Joann Irene Dieckman was born on January 29, 1932, in Kansas City, Kan., to Raymond and Catherine Malloy Dieckman. She had one brother, John and two sisters, Elizabeth Louise and Mary Catherine. She attended Blessed Sacrament Grade School and Bishop Ward High School. She received a bachelor’s degree from Creighton University in education in 1958 and a master’s of education from the University of Kansas in 1966. She really never stopped learning. Her folder is full of certificates for numerous classes and workshops she attended over the years.
Though Joann did not become acquainted with the Ursuline Sisters until high school, Sister Raymond said, “That I chose the Ursulines was truly the result of the Lord’s direction …. I have never for a moment regretted that decision.” Sister entered the Ursuline Sisters of Paola in September 1949 along with Sister Marie William Blyth. She received the habit on March 25, 1950; made temporary profession on March 25, 1952 and final profession on March 25, 1955.
Given the name Sister Mary Raymond, she began her ministry as a teacher at East Scipio School in Scipio, Kan., and continued at St. Philip Neri School in Osawatomie, Kan., and St. John School in Bartlesville, Okla.. She returned to Kansas to serve at Queen of the Holy Rosary in Overland Park, St. Agnes in Shawnee Mission, Bishop Miege High School in Shawnee Mission, Holy Trinity School in Paola, Ursuline Academy in Paola, and in Holy Name School, Kansas City. In these schools she served as a teacher, principal, and assistant principal of elementary and high school.
Sister Raymond then began her 22 years of service in Ursuline leadership, which included eight years as superior from 1974 to 1982, Councilor, Director of Formation and community bookkeeper from 1982 to 1986, community bookkeeper from 1990-2005, receptionist from 2007-2009, and Hospice chaplain volunteer at Olathe Medical Center from 1994-2007. Several of her jobs overlapped.
One of the positions that she loved was that of working with Hospice. In 2004, she was given an award as a Hero in Healthcare by Ingram’s. When receiving the award, she said she received much more than she had given in her work at Hospice. “I work in Hospice knowing that I am able to reach out and bring comfort and peace not only to the patient, but to the family members as well. I pray for them, for their comfort and do whatever I can to support the family.”
After the Paola-Mount Saint Joseph merger, Sister Raymond moved to MSJ in 2009. She moved to Saint Joseph Villa and shared prayers, movies, kick ball and bingo with the other Sisters. She always thanked the nurses who came to help her.
In one of the documents in her archives file, there is a quote that tells so much about her and her dedication to her vocation. It says, “God surely had a hand in the chain of events which brought me to the Ursuline Sisters. I feel religious life has allowed me to answer the call of the Gospel in ways I would never have been empowered otherwise. I have walked down roads I would never have dreamed of and continue to do so for which I am extremely grateful.”
Sister Raymond died the evening of October 27, 2016. The funeral Mass was Monday, October 31 at 10:30 am.