Sr. Marie Markel, IHM, died Sunday, April 10, 2022, at the IHM Motherhouse health care center after 65 years as IHM Sister Lawrence Mary.
Born Marie Elaine Markel on Sept. 19, 1935, to Lawrence and Mary (Smith) Markel of Marine City, Michigan, she grew up with a sister and six brothers on the family farm on Markel Road and many aunts, uncles and cousins in the near vicinity. Marie attended Holy Cross Elementary and graduated from Holy Cross High School.
After entering the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1957, her education expanded with degrees from Marygrove College, Wayne State University and SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary.
Sr. Marie ministered in formal elementary education at St. Catherine and St. Matthew (Detroit); Hall of the Divine Child (Monroe); St. Gerard Majella (Kirkwood, Missouri) and the John Carroll School in Oklahoma City. In 1980, a great change came as she transitioned into Pastoral Ministry, Parish Administration and Liturgy Coordination. She shared her gifts in Parish Ministry and as Director of Religious Education with the parish of St. Thomas Aquinas (Detroit) for over 10 years, St. Regis (Birmingham), and at Holy Family Parish, Saginaw. It was at Holy Spirit Parish beginning in 1999 that she would flourish and find a home in parish, pastoral and liturgical ministries for over 20 years. Sr. Marie was well respected and well known in these ministries. In the later Saginaw years, she was challenged by illnesses, which sadly, caused her to leave the ministries and people she so loved. In recent years, she resided at the IHM Motherhouse before entering the health care center.
Sr. Marie is survived by sister Sylvia Dietlin, cousin Sr. Mary Ann (John Andrew) Markel, IHM, and many nieces and nephews. Her brothers, Bernard, Charles, Clair, Kenneth, Lynn and Marvin preceded her.
Friends who have been fully vaccinated are welcome to attend services and are requested to enter via the main entrance on Elm Ave. and supply a phone number in the event of contract tracing. Facial Masks are to be always worn in the Motherhouse and Chapel.
Services will be held at the IHM Motherhouse Chapel, 610 W. Elm Ave. Monroe, on Wednesday, April 13. Welcoming of the body and visitation begins at 9 a.m. with a Remembering and Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Services will be Livestreamed beginning at 10 a.m. and may be viewed until May 4, 2022. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Rupp Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Ave., Monroe, MI 48162-7909.
Obituaries for clergy and religious who have lived or served in the Archdiocese of Detroit may be emailed to [email protected]. Obituaries are printed as they are submitted, but may be edited for grammar and style. Detroit Catholic reserves the right to refuse or edit any submissions.
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