Praxedes, one of six children, was born to Dr. J. K. and Jennie Bowling Cissell in Loretto, Ky., on Nov. 23, 1902. The new baby was baptized at St. Francis Church. When Praxedes was very young, her mother died. Her father’s second marriage was blessed with an additional six children.
Praxedes’ formal education began in September 1908 at Loretto Elementary, where she completed eight grades. She earned her high school diploma at Cedar Hill Academy in Louisville, which was staffed by the Sisters of Loretto.
On June 11, 1922, Dr. Cissell, accompanied by Praxedes, came to the Mount Saint Joseph to bring two girls from Loretto, Martina Thompson and Estelle Thompson, who were entering the novitiate. When Praxedes learned her friends were staying, she wanted to stay also. She begged her father to write a letter of consent. He listened to her plea, wrote the letter, and left her at Mount Saint Joseph to enter with her two friends. On March 19, 1913, Praxedes, Martina and Estelle received the Ursuline habit. Praxedes received the name Sister Joseph Ann, Martina became Sister Joseph Therese, and Estelle became Sister Louis Bertrand.
In the fall of 1923, Sister Joseph Ann began her apostolate of teaching at St. Alphonsus in St. Joseph, Ky. During the next 53 years, Sister taught all elementary grades in various parochial or public schools of Kentucky: in Waverly, Cloverport, Louisville (St. James), Raywick, Lebanon, Owensboro (St. Joseph), Calvary and Jeffersontown. Sister was an excellent teacher whose excitement about learning was contagious in the classroom. Her gentle manner and genuine interest in her students earned the respect of parents.
In 1977, Sister retired to the Motherhouse. She was one of the first Sisters to live in the newly constructed Paul Volk Hall where she enjoyed her days knitting, reading, playing cards, and visiting with the Sisters. After 10 years, she needed nursing care and moved to the Infirmary. She continued to wear the beautiful smile that had characterized her entire religious life.
Early on the morning of April 24, 1996, she died in her typically quiet manner. Her funeral Mass was celebrated by Father Anthony Shonis, chaplain, on April 26. Sister’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery.