Sr. Joanne Patricia Gwizdala, OP, formerly Sr. Joanne Marie Gwizdala, died at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian at the age of 89. She was in her 69th year as a religious: 26 with the Felician Sisters of Livonia, and 43 in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

She was born in Bay City to Joseph and Ann (Wazbinski) Gwizdala and graduated from Felician Academy in Detroit. She earned degrees from Madonna College in Livonia and Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant.

Sr. Gwizdala ministered for 29 years in elementary education in Michigan and Ohio, including Assumption, Detroit (1948-50); Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Wyandotte (1950-52); St. Mary, Alpena (1952-53, 1962-63); Holy Rosary, Saginaw (1953-54); St. Cecilia, Clare (1955-59); St. Jude, Grand Rapids (1959-62); Holy Rosary, Cedar (1963-69); St. Mary, Parisville (1969-72); St. Stephen, Saginaw (1972-73); Immaculate Heart, Lansing (1973-77); and Holy Trinity, Bay City (1977-2007).

Sr. Gwizdala is survived by two sisters, Eugenia Balwinski of Bay City and Edna Kubiak of Tucson, Ariz.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Aug. 27 in St. Catherine Chapel in Adrian. Burial is in the congregation cemetery.