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.