Sister Jean Marie Guokas, C.V.I.

She was born on September 12, 1930 to Sara and Charles Guokas, Jr. in Houston, Texas. She entered the Congregation of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament on June 6, 1946 at the age of fifteen and made her perpetual profession of vows on August 15, 1952. She graduated high school from Incarnate Word Academy and earned her B.A. from the University of St. Thomas in Houston and MA degree from the University of Houston.

Sister Jean Marie began her ministry as an elementary and high school teacher in several schools throughout the Archdiocese. She served as principal at Bishop Byrne High school in Port Arthur, Texas (1962-1964) and Incarnate Word Academy in Houston (1964-1978). She became active in the administration of her Congregation, serving as the general superior (1986-1994.) Following her congregational service, she served as Director of Religious Education at St. Mary Catholic Church in LaPorte, TX and fourteen years at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Houston until her retirement in 2011.

Sister loved to travel and was proud that she accomplished visiting many parts of the world. She was well known for her ability to plan and organize. Her attention to detail was legendary. In her retirement years, she enjoyed researching and writing the history of the Congregation in various forms. She also loved visiting with her many friends, including her IWA graduation classmates of 1948.

Her parents, a brother, Charles Guokas III and a sister, Geraldine Pape, preceded her in death. Nieces and nephews survive her.

All services will be at the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, 6510 Lawndale Street, Houston, Texas 77023. The wake service will be on Friday, November 29, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., and the Mass of Christian Burial, Saturday, November 30, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. in the Villa de Matel Chapel. The interment will be at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Guokas Girls’ Scholarship Fund at Incarnate Word Academy, 609 Crawford Street, Houston, Texas, 77002. Your contributions will help continue the legacy of Sister Jean Marie’s dedication to her alma mater, IWA.