A funeral Mass for Sister Mary Vianney Johnson was celebrated Feb. 6 at Mercy Center Chapel in St. Louis. Sister Vianney, a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, died Feb. 2 at the age of 84.

Born Joann Cecilia Johnson in St. Louis, she graduated from Mercy High School in St. Louis and earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Webster College in St. Louis and a master’s degree in education administration from St. Louis University. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1951 in St. Louis, and made perpetual vows in 1957.

Sister Vianney spent 35 years in education, teaching and serving in administration in schools in St. Louis, Gillespie, Ill.; Chaffee, Mo.; Oklahoma City and New Orleans.

After completing some holistic programs and a mission integration internship with St. John’s Mercy in St. Louis, Sister Vianney traveled across the United States serving as one of the first sisters in mission integration. She worked in mission services at Mercy Hospital, then at St. Anthony’s Medical Center where she became vice president of mission integration from 1995-2001. She eventually returned to St. John’s Mercy working in mission services in patient financial services for the last 12 of her 16 years in health care.

Her most recent position was director of mission for patient financial services for Mercy East Communities, providing support for co-workers in the area. She also was leading advance formation, new leadership and co-worker orientations for Mercy health system in St. Louis. Additionally, Sister Vianney volunteered for the surgery department at Mercy Hospital.

Burial was in Calvary Cemetery.