Sister Jo Ann Fellin, OSB

Sister Jo Ann Fellin, OSB, 89, a Benedictine sister of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kan., died on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, at the monastery. The vigil service will be Friday, Nov. 24, at 7 p.m. in the monastery chapel, and the Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated there Saturday, Nov. 25, at 10:30 a.m.

Sister Jo Ann was born in Marshfield, Mo., the youngest of three children. After finishing high school in Springfield, Mo., she attended Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas. In 1956 she entered the Mount Benedictines and then earned her M.A. and PhD. from the University of Illinois, Urbana, Ill.

She taught mathematics at Mount St. Scholastica (later Benedictine) College for 40 years. In her religious community, she served on the community council, senate, formation team, and numerous committees. In honor of her Aunt Mary, she established the Fellin Lecture series to bring noteworthy women speakers to Benedictine College. In addition, she received many awards, including the Benedictine College Distinguished Educator award and both the Kappa Mu Epsilon Distinguished Member and Distinguished Service awards. She also produced an extensive body of presentations and articles on various aspects of mathematics.

Sister Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Peo Fellin and Anna Millie Sperandio. She is survived by her brother Phillip and sister Rose Marie, nieces and nephews, and her monastic family.

Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home (www.arensbergpruett.com) is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be sent to Mount St. Scholastica or made online at the Mount’s web site (www.mountosb.org).

Reflection at the Vigil for Sister Jo Ann Fellin

by Deborah Peters, O.S.B.
November 24, 2023 

Isaiah 43: 1-4a; 1 Corinthians 15: 51-57; John 10: 27-30 

“… in quietness and trust shall be your strength”

Isaiah 30: 15 

On behalf of the community, I want to extend our sympathy to JoAnn’s devoted and loving family–to Rosie, JoAnn’s sister, and Chris, her nephew and to others who are here with us and also, to JoAnn’s brother Phil, his wife Phyllis, and to Celia, Campion, and Mary, their children, who are not able to be with us. We remember the beloved deceased in JoAnn’s family; her mother Millie, her father Pio as well as her niece Annette, and Celia’s infant child, Alexander. Further, I want to remember S. Marilyn Schieber who was JoAnn’s faithful Dooley companion and S. Elaine Gregory, her very dear friend. 

It is next to impossible to encapsulate the life of any person in words, especially someone like JoAnn whose life was so full-a life she captured in her photo albums-her lots and lots of photo albums. 

To some extent, the three amazing readings we just heard help us lay claim to the mystery that was her life. Isaiah’s words.

“I have called you by name, you are mine”

apply here. God called her and in June of 1956, she asked to enter Mount St. Scholastica Convent. By this time, she had left her family in Marshfield, Missouri; graduated from Mount St. Scholastica College; and taught for one year in Minnesota. In the following years, she taught in the college, received her Ph. D. in math, became an acclaimed and honored teacher and scholar, and led her students through award-winning experiences. As one person put it, “[S]he was a quiet teacher! She knew her stuff but was very humble about it.” She, herself, ultimately received the educator-of-the-year award from Benedictine College. In addition, she excelled as an educator in her field, for which KME, a national math organization, gave her an award for her outstanding work. 

Indeed, St. John’s gospel words apply so well to JoAnn-

“My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me.”

Follow Him, she did. She did it by listening to The Rule of St. Benedict and by giving her life to Benedict’s gospel-inspired words. All her many achievements-and they are many-are shadowed by her faithfulness to living the Rule. We would be hard pressed to find anyone more earnest about giving to community endeavors to attending prayers, to helping community members. She was a trailblazer in community. She gave herself wholeheartedly to her work on the Community Council and the Senate. She inspired and encouraged and brought ideas to fruition. She loved working on the beloved Women’s Committee she chaired. Besides this, her creative energy made itself known in her lovely art pieces and her embroidery. Her many achievements culminated in her being awarded the Mount’s distinguished Offeramus medal at Benedictine College. 

Retirement for her meant leading a team to refurbish the remodeled St. Cecilia’s and the heritage room. Following this, she took on the responsibilities of the newly-enlarged gift shop. In all she did, she was grateful for and loved community and, in turn, she was appreciated and loved by community. 

Once again, in her final days, she would teach and lead. She responded to Isaiah’s words-words she chose for her memorial card

“… in quietness and trust shall be your strength”

(30: 15)

In soft and gentle ways, she did as she had always done-she responded to God’s call. 

The readings tell us what to expect for JoAnn. Because she heard Christ’s voice and followed him, she is now enveloped in that mystery Paul promises. She now has eternal life and will never perish. Finally, as God promises us in Isaiah’s words “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine…. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight and honored and I love you.”