A Story that Never Ends – The Christmas Story
December 20, 2023
What do I say?
January 12, 2024
By Sister Mary Thill, OSF
Sister Nancy Ann Johnson died peacefully at Rosary Care Center in Sylvania, Ohio on January 4, 2024. The daughter of Howard and Irma Johnson came to the convent in Sylvania from St. Agnes Parish in Toledo, Ohio in 1952. She was inspired to become a Sister of St. Francis by the joy and kindness she witnessed among the Sisters when she was a student at Central Catholic High School in Toledo. She made her first profession of vows in 1955 and her final profession in 1958.
Over the past 69 years, Sister Nancy spent most of her life teaching and working in health care. She taught in elementary schools in Ohio, Minnesota and Michigan for 26 years and also served as an assistant principal at St. Ann School in Cincinnati. In the early 1980s, she served as the Infirmarian at Rosary Hall, the Sisters retirement center, and then went on to work at Providence Hospital in Sandusky, Ohio as a nurse’s aide and a physical therapy aide at Firelands Medical Center in Sandusky. In 2009 Sister Nancy retired to the Motherhouse in Sylvania and worked for Canticle Studio where she helped make the Holy Aromas products that are sold in the All Good Things gift shop located on the campus.
Sister Nancy Linenkugel, currently the Congregational Minister for the Sylvania Franciscans, wrote that “Sister Nancy had plenty of health challenges in recent years but also had an incredible resiliency to keep going despite the challenges. The phrase ‘has more than nine lives’ was often said about her.” In ministry and in illness and in life, Sister Nancy’s ability to be among the people as one who listens demonstrates fulfillment of her favorite Scripture passage, “Act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:7-8)
Sister Nancy will be greatly missed by her Sisters in Community, her caregivers at Our Lady of Grace and Rosary Care Center, her family and friends. A welcoming Service will take place at Queen of Peace Chapel on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
The funeral will be Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. John Kasper presiding. Lunch will follow in Serra Hall.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, Ohio.
Arrangements made by Thomas I. Wisniewski Funeral Home, Toledo, Ohio.
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