Sister Joanne Bauer, CSC

Sister Joanne Bauer, CSC

(Sister Marie Harold)

March 28, 1941 — March 17, 2026

Entered the Sisters of the Holy Cross from Oakland, California, on September 4, 1960

Initial Profession of Vows on August 15, 1963

Sister Joanne Bauer dedicated 43 of her 63 years as a professed Sister of the Holy Cross to education and maintaining a positive presence in the lives of college students. She understood the importance of her ministry, as she once wrote, “As a Sister of the Holy Cross whose roots are closely bound to the University of Notre Dame, my entire life has been spent in service of students, enabling their personal development and realization of what it means for us to be members of the Body of Christ.” Her love for education and working with students was evident in her conscientious teaching style, and it shaped the rest of her life as a Holy Cross sister.

Born on March 28, 1941, Joanne Dee Bauer was raised in a very loving, tight-knit, and close family. She grew up in Fresno, California, with her parents, Harold and Villa (Donahue), and three younger siblings. Her father owned a local flooring company, called Fresno Linoleum Company. Joanne’s childhood was filled with daily family meals, summer camping trips to Yosemite National Park, and wearing matching clothes with her siblings made by her mother. After attending grade school at St. Therese’s in Fresno, she was taught by Holy Cross sisters for three years at San Joaquin Memorial High School. Joanne transferred to St. Elizabeth High School, Oakland, California, for her senior year and graduated in 1959. Although she experienced the charisms of several other religious communities, she felt that God was calling her to enter Holy Cross. Joanne entered the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana on September 4, 1960. She was a freshman at the College of the Holy Names, Oakland, at the time of her entrance. Upon reception of the holy habit, she became Sister Marie Harold, bearing her father’s name.

As Sister Marie Harold, she held two degrees by the time she began her active ministry. In 1964, she earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, and then a master’s degree in English and journalism from the University of Notre Dame the following year. She taught at elementary schools in California and Arizona throughout the final years of the 1960’s and returned to her baptismal name by the end of the decade. The 1970’s marked her transition to teaching in high schools in California. Her memories of teaching and directing the school newspaper at San Joaquin Memorial High School from 1972 to 1977 were among her most cherished. While teaching at St. Francis High School, Mountain View, from 1977 to 1980, Sister Joanne was also the Dean of Women. In this position, she collaborated with the Dean of Men to develop and implement policies regarding student conduct. Her final high school assignment was at Judge Memorial Catholic High School, Salt Lake City, Utah, where she taught English and served as an advisor for the school newspaper from 1980 to 1985.

The 21 years Sister Joanne devoted to her college campus ministry started at the University of Texas, Austin, in 1985. While she enjoyed her years teaching, she wanted to have more presence in the lives of students and young adults. Campus ministry was a great solution for this desire. Sister Joanne was a presence at several colleges and universities, including the University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California; University of California at San Francisco; University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California; University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame; and St. Paul Catholic Newman Center, Fresno, which serves the local college students in their area.

Sister Joanne’s roles varied over the years on these campuses. She was a campus minister, pastoral minister, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults director, Catholic Student Association advisor, residence hall rectress, and director of campus ministry. A clear supporter of higher education, she earned her second master’s degree during this period in pastoral ministry from the University of San Francisco in 1988.

Those who knew and worked with Sister Joanne easily recognized her dedication to her campus ministry. She was creative, kind, and enthusiastic in her relationships with her students, and proved to be very encouraging to them all. About her time on college campuses, Sister Joanne once said, “I sincerely enjoy working with students and feel that relating to them in a caring, loving and challenging way is a gift God continues to call me to use.”

Her final assignment was to serve the Diocese of Fresno as a family life ministry coordinator. For eleven years, she networked with pastors, parishes, and family life organizations, and informed them about potential legislation that advocated for life, marriage, and family. She remained in Fresno until 2019, when she transitioned to a ministry of prayer and moved to the motherhouse at Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame. Although her health declined in the first months of 2026, she remained as friendly as she ever was. Sister Joanne died in the evening of March 17, 2026, making her final journey home to God just 11 days before her 85th birthday. May she rest in peace.

Services will be held at the Church of Our Lady of Loretto on Monday, March 23, 2026, with visitation at 9:30 a.m.  Prayers and memento at 10:30 a.m., followed by the Mass of the Resurrection.  See the Sisters of the Holy Cross website for details.  Kaniewski Funeral Homes is assisting.

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