Obituary

Sister Marilyn Wallace served as teacher, bioethicist and volunteer

Sister of Mercy Marilyn Wallace was known for her gentleness, thoughtfulness, a sweet singing voice – and her intellect.

She earned four college degrees that served her as a teacher, bioethicist, volunteer and a religious sister of 60 years.

Sister Marilyn died in Omaha Nov. 14 at age 78. A private graveside service was held Nov. 30 with a memorial service to be held later.

She was born in Long Beach, California, and was raised in Omaha.

After graduating from Mercy High School in 1960, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in Omaha, professing temporary vows in 1963 and perpetual vows in 1968.

Sister Marilyn earned a bachelor’s  degree in French from College of Saint Mary in Omaha, a master’s in French from Marygrove College in Detroit, a master’s in theology from Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana, and a doctorate in theology from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

For more than 20 years, Sister Marilyn taught elementary and high school students in Kansas City, Missouri; Devil’s Lake, North Dakota; Quebec, Canada, and in Omaha. There she taught at St. Bernard School in 1968, Holy Cross School from 1968 to 1970 and Mercy High School from 1972 to 1981 and again from 1997 to 2004.

Sister Marilyn served as a bioethics consultant at the Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha from 1988 to 1990.

After her retirement in 2004, she volunteered as a receptionist at Mercy Villa Life Center and CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center-Began Mercy, both in Omaha.

Sister Marilyn made friends everywhere she served, and “made a great impact on people at the hospital. She had a gentle manner that people loved,” according to a written tribute by the Sisters of Mercy.

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