Age 100
A gentle compassionate woman, Sister Madelyn Marie lived over a century and served others through nursing and pastoral care inspired by her motto, “Thy will be done.”
Born a twin in Deshler, Ohio, and raised on the family farm, the middle of eight children, Sister Madelyn Marie entered the Sisters of Mercy in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the age of 23. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Our Lady of Cincinnati College in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Madelyn ministered as a nurse for 20 years. Initially she served as pediatric supervisor at Mercy Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, and moved to maternity at Mercy Hospital in Jefferson, Ohio. Next, she served as the director of nursing at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in Owensboro, Kentucky, Mercy Hospital in Coldwater, Ohio, and back to Mercy Hospital in Jefferson, Ohio.
For the last 30 years of her career, she transitioned from direct nursing care to pastoral care ministering at Mercy Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, and Charles Crest retirement communities for low income seniors in Rossford, Ohio. She spent many hours visiting the residents, taking Communion to them, and companioning them.
She retired at the age of 82 to St. Bernardine’s Home in Fremont, Ohio. Within the next several years, her hearing loss caught up with her, greatly hampering her ability to participate in convent meetings and individual conversations which had been so important to her with her former patients. Despite this loss, she continued to be present as best she could with others at meal times and activities as her special smile and bright eyes were always evident. She was truly a delight!