Honor Sister Joanna Monticello

Senate Resolution No. 476 BY: Senator AKSHAR MOURNING the death of Sister Joanna Monticello, Director of Social Work and Spiritual Care of Mercy House of the Southern Tier WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great State of New York; and WHEREAS, The spiritual guidance and nurturing of the citizens of the State of New York is of great importance to the vitality and well-being of our communities; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved to mourn the death of Sister Joanna Monticello, Director of Social Work and Spiritual Care of Mercy House of the Southern Tier, who died on Sunday, January 27, 2019, at the age of 69; and WHEREAS, Sister Joanna Monticello was born in Endicott, New York, in

1949, to Joseph and Anna Monticello; and WHEREAS, At a very young age, she devoted herself to the Catholic Church and became a nun with the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Reading, Pennsylvania; and WHEREAS, Since 2003, Sister Joanna Monticello worked for the community at Lourdes Hospital hospice care as a licensed medical social worker; she then joined Mercy House in January of 2016, as the Director of Social Work and Spiritual Care; and WHEREAS, This exceptional nun shouldered its mission, creating an atmosphere of comfort and peace for those facing terminal illness, making Mercy House their home; and WHEREAS, A Missionary Sister of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus for

48 years, Sister Joanna Monticello counseled families in bereavement, conducted monthly sessions and coordinated spiritual services for an array of faiths to take care of patients' spiritual needs; and WHEREAS, MSC Sisters works in education, social services, hospice, healthcare, pastoral care and elder care with a focus on living out their mission to share the love and compassion of the Heart of Christ with people everywhere; and WHEREAS, Sister Joanna Monticello touched the lives of 301 residents who have passed through Mercy House; she was instrumental in building Mercy House when it was just a dream and was a key player in making the project a reality; she will be remembered for her cheerful, upbeat attitude and the comfort she gave to the residents and their relatives; and WHEREAS, Predeceased by her father, Joseph Monticello Sr., Sister Joanna Monticello is survived by her mother, Anna Monticello; four brothers, Sebastian (Carol) Monticello, Joseph Monticello, Michael (Toni) Monticello, and Vincent (Resa) Monticello Sr; and two sisters, Mary (Alan) Powell, and Annamarie (Laurence) Sullivan; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and relatives; and WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of compassion, Sister Joanna Monticello leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all she served and befriended; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to mourn the death of Sister Joanna Monticello, and to express its deepest condolences to her family; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of Sister Joanna Monticello.