Mercy Sister Joyce Jacobs, a former teacher at St. John School, Collingswood, and Holy Spirit High School, Absecon, died April 12 at McAuley Hall Health Care Center in Watchung, N.J. She was 80 years old.
The former Sister Mary Paracleta, Sister Joyce was born in Perth Amboy, N.J., the eldest daughter of the late Stephania and Edward Jacobs.
After elementary and high school, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1951, and later received a bachelor’s degree in art from Georgian Court College; a master’s degree in art from Notre Dame University, and a master’s degree in theology from Georgian Court.
Her teaching career brought her to St. John Elementary School in Collingswood, 1954-66, and Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, 1968-81, both in the Camden Diocese.
She also taught at St. Francis Cathedral School in Metuchen, and at St. Matthew School in Edison.
In 1981, she started her career in higher education at Georgian Court, Lakewood. She was an art instructor and in 1992 was appointed assistant art professor. Her career in art at Georgian Court spanned more than 25 years.
She is survived by her sister, Patricia Grover-Moore, and husband John; her brother Edward Jacobs, and wife Connie; her sister Barbara Sebok; several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews; and Sisters of Mercy in the Mid-Atlantic community.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated April 16 at McAuley Hall Health Care Center, Watchung. Burial was in Holy Redeemer Cemetery, South Plainfield.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sisters of Mercy Mid-Atlantic Community, 1645 Highway 22, Watchung, NJ 07069.












