Sister Joyce Marie Cecil, 81, an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph, died July 14, 2026, at Mount Saint Joseph, in her 62nd year of religious life. She was a native of New Hope, Ky. Her former religious name was Sister Lisa Marie.
Sister Joyce was a creative person who loved poetry and always enjoyed her time teaching young children. She was a teacher and parish minister, before turning her ministry to the Motherhouse. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Brescia College in 1968, and a master’s in education from Western Kentucky University in 1977.
She taught in Kentucky at St. Brigid School, Vine Grove (1968-71), St. Martin School, Rome (1971-74), St. Francis School, Loretto (1974-75), St. Leonard School, Louisville (1975-76), St. Alphonsus School, St. Joseph (1976-80), St. Christopher School, Radcliff (1980-83, 1986-88), and Christ the King School, Madisonville (1983-84). She also taught at Sacred Heart School, Poplar Bluff, Mo. (1984-85), Christo Rey School, Santa Fe, N.M. (1988-91) and St. Teresa School, Grants, N.M. (1991-94).
She became a parish minister at St. Teresa in Grants (1994-95), then at St. Pius X Parish, Calvert City, Ky., (1996-2003). She served in internal ministry at Maple Mount in later years, including as an activities assistant (2005-07), Retreat Center receptionist (2005-10), and assistant to the librarian (2010-17).
Survivors include the members of her religious community; her siblings Harold Cecil of Bon Aqua, Tenn., Bobby Cecil of Bardstown, Ky., Bernard Cecil of New Hope and Betty Mattingly, Ann Downs, Glenn Cecil, Louis Cecil and Patty McCauley, all of New Haven, Ky.; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Mary Agnes Cecil.
The funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 21, at Mount Saint Joseph, where visitation will begin Monday at 4 p.m., with a wake service following at 6:30 p.m.
Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, Owensboro, is handling arrangements.
Donations in memory of Sister Joyce Marie may be made to the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356.
THE RECORD:
Leave a Reply