Sister Joyce Brophy (formerly Sister Robert Ellen)

Sister Joyce Brophy, formerly Sister Robert Ellen, passed away on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. She was 96-years-old and had been a Sister of Providence for 78 years.

Commentary

By Sister Denise Wilkinson, SP

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will; all I have and all I own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, and that is enough for me.

Years and years ago, Sister Joyce shared with me that she prayed this prayer, the Suscipe, every day. Much to her surprise, I had no idea with the Suscipe was.

Joyce explained the Latin word Suscipe means “to take” or “to receive.” The prayer itself is attributed to St. Ignatius of Loyola. Joyce then recited it for me.

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will; all I have and all I own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, and that is enough for me.

I can’t say it’s a prayer I warmed up to then; even now, it’s difficult for me to pray. The only word that comes to mind when I read the prayer is sacrifice — a huge sacrifice and not, to my mind, an appealing one.

I don’t want God taking away all the precious gifts God has given me. Not one.

But, when Sisters Ann Sullivan, Kathleen Desautels and I were sitting with Joyce the night she died, I suddenly realized Joyce didn’t look at the Suscipe as a prayer of sacrifice but as a prayer of thanksgiving, of deep and real joy.

Joyce prayed the Suscipe in the same spirit Mary embraced the invitation to be the mother of Jesus — with faith, trust and joy.

Joyce prayed it as a dialogue between a God who loved her fiercely and whom she loved in the same way.

Joyce did what she did; said what she said; decided what she decided; believed what she believed not out of a sense of fear, but out of a deep and joyful faith, a rock-solid belief in the goodness of life and of people. She could navigate the ups and downs of life because she knew all she had came from God and she returned the gifts to God through relationships — Sisters of Providence, family, friends, students and former students, staff members of Providence Health Care — the list goes on and on. Joyce was a woman of relationship building!

Born in Joliet on March 5, 1929, she was the first child of Robert and Loretta Corcoran Brophy. Joyce was baptized soon after and given the name Mary Joyce. The oldest of three children, Joyce remained very close to her brother Bob and sister Margie. Both Bob and Margie preceded her in death.

Joyce’s growing up in a loving and close family laid the foundation of her willingness to embrace these words from the Suscipe: You have given all to me. To you I return it. She discovered that the most meaningful way for her to live these words with authenticity was to follow her calling to be a Sister of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Joyce entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence on July 22, 1947. She made her perpetual profession of vows on January 23, 1955. For a time, she was known as Sister Robert Ellen before taking a form of her baptismal name, shortening it to Sister Joyce.

Earning a bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree from Indiana State University prepared her for 34 years of teaching in elementary schools and serving as principal in many of those schools.

An indication of Joyce’s effectiveness as an educator is evident in the words of one of Joyce’s former students, Julie Sullivan, sister of our Ann Sullivan. Both knew Joyce from her years in Galesburg at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Galesburg.

“My high school class had its 55th reunion the year Joyce celebrated 75 years as a Sister. One of the guys in our class suggested we honor Joyce with a monetary gift for her celebration. We did. Amazing after 59 years since we had Joyce at IHM, everyone still remembered her; she definitely was a favorite.”

Joyce was appointed Mistress of Postulants in 1965 and then Director of Scholastic Novices in 1968. The change in titles from “mistress” to “director” gives a clue as to the sea change that was happening in the Catholic Church and the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence during those few years. In spite of the seriousness of those times, Joyce had no formal preparation for formation ministry. Perhaps these words from the Suscpie often occurred to her: Everything I have is yours. Do with it as you will.

Sister Paula Damiano, a postulant in 1967, had this to say about the challenges Joyce faced as a Director of Postulants and Novices. “Joyce served as our director at a very challenging time in the history of the church, religious life and the country. Chaos and turmoil marked the late 60s and early 70s. She seemed to be able to navigate it with grace and kindness. She showed such patience with pressures that were put upon her — some from us, some from congregational leadership, some from members of the Congregation itself … Admiration is what I always felt for her.”

Sister Claire Hanson remembers this about Joyce’s way of being the postulant director. “Joyce was sensitive to and respectful of the individual needs of all of us under her care as postulants … This incident I have carried with me for 60 years. During postulant instructions, Joyce was talking about the three vows. One of our band stood up and said, ‘We don’t want to hear just abut the vows, we want to hear how YOU yourself live them.’ Joyce told us later that it stopped her in her tracks. She retreated for the weekend for reflection. She shared that it was one of the turning points in her religious life.”

On another occasion Joyce lived, once again, these words from the Suscipe: Everything is yours, Lord. Do with it as you will.

Joyce volunteered to give up the last months of her sabbatical year to accept the position of Assistant Vice President for Development at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. The Vice President of the department at that time was Sister Jean Fuqua. Those of us who know both realize a more unlikely pair could not have been appointed. Yet it worked. According to Jean, “Joyce did all the things I didn’t like about the job. She loved talking with donors in person or on the phone. She loved writing thank you notes. I won’t forget her generosity in cutting short her sabbatical to say ‘yes’ to an important need.”

