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Sister Joan Saalfeld, SNJM
Sister Matthew Marie
March 18, 1941 – June 6, 2026
Sister Joan Saalfeld, SNJM departed this life on June 6, 2026 in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
Sister Joan celebrated 85 years of life and 65 years of her religious profession.
A Mass of Resurrection will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2026, in the Chapel of the Holy Names in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
Her burial will follow at Holy Names Cemetery in Marylhurst, Oregon.
Sister Joan Saalfeld, SNJM
Sister Matthew Marie
April 18, 1941 – June 6, 2026
Sister Joan Saalfeld, SNJM, 85, died on June 6 in at Mary’s Woods, Lake Oswego, Oregon. The Mass of Resurrection is Thursday, July 23 at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of the Holy Names, Marylhurst, Oregon. Burial follows at nearby Holy Names Cemetery.
Daughter of Bernard and Theresa Schottoffer Saalfeld, Joan was born in Eugene, Oregon, where she and her brother Bernard attended St. Mary’s Grade School and St. Francis High School. In 1959 she entered the Holy Names novitiate at Marylhurst, eventually receiving the religious name Sister Matthew Marie.
After graduating from Marylhurst College in 1964, her first ministries were as a high school teacher at Star of the Sea, Astoria and St. Mary’s Academy, Portland. She loved teaching high school and would often share stories about her students and their antics.
She completed a master’s in British literature from Portland State University and a Ph.D. in literature and fiction writing at the University of Denver. In 1977 she joined the English Department at the University of Portland, teaching there for 27 years.
It was during this time that Joan began to explore Buddhist meditation and how it connected to the Catholic faith. She took opportunities to study with Christian Zen masters and eventually became a well-respected teacher for Christians interested in the practice of Zen meditation.
In the early 2000s the Sisters of the Oregon Province called Joan to be Provincial. When five Holy Names provinces began plans to join together, Joan worked with leadership from those provinces helping to ease the path forward. She was one of seven Sisters called to be on the first U.S.-Ontario leadership team, taking the role of Provincial.
During her term Joan enjoyed working with Sisters across the U.S.-Ontario province, getting to know their stories and helping to build connections. She shared with the Community the depth of her spirituality and wisdom, touching the hearts of Sisters, Associates, employees and partners.
In 2011 she assumed the position of Vice President for Mission Integration at Marylhurst University where she had been a member of the Board of Trustees since 1982. She inspired faculty and staff with her presence and her deep connection to the University. Joan was present as the University closed helping the Marylhurst University community grieve.
In recent years, Joan was a resident of Mary’s Woods retirement community in Lake Oswego, where she continued to share her humor, her deep spirituality and her kindness.
We remember Joan as a woman of deep faith, integrity, joy and inner peace. She was a loyal and trustworthy friend with a delightful sense of humor and who loved to laugh.
Joan enjoyed good literature, loved nature, animals, tending the yard, baking, making soup and doing maintenance work. She cared deeply about the world and the Holy Names congregation.
A Holy Names Sister for 64 years, Joan is survived by the members of her extended family and her religious community. Remembrances may be made to Sisters of the Holy Names, PO Box 398, Marylhurst, OR 97036 or online at www.snjmusontario.org/donate.