Sr. Marlene Ptaszynski, OP, formerly known as Sr. Karen Marie Ptaszynski, died on April 28, 2023, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 86 years of age and in the 68th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Marlene was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Joseph and Gertrude (Stachowiak) Ptaszynski. She graduated from Dominican High School in Detroit and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and a Master of Education degree in Education Administration, both from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian.
Sister Marlene spent 17 years ministering in education in Adrian, Ubly, and Detroit, Michigan; Medina and Cleveland, Ohio; and Chicago, Illinois. This included service at two Congregation-sponsored institutions: four years at Dominican High School in Detroit and four years as a teacher and one year as an assistant principal/teacher at Hoban Dominican High School in Cleveland. She later served four years as a pastoral minister in Detroit, followed by 38 years as a chaplain at hospitals in Mount Clemens and Clinton Township, Michigan, and five years in volunteer pastoral care for a nursing facility in Fraser, Michigan. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2021.
Sister was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Beverly-Ann Michon. She is survived by loving family and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation and vigil prayer were held Thursday, May 4, 2023, in St. Catherine Chapel. A funeral Mass was offered in St. Catherine Chapel on Friday, May 5, 2023. Prayers of Committal were held in the Congregation Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.
Sister ministered in Michigan for more than 57 years:
- St. Mary, Adrian (1956-57): Elementary Teacher
- St. John, Ubly (1957-61): Elementary Teacher
- Dominican High School, Detroit (1963-65): High School Teacher
- Dominican High School, Detroit (1971-73): High School Teacher
- St. Matthew Parish, Detroit (1973-77): Pastoral Ministries
- St. Joseph Hospital, Mount Clemens (1978-93): Chaplain
- St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Clinton Township (1993-2007): Chaplain
- Henry Ford Macomb Hospitals, Clinton Township (2007-16): Chaplain
- Sanctuary at Fraser Villa, Fraser (2016-21): Pastoral Care Volunteer
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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