Sister Marilyn Earley, MM

Born: February 28, 1900
Entered: July 1, 1931
Died: August 16, 1982

The Angel of Death found a ready, willing soul in the person of Sister Marilyn Earley, who went forth to meet the Lord she loved so much on Monday, August 16th, 1982 – the hour was 6:40 p.m.

Catherine Earley was born February 28, 1900 in Wilmington, Delaware, to Thomas and Mary McCloskey Earley – the only girl in the family of four boys. Catherine attended grade and commercial high school in Wilmington; and upon completion of these studies, she went to work in a business office where she was employed for 12 years before entering Maryknoll on July 1, 1931.

Sister Marilyn made her first vows on January 6, 1934 and pronounced her final vows three years later on January 6, 1937 in Honolulu where she had been assigned the year before (1936). Sister’s ministry in Hawaii included teaching and administrative work over a period of almost 20 years. She was in Kalihi Kai two years, and then Maui Children’s Home from 1938 to 1955. Sister Marilyn enjoyed a marvelous rapport with the children and they, in turn, loved and trusted her. This relationship was evident still even in these latter years as observed by her Sister companions in Monrovia. In 1955, Sister Marilyn returned to Maryknoll, NY to begin a six-year term as Superior of Bethany Convent; and from 1961 to 1967 she ministered to the needs of the Community and work of Rosary Convent in Chicago, Illinois. In 1968, Sister Marilyn was assigned to Monrovia, where she spent the remaining years of her life – a lovable, comfortable companion to all around her. For anyone of us who knew Sister Marilyn either for longer or shorter periods, it is easy to identify with the reflections of her Monrovia community in appreciation of, and gratitude to God for the very special person she was: “Sister was dearly loved by all of us here, and she loved Monrovia… She possessed a rare combination of virtues: a sustained happy and cheerful spirit, kindness and warmth, gentleness, interest in others, generosity and unfailing cooperation… She invariably maintained a positive attitude. She was a quiet person, and her countless acts of charity were done unobtrusively for God alone.”

Sister Marilyn also loved music, and we are told that around 4 o’clock on the day she died, she had sat with others listening to recordings familiar and dear to her; when an Irish record was played, Sister got up and started to “step out – her Irish heritage and nimble feet wouldn’t let her resist!”

The Mass of the Resurrection, in celebration and in thanksgiving for the gift of Sister Marilyn’s life was offered by Maryknoll Father Howard C. Geselbracht in the Maryknoll Convent Chapel, Monrovia, California on Thursday, August 19th, 1982 – “everything was simple, the way Sister would have wished.” Burial followed in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Rowland Hills, California.

Here at the Center, a Memorial Mass was celebrated by Father Robert E. Sheridan, M.M., on August 20th, 1982; in spirit, we joined our Maryknoll Family throughout the world in offering our praise and thanksgiving to God for the beautiful gift that was Sister Marilyn’s life to Maryknoll and to the Church in mission.