Sr. Mary Joan of Arc Spelman, OSU

Angela Kathleen Spelman (Sr. Mary Joan of Arc, Spelman, OSU) was born on June 29th, 1933 to Agnes and Martin. She and her two sisters, Eileen Mary and Irene Agnes, were raised in Ozone Park, New York where they attended Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary school and were taught by the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk. Angela went on to attend St. Angela Hall Academy in Brooklyn.

At the age of 18, inspired by her elementary school teachers, she joined the Ursuline congregation, taking the religious name Mary Joan of Arc because she admired the saint’s steadfast courage and faith. The next five decades of her life were devoted to faith-based education – both as a student and as a teacher. Sr. Joan of Arc earned a BS in education from St. John’s University, a BS in music education for grades K-12 from Nazareth College, and a Master of Arts in Music from New York University.

She touched the lives of countless young people as a teacher at St. Maurice (Stamford, CT), St. William the Abbot (Seaford, NY), St. Thomas the Apostle (West Haven, CT), St. Gabriel’s (Stamford, CT), St. Mary Star of the Sea (Shippan Point, CT), Our Lady of Grace (Howard Beach, NY), St. Mary’s High School (Greenwich, CT), and Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Lindenhurst, NY). Her extensive teaching resume included third through sixth grade elementary classes, middle school English, kindergarten through eighth grade music, math, and library science, and her decades-long commitment to Catholic education often resulted in her teaching multiple generations of the same family.

With tremendous enthusiasm and joy, Sr. Joan of Arc whole-heartedly believed that “singing once was like praying twice”. She lent her vocal talents to many church and community choirs and glee clubs, was a member of the NYU Choral Arts Society, played the trumpet in the Seaford Community Orchestra, and frequently played her flute during community liturgies and in the parishes she served.

While music played a pivotal role in her life, Sr. Joan of Arc, was above all else, a woman of immense faith and love of God. In addition to her involvement in parish music ministry, she was an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist to the Homebound, lector, and participated in Nocturnal Adoration.

Just like the saint from whom she took her religious name, Sr. Joan of Arc was a force to be reckoned with. She remembered names, dates, and stories with great clarity - sometimes to the chagrin of her former students – but the gift helped her become the unofficial historian of the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk. Her final years were spent in an assisted living facility where she assumed the role of caretaker – visiting with other residents, taking part in group activities like the Nativity play, and taking a genuine interest in those who cared for her.

A teacher through-and-through, she also devoted her time to helping, educating, and evangelizing whenever and wherever she could. Perhaps the greatest example of this is when she befriended a young seminarian who was new to the United States and they spent hours together practicing his English and diction. Sr. Joan of Arc was front and center this past June when he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Bridgeport and he will be concelebrating her funeral Mass.

She was, however, happiest when she was with her family. She loved and was loved fiercely by her family, particularly her nieces – Betty, Kathleen, and Eileen – and her nephews – Martin, Arthur, Kevin, and Demond - and delighted in spending time with them. In addition to her parents and sisters, she was also predeceased by her nephews Richard and Edward.

Sr. Joan of Arc was looking forward to celebrating her 75th Jubilee when she suffered a fall in her room. She entered into eternal life a few days later, on September 29th. In a beautiful full-circle experience, she will be buried on the date of her jubilee celebration instead.

Visiting hours will be Friday, October 2, 2026 from 4:00 - 6:00 pm at the

Charles G. Schmitt Funeral Home, Inc., 3863 Merrick Rd., Seaford, NY

(2 Traffic Lts. East of Rte. 135)

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, 9:30 AM at

St. William The Abbot R.C. Church, 2000 Jackson Ave., Seaford, NY

Donations in Sr. Joan of Arc’s memory can be made to the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk.