(1937-2025)

Sister Jo Ann Lucas, formerly known as Sister Agnes Francis, died on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at her home in Troy, Michigan. She was 87 years of age and in the 69th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Jo Ann was born in Chicago to Frank and Agnes (Rohde) Lucas. She graduated from Mercy High School in Chicago and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Latin and a master’s degree in education administration, both from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian. 

Sister Jo Ann spent 15 years ministering in education in Clawson and Detroit, Michigan, including six years as principal at St. Gemma in Detroit. She served 16 years as a religious education coordinator at St. Anastasia in Troy, while also serving the Congregation for six of those years as Chapter Prioress of the Nokomis Chapter. She then continued for six years as parish administrator at St. Anastasia. 

Sister served one and a half years as a bookkeeper for the AIDS Interfaith Network in Detroit, then five years as parish business manager at St. Alphonsus in Dearborn. She served the Congregation for 12 years as director of the Ministry Trust. 

Sister Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by two brothers, David Lucas (Laurinda) and Frank Lucas (Donna); other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.

Prayers of Committal will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Memorial Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 and a Ritual of Remembrance will be held in the Rose Room of the Dominican Life Center at 1:30 p.m. that same day. Those who are not attending services in person are welcome to participate via live stream at https://adriandominicans.org/Live-Stream.

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.

Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)

Vigil and Funeral Recordings

Recording of Sister Jo Ann's Memorial Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

Recording of Sister Jo Ann's Ritual of Remembrance - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as."

 

LEFT: Josephine Ann, 1947. RIGHT: Harry Belafonte with Sister Jo Ann Lucas, April 2012. 

LEFT: Sisters Rosemarie Kieffer, left, and Jo Ann Lucas, April 1993. RIGHT: Lynne Bondy and Sister Jo Ann Lucas wash dishes at an Italian dinner fund-raiser.

Members of the 1998 General Chapter Planning Steering Committee are: seated, from left, Sisters Madeline Dervin, Julie Hyer, and Christine Matthews, and standing, from left, Sisters Jo Ann Lucas, Corinne Sanders, Molly Nicholson, Teresa Disch, Marie Michael, Durstyne Farnan, and Jean Hughes.

Members of the 2015 Diamond Jubilee December Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Rosalie Esquerra, Kathleen Waters, Norine Burns, Molly Nicholson, Sheila Delaney, and Nancyann Turner; third row, from left, Sisters Leontia Cooney, Barbara Long, Margaret Manners, Mary Kastens, and Joan Leo Kehn; second row, from left, Sisters Mary Hemmen, Anneliese Sinnott, Joan Mary, Jo Ann Lucas, and Elizabeth Gibbons; and front row, from left, Sisters Esther Ortega, Marilyn Uline, Arlene Seckel, Ann Ziemba, and Jovanna Stein. 
 

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