Sr. Joan Marie Warnement

Sister of Mercy, Joan Marie Warnement (formerly Sister Mary Imogene) of Saint Bernardine Home, Fremont, transitioned peacefully to her heavenly home Saturday evening May 24, 2025. Sisters and staff had been with her then and throughout the days preceding her death.

“All the world’s a stage…” and Sister Joan played her parts perfectly with her first entrance on the stage of life May 22,1932, Tiffin, Ohio, and growing up in Upper Sandusky. After graduating from Upper’s high school she entered the Sisters of Mercy and attended Edgecliff College in Cincinnati where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree. She pursued further studies at Catholic University in Washington, DC and Toledo University, and earned a Masters of Arts in Communications from Notre Dame (which she religiously followed during football season).

All this was leading to Act 2 - her ministries of education, music, and theater. She taught elementary grades briefly before moving to secondary education at McAuley High School, Toledo, putting their plays and musical performances on the map. Throughout her years, she directed, enjoyed, acted in, and produced many stage plays and encouraged new actresses and singers through her teachings.

As the curtain rises on Act 3, we find her beginning to dedicate the rest of her years of service to the Sisters of Mercy. In 1971, she was elected to the Leadership Team of the Sisters of Mercy whose offices were in Cincinnati. Her responsibilities included overseeing all the Mercy Sisters and the Mercy ministries and their boards in Northern Ohio from Toledo to Cleveland.

After her Community leadership years, she assumed the role of Administrator of St. Bernardine Home. During those 21 years, she took on many roles overseeing the various departments in the house; nursing, kitchen, and grounds, as well as being the chief entertainer. She and a friend put on a number of skits, pretty successfully hiding their identities and creating great fun. She was quite the kind hostess, providing Mercy hospitality to all. After those years, she was able to enjoy a well-earned retirement herself

The curtain has come down on Act 4, during which she suffered great pain and personal sadness. She longed to be with God, and her peaceful death showed she had reached that goal. She was faithful to her personal motto, “Thy will be done.”Sister Joan Marie was preceded in death by her parents Urban and Marie (Wagner) Warnement and a sister, Patricia Kin (Al). She is survived by a sister Rosie Swartz (Fred) and many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

There will be a welcoming service on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at St. Bernardine Home, Fremont, with visitation until 7 pm. The funeral Mass will be Friday, May 30, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Bernardine’s and will be livestreamed via her obituary page at www.hermanfh.com. Burial will follow at Our Lady of the Pines Cemetery. A luncheon will be served after the burial at St. Bernardine’s. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Herman- Karlovetz Funeral Home & Crematory, Fremont, Ohio 43420 Memorial Contributions may be made to the St. Bernardine Home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.hermanfh.com