Sister Rose Lauren Earl, MM

Born: November 8, 1928
Entered: September 6, 1950
Died: September 16, 2025

At 9:26 PM on September 16, 2025, we heard God say Aloha to a much-loved daughter as Sister Rose Lauren Earl, M.M., took her last breath. She died in our Maryknoll Sisters Home Care, surrounded by the Maryknoll Sisters and aides who had faithfully walked with her these last few hard months – we echo God’s aloha! To that, we add ‘Mahalo,’ a word of thanks for all that Rose Lauren was and is to us.

Sister Rose Lauren Earl was born Wilma Joan Earl on November 8, 1928, to Frank and Wilhelmina (Minnie) Earl in New Albany, Indiana. Her brother, Joseph, and her sister, Mary, have pre-deceased her. Her schooling was typical for a Catholic family at the time – grammar school at the parish school, St. Mary’s, and then high school at the New Albany High School, graduating in June 1947. She studied two semesters of accounting before she entered the Maryknoll Sisters on September 6, 1950, at Maryknoll, NY, where she made her first vows on March 7, 1953, receiving the name Rose Lauren. She made final vows there on March 7, 1959. In this period, while studying at Maryknoll Teachers College, Rose Lauren worked summers and weekends at the offices of the Maryknoll Society Treasurer and Mission Procurator and in the Maryknoll Sisters Mission Shipping. She graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Education in June 1960.

1960 was the year that began Rose Lauren’s lifelong engagement in the Pacific Islands – from Hawaii to Majuro in the Marshall Islands. Her first teaching experience was in Kalihi, Hawaii – her evaluation the following year says it all: “This is Sister’s 2nd year of teaching, yet one is never conscious of this while observing.” The summary score: Excellent! Four years later, in 1964, Rose Lauren was transferred to Majuro, where she taught for four years and then became a full-time teacher and principal, with “administrative duties fulfilled after hours.” A significant trip through the Islands brought Rose Lauren to deep reflection on the needs of the people there. They were changing from old customs and values, from native to western dress, desiring to leave the Islands rather than share the life and ways of their elders, leading her to ask the question: “Education yes, but education for what?” She saw the tremendous need for teachers from and of the Islands, and set up a program of teacher training with lecturers from the University of Hawaii.  This had tremendous, far-reaching effects on education, throughout the islands.

Rose Lauren was always seeking out the real needs of the people in the Marshalls as opposed to the needs assumed within various groups and project planning documents. This approach can be seen as she struggled with local vocations and the standards required by many religious communities, including the Maryknoll Sisters. How could she encourage active participation within the local church? She gathered young women for conversation and shared community response to parish needs. While on Majuro, after a seminar in Australia in 1978, Rose Lauren became involved with the Natural Family Planning efforts, a ministry that would remain central to the rest of her life and work in Hawaii.

In 1978, Rose Lauren was assigned to teach in St. Ann School in Kaneohe. Then in 1979, she became full-time Director of the Diocesan Office of Natural Family Planning, a ministry she held for ten years, along with participating in Engaged Encounter – a marriage preparation course. She served in this ministry until 1990, with support from the Diocese and the region.

1990-1992 saw Rose Lauren back in her original study area of accounting as regional treasurer in Honolulu. In 1997, she returned to her loved Marshall Islands, where she was Director of family planning for the prefecture, and its bookkeeper; finally serving for a year as secretary to the Prefect Apostolic.

The next step was to return to the Center in 2008 as an assistant in the Treasury Department. It was said of her that she was competent in any and every task she was given, as well as creating a sense of teamwork and peace that spread joy throughout the department. At this time, Rose transferred to the Center and the Rogers Community, then later in January 2017, she joined the Chi Rho Community – she had been spending time visiting with ill and elderly sisters, a joy for all of them. In June 2019, she was welcomed to the Eden Community with the words: “Sister Rose Lauren brings her lovely, gentle personality into our midst” (Janet Hockman). These words of welcome sum up Rose Lauren’s life, from the Islands to the Center, and until the last days of her life.

We welcome Fr. Mike Walsh, our Maryknoll brother, who will lead our celebration of life for Sister Rose Lauren.