Sister Joyce M. Houle S.N.J.M.

Albany-Sr. Joyce M. Houle, S.N.J.M., for 71 years a dedicated member of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, passed away on September 29, 2026, at Teresian House in Albany.

She was born on June 18, 1935, in Troy, the eldest of eight children born to Clarence and Isabella (Hatton) Houle. Her parents and two brothers, Kenneth and Timothy, predeceased her. She is survived by loving family including siblings Claire Burdick, Patricia Darmetko (Dave LaFleche), Terence Houle, Kim (Vicki) Houle, Robert (Sandy) Houle and a large close clan of nieces, nephews, and cousins. The years of rich family experiences and living in the stable Sacred Heart parish neighborhood, just across the street from the elementary school staffed by Holy Names sisters, were central formative influences on Sr. Joyce's identity and ministry.

Right out of high school in 1953, Joyce set off to shape her sense of call to service and life-long devotion to Mother Marie Rose, Holy Names' foundress, by entering the novitiate in Rome, NY. For the next seven decades she committed herself to the mission of empowering individuals through formal education and spiritual and pastoral accompaniment. Using her attractive personality, compassionate spirit, Masters at Fordham, and other continuing studies, Joyce ministered generously in diverse school, hospital, and church settings from New York, to Florida, to California. The style of her personal prayer and spirituality, with strong emphasis on social justice and love of nature, added to the distinctiveness and impact of Joyce's ministry. Her spirit will be long remembered by her family, priests and Church colleagues, friends and members of the Upper Room, the religious with whom she shared so much of life and work, especially the Sisters of Mercy and Mother Marie Rose's other SNJM daughters, and countless other groups and individuals blessed by Sr. Joyce's goodness. The Sisters of the Holy Names community wishes to acknowledge, too, how Sr. Joyce was greatly blessed by the generosity and compassion of so many from the Sisters of Mercy, the Upper Room community, the staff of Teresian House, dear associates, Father Patrick Butler, and many others who lavished their hospitality and care on Joyce throughout her life and end of life...Our endless gratitude for you.

Sister's wake will take place Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the Convent of Mercy Chapel from 9:30 am to 11:00 with the reception of the body at 9:30 am and funeral liturgy to follow at 11:00 am at 634 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY.

Interment in Calvary Cemetery, Glenmont. Donations may be made in Sister's memory to Sisters of the Holy Names, 1121 New Scotland Road, Albany, NY 12208.