYFULLY, COMPLETELY FULFILLED AT DAILY
MASS, FREQUENT PRAYER GATHERINGS, HELPING OTHERS, AND THE CONSTANT EXCHANGE OF LOVING ATTENTION
SURROUNDING HER. SHE HAD THE CARE OF DEDICATED NURSES, AN INTUITIVE LOVING SKILLED CARE LEADER, HARD
WORKING, DELIGHTFUL CNAs, A CARING RESPONSIVE SOCIAL WORKER, STEADFAST, CREATIVE SPEECH, PHYSICAL,
AND OCCUPTIONAL THERAPISTS, EVER PRESENT, WISE FAMILY MEDICINE DOCTORS OF PAWTUCKET, THE WARMTH OF
AN AUTHENTIC RECEPTIONIST, GENEROUS, STEADFAST HELP FROM VOLUNTEER – DIETARY - AND ACTIVITY
DIRECTORS, ENGAGING RELATIONSHIPS WITH DIETARY ASSISTANTS, KINDHEARTED HELP FROM THE HOUSEKEEPING,
MAINTENANCE, LAUNDRY AND TRANSPORT TEAMS, AS WELL AS, GRACE-FILLED, EMPATHIC ATTENTION FROM
ADMINISTRATORS. AND LAST BUT NEVER LEAST, JOANIE HAD THE COMPANY OF AN EASY GOING CAT NAMED
“FRANCIS OF ASSISI” WHO VISITED HER CAT SNACK BOWL REGULARLY.
SR. JOAN IS THE DAUGHTER OF THE LATE WALTER ROKICKI AND MARY (MEDEIROS) ROKICKI. HER MOTHER’S
DETERMINED SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY PROVIDED ONE OF SR. JOAN’S MOST FERVENT MODELS. SHE IS PRECEDED IN
DEATH BY HER BELOVED YOUNGER BROTHER, MICHAEL ROKICKI AND IS SURVIVED BY HER SISTER-IN-LAW, PHYLLIS
ROKICKI OF GREENCASTLE, IN; HER NIECE, GRETL ROKICKI PLESSINGER, HUSBAND CHRIS PLESSINGER AND SON
MICHAEL OF TALLAHASSEE, FL, HER NEPHEW, RYAN ROKICKI, HIS WIFE TAYLOR AND SON, AYDEN OF NEWBURGH, IN.
EVERYONE MATTERED TO SR. JOAN - THE INDIVIDUAL BONDS SHE HAD WITH HER TREASURED SISTERS OF MERCY,
DEARLY LOVED FOREVER FRIENDS, EVERY GUEST AND CO-WORKER AT MCAULEY HOUSE, WORKERS AT OTHER HELPING
AGENCIES,

POLITICIANS, PRIESTS, STUDENTS, AND STRANGERS. SHE TREASURED CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, THE HOMELESS AND
STRUGGLING, AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THEIR COURAGE AND RESILIENCE, NATIVE AMERICANS AND THEIR SPIRITUAL
CULTURE. SHE LOVED THE WONDER OF EACH DETAIL IN NATURE, SINGING HER HEART OUT TO IRISH MUSIC BY JOHN,
MARTY, PHIL, AND SHE MOST CERTAINLY LOVED EVERY DOG AND FLOWER SHE EVER MET!!
GRADUATIING FROM ST. MARY ACADEMY BAYVIEW, SR. JOAN WORKED HER WAY FOR TUITION THROUGH ALL FOUR
YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL BENEFITING GREATLY FROM THE TEACHINGS OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY. HER SPIRITUAL

