Sister Marian ND 4361 PDF Download
Marian Gertrude COUGHLIN
(formerly Sister Mary St. Patrick)
Immaculate Conception Province, USA
Date and Place of Birth: July 19, 1928 Youngstown, Ohio
Date and Place of Profession: August 16, 1948 Cleveland, Ohio
Date and Place of Death: March 14, 2026 Health Care Center, Chardon
Date and Place of Burial: March 27, 2026 Resurrection Cemetery, Chardon
Marian Gertrude was the ninth of the twelve children (seven boys and five girls) born to Joseph and Gertrude (Handel) Coughlin. Hers was a happy, busy, hard-working, and loving Catholic family. Each day was filled with challenges and blessings. Marian was in awe of her first-grade teacher and made up her mind that she was going to be a sister when she grew up. Although she was taught by Franciscan Sisters, Marian knew about the Sisters of Nore Dame from her aunt, Sister Mary Elaine Handel in Cleveland. After starting at a public high school, Marian transferred to Notre Dame Academy in Cleveland as an aspirant in her junior year. She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame as a postulant on February 2, 1946, and at investment received the name Sister Mary St. Patrick.
Sister Marian received a bachelor’s degree from St. John College in Cleveland and later a master’s degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. In 1949 the need for teachers was great. Sister Marian began her 48-year ministry in Catholic elementary schools as a primary grade teacher in the Cleveland and Youngstown dioceses, in Dunedin, Florida, and McLean, Virginia. Sister was dedicated, well prepared, and thorough. Former students from St. Joseph School in Amherst, Ohio, where she ministered for thirteen years, recall their teacher’s enthusiasm for learning, her joyful spirit, and her care for them.
Sister Marian served as principal in four schools but knew that her real calling was with the second graders. It was her joy and her privilege to prepare the children for the reception of the sacraments. She continued this ministry at St. Mary Parish School of Religion in Chardon for another twenty years after she left full-time teaching in 1997. Sister Marian actively supported ND Global Missions and the SND Associates. She was a woman of prayer who treasured her large family, her SND Sisters, her many friends and colleagues, and her former students. Sister communicated her love for others through prayer, prolific letter writing, and email messages. In these last years of life, she continued to learn new computer skills! Sister’s most cherished ministry was that of prayer and presence before the Blessed Sacrament.
May Sister Marian rest in the arms of our good and gracious God.
