Sister Marilyn spent many of her 60 years ministering to children in diocesan schools and serving as chaplain to the infirm and elderly in nursing homes and at St. Cloud Hospital.
She especially enjoyed her ministry as a chaplain at St. Cloud Hospital, where she was able to draw on her 1988 experience of having cancer. “This year,” S. Marilyn said, “I am a grateful 20-year survivor.”

In all her work experiences, S. Marilyn has focused on community. “Some of my happiest memories of experiences building community are of those that occurred in Anaconda, Mont,” she said. “With the help of a guide, we frequently spent weekends mountain climbing. Experiencing the beauty of nature and supporting one another as our muscles started to ache was great fun and refreshing. We returned home with new energy to minister to the children in our school and to each other.”

S. Marilyn now resides at Saint Scholastica Convent, where she has returned to an earlier ministry, that of serving the retired members of the monastic community.