Sister Joan Madden a Hawaii educator for 40 years
Sister Joan Madden, a Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) for 59 years and long-time Hawaii educator, died at age 78 on Oct. 31 at her order’s Marian Hall in Dubuque, Iowa.
Sister Joan came to Hawaii in 1962 to be the founding principal of Our Lady of Sorrows School in Wahiawa. She served in that position for 23 years.
In 1986, with a group of teachers and parents, she founded and became principal of Hoala School in Wahiawa, an innovative private non-denominational school based on a philosophy of personal responsibility and the psychology of Alfred Adler.
Sister Joan was awarded the Valley Forge Teachers Medal for excellence as an educator. An independent 1994 National Awards Jury selected the school as a “Miracle School.”
Hoala School taught parents how to provide their children with a three-pronged philosophy of personal dignity, cooperation and effective action. On its first application, the school won a six-year accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. WASC evaluators noted: “The school environment is one of the crowning achievements of Hoala. Based on the philosophy of personal responsibility, the school has created a campus remarkably free of conflict and anger.”
When she retired in 2001, Sister Joan received a commendation from the Honolulu City Council for her contribution to the education of Hawaii’s children. The State House of Representatives also presented her with a certificate of congratulations.
Sister Joan was born April 26, 1928 in Chicago to James and Marie Quinn Madden.
She entered the BVM congregation in 1947 and professed first vows in 1950 and final vows in 1955. Before moving to Hawaii, she taught in Iowa and New York. She held a B.A. from Clarke College in Dubuque and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Hawaii.
She is survived by a sister, Betty Tell, a niece, and the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Her funeral was Nov. 6 at the Marian Hall Chapel in Dubuque. She was buried in the Mount Carmel Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to the Sisters of Charity, BVM Retirement Fund, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003.