From 1984-1991, Joyce served as Provincial of Sacred Heart Province, which included sisters at the motherhouse and those in Terre Haute. In this role, she also was the liaison to all staff in the campus departments.

With a twinkle in her eye, when Joyce was about to wade into a crowd of sisters, staff, donors, volunteers, any group at all, she’d say to those around her “Excuse me, I have to go spread my charm.”

To know Joyce was to know her deep love and devotion to her family — to her niece Beth and nephews Brian, Tim, Michael and their brother Rob, who preceded them in death. Joyce loved her niece and nephews, their children and their children’s children. She delighted in being with them; in hearing from them and praying for them — as well as offering solicited or unsolicited advice.

Her niece Beth describes her Aunt Joyce with these remembrances: “My first real memory of Aunt Joyce was visiting her in Galesburg … I remember her sweet, gentle smile, her beautiful skin, her attentive listening to what I had to say … I am lucky to have been able to love her home — the Woods. Being at the Woods cannot be explained. You have to feel it and Aunt Joyce passed that on to me, my three kids and my grandkids.”

Beth asked her kids to write them memories about Aunt Joyce. From Brie: “Making Christmas cookies with us when we were little.” From Nicholas: “She’d let you know if her patience was wearing thin, that was the teacher in her. But her conversations were so calming.” From Ryan: “I remember Aunt Joyce showing up every Saturday morning with a dozen donuts. Through the years, she would show up with more and more chocolate covered long johns, which were my favorite.”

In her retirement years beginning in 1999, she enjoyed volunteer ministries with The Connecting Link, Providence Spirituality & Conference Center, Residential Services and Prayer ministry. She prayed especially for vocations.

We all know none of us is perfect — even Joyce. Though always fair and firm, she had a stubborn streak as well. And very outspoken. An example of stubborn: I was one of Joyce’s Health Care Representatives. At every quarterly care plan meeting, the dietary representative would ask Joyce about the food. Unfailingly, Joyce would say the soup was never hot enough. “I’m not speaking just for myself, but for those who can’t or won’t.” Unfailingly, the reply was “Sister, just let us know. We’ll heat up the soup for you and any other sister.”

I was taking Joyce back to her room after a care plan meeting where she made the same comment. On the way to her room, I told her if she made that comment at the next care plan meeting, she’d have to find a new health care rep. She promised to reform. At that point, she had the capacity to reform. Next care plan rolled around. The food service director asked about the meal service. Joyce made the same comments about the soup. The director offered the same solution as she always did. When we left the meeting I said to Joyce, “I thought you had reformed — that you’d never mention the soup again.” Joyce looked at me and smiled. “I just did it to see if you’d really make me get a new health care rep.” I didn’t resign and she didn’t mention soup again.

An example of Joyce’ outspokenness: Father Terry was going to anoint Joyce. Ann Sullivan, Kak Desautels, Gloria Memering and I were in the room.

Father Terry began, “Joyce, we are here to anoint you. We will ask Jesus to …” Terry got only that far when Joyce interrupted him with these words. “No. I prefer the third one. I picture her as a middle-aged woman who dresses well. I have named her Hope.”

Mary Joyce, Sister Robert Ellen, Sister Joyce Brophy, you lived your Suscipe firmly, faithfully, joyfully. Undoubtedly, you entered eternal life “spreading your charm” and in the company of “the third one. A middle-aged woman, well dressed whom you named Hope.”

Indeed, God’s love and grace were enough for you.

May your example help us to say God’s love and grace are enough for us.

Funeral Information

Funeral services for Sister Joyce took place on Wednesday, September 3, and Thursday, September 4, in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

A wake took place from 2:30-4:30 p.m., on Wednesday, September 3. Mass of Christian Burial was at 11 a.m., on Thursday, September 4.

Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Sister Joyce to the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

We welcome you to share your memories of Sister Joyce in the comment section below.

Sister Joyce Brophy (formerly Sister Robert Ellen)

Complete Ministry

In Illinois: Teacher, St. Sylvester, Chicago (1950-54); Teacher, Our Lady of Mercy, Chicago (1955); Principal, Immaculate Heart, Galesburg (1959-65); Teacher, St. Agnes, Chicago (1969); Principal, St. Genevieve, Chicago (1969-71); Principal, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Galesburg (1971-72); Principal/Administrator, Costa Catholic, Galesburg (1972-79); Educational Consultant, Catholic School Office, Diocese of Joliet (1983-84); Principal, St. Dennis School, Lockport (1992-95).

In California: Teacher, St. Elisabeth, Van Nuys (1955-59).

In Indiana: Mistress of Postulants, Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (1965-68); Director of Scholastics, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (1968-69); Assistant Vice President for Development, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (1980-82); Teacher, Sacred Heart School, Terre Haute (1995-99); Volunteer for The Connecting Link and Providence Center, West Terre Haute and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (1999-2012); Volunteer, Providence Spirituality & Conference Center, Providence Health Care, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (2012-18); Residential Service and Prayer, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (2018-19); Prayer, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (2019-2025).