Joanne Lancaster McGoldrick left us on April 18, 2021. She was born in Spokane in 1928 to Effie and Emmett Lancaster. Her father was Spokane City Treasurer for many years, and she had two brothers, John, local school principal, and George, with the Spokane Police Department. Joanne attended Holy Names College and Whitworth, and was a state certified family therapist. She was a reporter with the Spokesman-Review, on the society desk. She was the widow of Robert D, McGoldrick, Spokane attorney.

After raising five children, Joanne accepted a position at the Salvation Army as family welfare director, providing family therapy and social work. She especially enjoyed assisting homeless women and families, and she began a senior meals program. Each year she assisted at the annual Christmas Bureau. In 1982, Joanne became a Franciscan nun, and recently celebrated 35 years in a Franciscan community. Sister Joanne began a retreat center at Mary of the Angels - Clare Center - and offered marriage counseling and retreats. Later she served at St. Peter's parish as a pastoral assistant, offering marriage counseling, helping in the grade school and home visitation. She reluctantly retired at age 73, and enjoyed some extensive traveling, including County Wexford in Ireland, where her grandfather Peter Lancaster was born. She always had a little poodle at her side, loved gardening and her family.

She retired to Rockwood Lane, a retirement condominium, with her little poodle. Here she offered a special program "Comfort Zone", and other residents there would gather and share hobbies, swap stories and light hearted moments. Joanne especially enjoyed interacting among the other residents at Rockwood Lane, and was known for her humor and lighter moments. She was currently working on her second publication, "Get Over It" a lighthearted treatise on just being.

Sister Joanne is survived by her children, Marianne Zelinski (Bruce), Tom MeGoldrick, Patricia Duff (Randy), Suzette McGoldrick, and George McGoldrick, deceased. She has also many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She lost one grandson, James Patrick McGoldrick, named after his great grandfather J.P. McGoldrick, pioneer lumberman, and son of Suzette McGoldrick.

Rosary will be 9:30am on Monday, April 26, 2021 and Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10am the same day, both at Sacred Heart Parish, 219 E. Rockwood Blvd, Spokane. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in the FSPA section. Covid restrictions apply, seating limit 80 people. Attendees please RSVP online at www.shparishspokane.org or by calling 509-747-5810. The family requests that attendees wear blue in honor of Joanne. An Irish Celebration will be the same day at 1pm and will take place at McGoldrick's, 524 W. 15 ^th Ave., Spokane, WA.