Dorothy Ann Furey was born on February 8, 1925 in Toledo, Ohio, the oldest of Teresa Tillman and Edmond Francis Furey’s four children. Although Dorothy grew up in Toledo, most of her summers were spent in near Houghton Lake in Michigan swimming, boating, horseback riding and frog catching.
In 1930 Dorothy was enrolled in Our Lady of Perpetual Help School. Her parents, however, felt she needed a more challenging curriculum and transferred her to Notre Dame Academy on Bancroft in Toledo in 1937. Sister’s years at NDA and later at Notre Dame College, Cleveland, were filled with activities. She participated in sports, dancing, and, in college, she worked in her aunt’s bookstore and ushered for the Cleveland Opera. Sister Mary Josanne graduated Cum Laude from Notre Dame College in June 1945 and entered the Sisters of Notre Dame on Ansel Road the following September.
At first, Sister Mary Josanne ministered in secondary education in the Cleveland area. In 1960 Sister was transferred to California where she taught at Notre Dame Academy inLos Angeles (1960-1966, 1983-1984), La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks (1966-1983), and St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura (1984-2006). As principal at La Reina Sister Mary Josanne initiated the addition of the seventh and eighth grades.
Mathematics was among Sister Mary Josanne’s first loves. At La Reina Sister started her own mathematics competition for 7th and 8th graders. When she transferred to Saint Bonaventure, she initiated the competition there as well. The following year, the Mathematical Association of America invited her to join a team of 15 mathematicians who gathered once a year to formulate original math problems for 25-question, timed tests for the American Mathematics Competition.
“The problems weren’t simple,” Sister Mary Josanne said, “I had to create the circumstances to make them difficult.”
Another of Sister Mary Josanne’s loves was the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame – an affinity she had acquired in childhood. During football season the children at Our Lady of Perpetual Help sang the Victory March and listened to a recording of Knute Rockne’s famous speech each morning before class and were rewarded with a candy bar every time the team won.
Sister Mary Josanne described herself as “a community person.” As she herself admitted: “By nature I am not a solitary soul…I don’t have a problem making friends.” Sister attended the Congregation’s Centennial celebration in Cleveland (1950) and its Sesquicentennial in California (2000). She also participated in the 1974 General Chapter as and visited both in Toledo and Florida. All were occasions for her to renew important relationships with her family and friends, especially with the sisters in her entrance group with whom she remained very close throughout her religious life.
In 2007 Sister Mary Josanne joined the community at Notre Dame Center where she remained active- helping in the finance and development offices and working jig-saw puzzles, enjoying a good mystery, and cheering for St. Bonaventure’s football team. Sister quietly and peacefully went home to God on Friday, January 29, 2016, just two weeks before her 91st birthday.
Those who wish to pay their respects to Sister Mary Josanne Furey are invited to a wake and liturgy on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. The service will take place at Notre Dame Center in Thousand Oaks, California. It will be officiated by Reverend Joseph Shea, Pastor of Saint Rose of Lima Church. Sister will be interred at Assumption Cemetery in Simi Valley, California, on Wednesday, February 10 at 9:30 a.m.
She was a sweet lady. Had her in my computer class. Patient and kind and always remembered my name. Rip sister josanne
Thanks for your kind words Joey.
– Sisters at Notre Dame Center
Aahhh.. I have sweet memories of Sister Josanne from my St. Bonaventure days. She taught me the “foil” method in math. Always remembered that. 🙂 Rest in peace. You are now home in the loving arms of God. Thank you for serving Him and all of us with your love and talents here on earth. XO – Colleen
Thank you for your remembrance Colleen!
-Sisters at Notre Dame Center
By far one of the nicest teachers at St. Bonaventure. She was also one of the smartest. Her computer class was one of my favorites, and I enjoyed going back and visiting her. She will be missed greatly, but i’m sure she’s going over equations with Jesus and having a ball!
Thank you Mike!
-Sisters at Notre Dame Center
Sr. Josanne was such a sweet lady! She always had a smile on her face, and worked so well with teenagers. She was my Algebra and Computer teacher at St. Bonaventure in the 80’s. I remember her “I love my PC” pin that she used to always wear!
Sister was a technology pioneer! Thank you for remembering, Vicki!
-Sisters at Notre Dame Center
Always one of my favorite teachers at St. Bonaventure. I don’t think there was a student she didn’t help or one that didn’t like her. I can’t think of a kinder, patient, intelligent, helpful, happy person that I’ve ever met. Enjoy your seat in heaven, you certainly made your mark on earth.
Thank you for your well wishes, Nathan.
-Sisters at Notre Dame Center
Sister Josanne is the reason that La Reina is a “force of nature” girls school today. I was in the class of 1974
During my junior year, many single gender schools went co-ed to support themselves financially. I’ve. Been told it was Sister Josanne who was behind the decision to open the school to junior high. Looking back, it was the best decision ever made. God bless and keep you, Sister. Enjoy your well earned rest.
Thank you Kathleen! Your support means so much!
-The Sisters at Notre Dame Center
She was a kind person, a great teacher, and a true gift to all of us who knew her. I feel lucky to have had her. Sleep in Peace, Sister, you have earned it.
Thank you Ryan!
-The Sisters at Notre Dame Center
I remember her as being generous with her spirit, her time and her grace. She never judged us even when we were being typical high school kids doing typical high school things. I believe she made me better in a variety of ways. Her influence was great. Rest easy sweet lady. And thank you.
Your kind words are welcome, Taryn, thank you!
-The Sisters at Notre Dame Center
I absolutely adored Sister Josanne. Such a special blessing in my life.