Johannah Cunningham Phelan

Johannah Cunningham Phelan, 92, of Beaumont, passed away Thursday, February 12, 2026.

One of 13 children of Anthony McDade Phelan and Katherine Huey Phelan, Johannah Cunningham Phelan was born in Beaumont, Texas in 1933 as both an early gift of Christmas and her father’s Birthday. A wonderful life that touched so many people; as summed up by a friend, “She was an independent thinker, with integrity as a spine and compassion for a heart. A lady of many talents.”

Johannah Phelan graduated from St. Anne Catholic School, St. Anthony High School and University of St. Thomas. She went on to earn a Master of Theological Study from the University of Notre Dame and attended Pastoral Counseling Institute at University of St. Thomas. After completing her education, Johannah entered the convent and was consecrated into the Congregation of Sisters of St. Mary of Namur where she served for 15 years. Continuing the sisters’ mission as educators and missionaries in pursuit of peace, Johannah spent time in parts of Africa, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her skills in speaking French served her well though she later overcame a battle with malaria while providing service to those in need.

Between 1963 and 1967, Johannah taught at Nolan High School in Fort Worth. It was during this time that she began to broaden her fandom and lifetime love of sports from Notre Dame football to include the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. She served as Sister Superior at Nolan High School and resided in the convent alongside the school. In 1967, Johannah was then led to teach in Buffalo and afterwards teaching middle school at St. John XXIII Catholic School in Dallas. It has been said that many former students continue to speak of how Johannah touched them and their lives in such a positive way. She was known to have the ability to draw out of them what they didn’t even know they had inside themselves.

Johannah retired from teaching around 1972 and moved to Arlington, Texas, where she and Kathy Clare bought a house on Pecan Street. They spent many years on Pecan Street and often shared their home with a parade of visiting nieces and nephews. Former sisters of the habit, but later sisters by choice, Kathy and Johannah created memories for the youngest members of the Phelan clan that included trips to Six Flags over Texas in Arlington, slumber parties at Johannah’s childhood home on Ashley Street in Beaumont, and the introduction to Checkers, Cards, Spoons, Pick-Up Sticks, stories of their parents’ getting in trouble as children, and the always disarming jokes that often make you think twice. Her siblings were very blessed to have Johannah to be so available in times of need. Johannah loved to travel and enjoyed her adventure in Magdalena Bay in Baja, California where she went on a whale watching trip. She observed the gray whale with anticipation as it was close enough to the boat to touch. She, like her mother, would readily leave her comfort zone. In her 50’s she bravely went skiing resulting in much fun, laughter, and an injured knee. Time spent with Aunt Johannah was a gift and a treat, but also required good manners, a sense of humor, and remaining on your toes. Johannah remained a resident of Arlington until 2018 where she continued acts of selfless service to others by providing care, guidance and support especially to the Sudanese families newly arriving to the United States.

Johannah spent her last years in her hometown of Beaumont, Texas allowing many of her brothers and sisters the gift to visit with her often. The now-grown nieces and nephews were blessed to be able to introduce their own children to an amazing and loving aunt. Johannah Cunningham Phelan will always be known for her generosity to those in need, loyalty to family, lifetime commitment to education and service, earnest convictions, strong faith and devotion to God, fandom to her sports teams, and a sharp wit, dry and quirky humor, and a coy smile with knowing eyes and a beautiful and truly caring heart.  As a Sister of St. Mary of Namur, Johannah was a pursuer of peace. She will be missed, but those that will miss her most know Johannah Phelan is at last with the ultimate and true, loving peace of God’s embrace.

Johannah was preceded in death by her parents, Anthony McDade Phelan and Katherine Huey Phelan; and brothers, A.M. Phelan, Jr., Daniel Phelan, and Patrick Phelan.

She is survived by her siblings, Katherine Phelan Carmody, Margaret Phelan Green, Mary Ellen Phelan Hunt, Colleen Phelan McMahon, Lillian Phelan Bean, Patrick Henry Phelan, Michael Arthur Phelan, Courtenay Phelan, Harry Dennis Phelan. Spouses of her siblings, and a multitude of nieces and nephews have loved and admired her, both speaking of her memory today and embracing her in welcoming, joyful hugs in Heaven. The family would like to express our deepest gratitude to Johannah’s aides, whose loving care provided her with joy and comfort each and every day: Cynthia Bernard, Gloria Haynes, and Neoma Robinson, as well as niece, Meg Green Branch, for her special care and attentiveness to our Johannah.

Pallbearers include nephew, Tim McKaughan, and grandnephews, Everett Green, Jada Kenyi, Jackson Meadows, Mickey Phelan IV, and Ford Phelan.

Memorial contributions for Ms. Phelan may be made to Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, 909 West Shaw Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76110 or a charity of one’s choice.

A gathering of Ms. Phelan’s family and friends will begin at 9:30 a.m., with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2715 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. Her interment will follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.