CALLING LED HER TO FINAL VOWS AS A SISTER OF MERCY. FROM MERCY COLLEGE, SHE RECEIVED HER BACHELOR’S
DEGREE IN EDUCATION AND ENJOYED TEACHING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR SEVERAL YEARS. HER EMPATHIC HEART
FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED SENT HER TO GRADUATE SCHOOL AT BOSTON COLLEGE TO STUDY
THE NEEDS AND BEHAVIORS OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN, PSYCHOLOGY, AND PROBLEMS OF THE MULTI-DISABLED.
HER LOVE OF CHILDREN TOOK SR. IMMACULEE OR “SR. MAC” AS SHE WAS KNOWN THEN .... EVENTUALLY JUST SR.
JOAN .... TO THE PINE HARBOR RESIDENTIAL FACILTIY IN PASCOAG, RI. SHE WAS ONLY ONE OF TWO MERCY TEACHERS
WHO TAUGHT ABOUT 50 CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES RANGING IN AGES FROM
TODDLERS TO ADOLESCENTS. THE TWO TEACHERS WERE NOT ONLY IN THE CLASSROOM BUT ALSO, WITH THE HELP OF
AIDES, THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSISTING RESIDENTS WITH PERSONAL CARE; OVERSEEING BEDTIME; AND
SLEEPING IN COTTAGES WITH RESIDENTS ROUNDING OUT THEIR COMMITMENT TO COMPREHENSIVE CARE.
AFTER THAT, THE SPIRIT OF HOSPITALITY AND HONORING THE POOR - KEY MISSIONS OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY -
INSPIRED SR. JOAN TO BECOME AN OUTREACH WORKER FOR DECADES AT MCAULEY HOUSE IN PROVIDENCE, RI.
THERE, SHE HELPED DEVELOP CARING MERCY PROGRAMS WITH A DEDICATED STAFF AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF A
HEARTY CREW OF DEVOTED VOLUNTEERS WHO PROVIDED FOOD, FELLOWSHIP, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND POSITIVE
ACTIVITIES IN A SAFE, AFFIRMING ATMOSPHERE. GUESTS WHO GO TO MCAULEY HOUSE MAY LIVE ON THE STREETS,
IN SHELTERS OR IN LOW COST HOUSING. PROGRAMS SR. JOAN ASSSISTED WITH AT MCAULEY HOUSE PROVIDED DAILY,
NUTRITIOUS MEALS, ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO OBTAIN ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTATION NECESSARY TO GET HOUSING,
HEALTH CARE, AND FOOD STAMPS SUCH AS PICTURE IDs, BIRTH CERTIFICATES, AND SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS.
REFERRALS ARE ALSO MADE FOR SERVICES SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, SECURING HOUSING, UTILITY
ASSISTANCE, AND LEGAL SERVICES. PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO ARE ILL AND NEED
MEDICATION WHILE THEY ARE WAITING FOR MEDICAL INSURANCE. ASSISTANCE FOR BUS TRANSPORTATION ENABLES
A GUEST TO GET TO WORK, KEEP A DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENT OR FIND A MEAL SITE. MORE PRACTICAL HELP AT
MCAULEY HOUSE IS AVAILABLE SUCH AS TELEPHONE USE SO GUESTS MAY CONTACT POTENTIAL LANDLORDS; SET UP
EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEWS; AND ARRANGE FOR DOCTOR VISITS. PERSONAL CARE ITEMS CAN BE EXPENSIVE, AND
