Sister Joyce Ann Mendoza, C.V.I. (aka Sister Timothy), died on August 15, 2021. She was born on January 25, 1931, to Frank O. and Celeste (Gonzales) Mendoza in Orange, Texas. She entered the Congregation of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament in September of 1949 and made her final Profession of Vows on August 15, 1955.
Sister Joyce Ann graduated from Stark High School, Orange, Texas. She earned her B.S. and M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and Master of Religious Education from the University of St. Thomas.
In her ministry, Sister served in the Dioceses of Beaumont and Austin and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. She taught in elementary schools-St. James, Port Arthur, Texas, and St. Vincent de Paul, Houston; high school – Incarnate Word Academy and Marian High School, Houston, and Bishop Byrne, Port Arthur, Texas. Her ministry included also Director of Religious Education, Visitation of the Homebound, Eucharistic Minister, Formation of Catechists and RCIA.
Sister Joyce Ann made many close friends over the years and loved connecting with them as much as possible. Her success as a caring and challenging teacher endeared her to her students who kept up with her throughout her life. She was always an avid reader, dearly loved to travel, loved football and was a huge and loyal Houston Texans fan.
Sister Joyce Ann was preceded in death by her parents, one sister and one brother; she is survived by her sister, Mary Alice Hartman of Orange, TX and many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and good friends.
Services: The wake service will be in private at the Incarnate Word Convent at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, August 17, 2021. A private Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 9:30 am on Wednesday, August 18 at Incarnate Word Convent by Rev. John Kappe, with whom Sister Joyce Ann ministered in Hitchcock, TX for many years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Incarnate Word Academy, 609 Crawford Street, Houston, Texas 77002.