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Sr. Joan Rocco, O.P., a Dominican nun at the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace, died there on June 13 after a long illness.

Sr. Joan was born on Aug. 25, 1940, in Utica, New York. She attended grammar and high school at St. Francis de Sales in Utica. This was followed by one year at Utica College of Syracuse University.

On Oct. 10, 1959, Sr. Joan entered the Monastery of the Perpetual Rosary in Syracuse. She made first profession of vows as a Dominican nun on Sept. 15, 1962, and solemn profession on Sept. 4, 1966. The following year she volunteered to help the nuns at the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, New York. When this monastery was forced to close due to various difficulties and lack of vocations, Sr. Joan transferred to the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace in 1970.

During her religious life, Sr. Joan occupied a variety of positions. She served as cook, laundress, librarian, print shop manager, novice mistress, and sub-prioress.

Sr. Joan is survived by one sister, Shirley Ann Wightman, and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation hours were held on June 14 at Our Lady of Grace Monastery Chapel, 11 Race Hill Rd., Guilford. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated in Our Lady of Grace Chapel, Guilford, on June 15 and was followed by burial in Our Lady of Grace Monastery Cemetery. Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St., was in charge of arrangements. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.