FROM GENEROUS DONORS, GUESTS RECEIVE BASIC ITEMS SUCH AS SHAMPOO, TOOTHPASTE AND BRUSHES, ETC.
ALL THE WHILE WORKING FULL TIME AT MCAULEY HOUSE, FOR MANY YEARS, SR. JOAN WAS ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF
THE CATHERINE MCAULEY THREE STORY COMMUNITY HOUSE ON FARRAGUT STREET IN PROVIDENCE WHERE SHE
LIVED. IT WAS SR. JOAN’S DREAM COME TRUE TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS WITH A FAMILY
ENVIRONMENT. “WE BELIEVE, AS RESIDENTS, THAT WE ARE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN
SUPPORTIVE, SAFE, CLEAN AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN EXPRESSION OF OUR GRATITUDE, WE RESIDE HERE IN
FRIENDSHIP AND CONCERN FOR EACH OTHER. WE ALSO BELIEVE WE ARE CALLED TO CHALLENGE OURSELVES TO BE
ALL WE CAN BE ...... CONTRIBUTING TO THE BETTERMENT OF EACH OTHER, OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR WORLD.” THE
RESIDENTS ALSO COMMITTED TO RECEIVING HELP WHEN NEEDED TO ENHANCE THEIR PERSONAL LIVES THROUGH
COUNSELING, REHABILITATION, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. SR. JOAN’S FRIENDS
VOLUNTEERED TO BE MENTORS TO RESIDENTS PROVIDING CARING RELATIONSHIPS – TAKING THEM TO CELEBRATE
TOGETHER BIRTHDAYS, HOLIDAYS, LEARNING TRIPS, ENTERTAINMENT, REREATION, AND SERVING OTHERS. MENTORS
WHO WERE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS OVERSAW MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND SURGICAL RECOVERIES. EVERY
RESIDENT HAD A PET THEY BONDED WITH AND
CARED FOR. SR. JOAN HERSELF, OF COURSE HAD TWO HUGE DOGS, “MANDELLA” AND “GHANDI”, NAMED FOR TWO OF
HER INSPIRATIONS. EACH RESIDENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR CARE OF THEIR ROOM AND COOKING THEIR MEALS.
EACH HAD A TASK TO HELP TAKE CARE OF THE HOUSE. AS A GARDENER EXTRAORDINAIRE, JOANIE’S GREEN THUMB
AND ARTISTIC EYE TRANSFORMED THE DRAB BACK YARD AT FARRAGUT STREET INTO A LOVELY FLORAL PARADISE.
HER TALENT WITH PLANTS CREATED AN OASIS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY CITY FOR RESIDENTS TO RENEW
THEMSELVES IN THE BEAUTY OF NATURE. DURING THE SUMMER, SISTERS OF MERCY, FRIENDS, AND MENTORS WOULD
GATHER WITH RESIDENTS IN THAT BEAUTIFUL HAVEN MANY TIMES FOR A COOKOUT WITH A RESIDENT GRILL CHEF
WHILE ALL ENJOYED MUSIC AND GAMES JUST FOR THE DELIGHT OF BEING TOGETHER!
WITH A CONSTANT YEARNING TO UPLIFT OTHERS AND SOLVE PROBLEMS, SR. JOAN WAS ALSO A COMMITTED
VOLUNTEER FOR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. SHE OFTEN LOBBIED AT THE STATE HOUSE WITH OTHER MERCIES AND
ADVOCATES FOR ISSUES RELATING TO IMPROVMENTS FOR THE POOROR OPPRESSED. FOR A LONG TIME, SHE VISITED
WOMEN AS A VOLUNTEER OF THE WELL ESTABLISHED PROGRAM, “REACH TO RECOVERY”, HELPING THESE WOMEN
MEET THE CHALLENGES OF HAVING CANCER LIKE SHE HAD. ALSO, FOR MORE THAN TWELVE YEARS, AT ALL HOURS OF

