Sr. Marion Duggan, IHM, 91, died Sunday, Nov. 5, at her home, the IHM Senior Living Community.
On Jan. 27, 1931, Marion Theresa joined the family of John and Margaret (Healy) Duggan in Detroit, Michigan. Both of her parents heralded from Ireland. Marion attended elementary and high school at St. Gregory. Two months after graduation, she entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on August 19 and received the religious name Sister Mary Mel.
Sister Marion began higher education that same summer at Marygrove College, Detroit, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1953, followed by a master’s degree at the University of Detroit in 1966. During these years, she taught elementary education at St. Vincent, St. Raymond and All Saints, Detroit; Hall of the Divine Child and St. Mary, Monroe; and several years at St. Peter Claver in Mobile, Alabama. High school ministry followed at St. John, Jackson, St. Michael and Luke M. Powers in Flint.
After a year of working in job counseling with Greater Flint OIC CETA, Sister Marion joined the Flint Osteopathic Hospital. With her advanced degree in Social Work, she served there for 20 years as a medical social worker, helping hundreds of patients and families. She remained in Flint after retiring but continued to help others as a volunteer chaplain.
Sister Marion enjoyed warm relationships throughout all her ministries and friendships with other women religious with whom she worked or lived with in-community. She favored her Irish heritage and celebrated seven homegoing trips to Ireland with her father. Friends recalled that her brogue became stronger as did nearer the time to St. Patrick’s Day!
Upon returning to live at the Motherhouse, Sister continued volunteering in Pastoral Care as an intake interviewer and kept abreast of many community friendships and events.
Sister Marion will be remembered by her sister Sheila Hoban, sisters-in-law Carol and Lois, cousins, nieces and nephews and IHM Sisters in community. She reunites with sisters Ilene and Margaret and brothers Denis and John.
A Remembering and Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, Nov. 11, at the IHM Motherhouse Chapel, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, beginning at 10 a.m. Livestreaming begins at 10 a.m. and may be viewed until Dec. 2, 2023,. Green Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery. Arrangements by Rupp Funeral Home.
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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