THE NIGHT AND DAY, SHE WOULD BE CALLED TO GO OUT AS A VOLUNTEER FOR THE “DAY ONE” PROGRAM, A SENSITIVE
PROGRAM OF SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. DAY ONE HAS MANY SERVICES ALONG WITH THEIR 24-
HOUR HELP LINE (800-494-8100). THEY COLLABORATE WITH THEIR PARTNERS TO PROVIDE TRAUMA-INFORMED
INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP CLINICAL COUNSELING, LEGAL ADVOCACY, AS WELL AS, PREVENTION SERVICES TO DEVELOP
COMMUNITIES FREE OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND VIOLENCE.
FOR SR. JOAN, IT WAS NEVER TOO LATE TO CREATE A NEW MINISTRY. IN HER MID EIGHTIES, CONFINED TO A WHEEL
CHAIR AFTER HER STROKE, WITHOUT ANY USE OF HER RIGHT ARM AND HAND, WITH DIFFICULTY TO SPEAK CLEARLY
ALL THE THOUGHTS INSIDE HER HEART AND MIND, SHE DIDN’T LET ANY OF THAT HOLD HER BACK. SHE WOULD PULL
HERSELF AROUND IN THE WHEEL CHAIR ON HER OWN INITIATIVE AND QUIETLY VISIT OTHER NURSING HOME
RESIDENTS WHEREVER SHE WAS. SHE HELD THEIR HAND; GAVE THEM AN INSPIRATIONAL CARD OR A SMALL ANGEL;
SHARED A MEAL AND LAUGHTER; WENT TOGETHER TO MASS; OR JUST SAT IN SILENT COMPANIONSHIP. SHE LOVED
THEM, THEY LOVED HER. SR. JOAN NEVER SOUGHT THE SPOTLIGHT FOR PERSONAL PRAISE. ALTHOUGH, WE ALL
KNOW SHE DID TRY IN MANY WAYS TO USE HER VOICE SPEAKING UP FOR THE WELL BEING OF OTHERS.
INTERESTINGLY, SHE WAS RATHER SHY BUT OFTEN FULL OF HUMOR AND MISCHIEF! SHE SIMPLY ADAPTED AFTER HER
STROKE AND CARRIED ON AS SHE ALWAYS DID ..... FINDING A NEW WAY TO DELIVER KINDNESS.
SR. JOAN LEAVES US A LIVELY, EXQUISITE MODEL OF .... USING CATHERINE MCAULEY’S STIRRING WORDS ..... “THE
CHOICEST OF ALL HUMAN GIFTS, FRIENDSHIP.” AND OH WHAT FRIENDSHIP WAS RETURNED TO SR. JOAN. PRAYERS
WERE SAID AND CARDS SENT TO HER BY SO MANY OF YOU FROM AFAR THAT REACHED HER SOUL. QUIETLY,
COMFORTABLY SHE SLEPT THROUGH MOST OF THE LAST WEEK ON BEAUTIFUL FLOWERED SHEETS THAT RESIDENTS
ALWAYS HAVE AT THE LITTLE SISTERS. HER MERCY CANDLE WAS CLICKED ON AND LIGHTED 24 HOURS A DAY. THIS
CANDLE WAS PRESENTED TO HER ONLY A FEW WEEKS EARLIER AS SHE DELIGHTEDLY ATTENDED A CELEBRATION WITH
HER MERCY LOVED ONES FOR HER 70 TH YEAR AS A SISTER. FOREVER FRIENDS, SISTERS OF MERCY, LITTLE SISTERS,
COLLEAGUES, STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, CARING FOLKS FROM ALL SOURCES .... KEPT A REVERENT VIGIL THAT WEEK AT
HER BEDSIDE. SHE WAS NEVER ALONE. HEAVEN BEGAN EARLY HERE ON EARTH FOR HER, DEFINED BY AN
ENCOMPASSING KINDNESS THAT SURROUNDED HER AS SHE GENTLY PREPARED FOR HER SACRED JOURNEY INTO
ETERNITY UPLIFTED TENDERLY ON THE WINGS OF PRECIOUS FRIENDSHIPS.

DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO EACH OF YOU ~ ALL OF YOU WHO KNEW HER .....
FOR YOUR STEADFAST GOODNESS TO SR. JOAN THROUGH THE YEARS ____

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2024 at St. Paul’s Church, 30 Warwick Ave., Cranston, RI.  Visitation hours are 9:15 – 9:45 am, followed by a Mercy Prayer at 9:45 am.  Liturgy of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00 AM.  Interment will then take place at Resurrection Cemetery, 261 W. Wrentham Rd., Cumberland, RI, 02864.

IN PLACE OF FLOWERS CONTRIBUTIONS WOULD BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED BY ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
MCAULEY HOUSE 622 ELMWOOD AVENUE PROVIDENCE, RI 02907
LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR 964 MAIN STREET PAWTUCKET, RI 02860
SISTERS OF MERCY 15 HIGHLAND VIEW ROAD CUMBERLAND, RI 02864

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