Sister Marilyn Hartmann, CSJ

Sister Marilyn Hartmann  was  a deeply spiritual, creative, dedicated professional and a congregational woman for almost 64 years.

Marilyn was born in Far Rocks way to Marie and Charles and attended St. Joachim’s Parish School in Cedarhurst. She attended Stella Maris High School and then St. John’s School of Nursing. After entering the congregation she served as the infirmarian in our Brentwood College.

After teaching in Brooklyn at St. Rose of Lima and St. Michael’s in Flushing, Marilyn returned to her beloved ministry of nursing and served as an instructor of nursing at St. John’s Queens School of Nursing. In 1974 Marilyn became Assistant Director of Catholic Medical Center’s School of Nursing where she served for twenty years coordinating instruction and eventually as Director for fifteen years. During those years Marilyn mentored hundreds of students including some of our own sisters and witnessed to the care, compassion and professionalism integral to the ministry of nursing. At the same time a cherished friendship grew with our Sister Raymonda, a kindred spirit with Marilyn and all who knew them saw their dedication and zest for life.

Highly respected for her knowledge and values, Marilyn was also a life-long learner. She received certification in gerontology from St. Joseph’s College that enhanced her eleven year ministry in our Maria Regina Residence.

Marilyn had an eye for beauty and the gifts to enhance the appearance of spaces that could benefit from a face lift.  So, St. Joseph Convent, our congregational offices and the newly opened residence at Stella Maris benefitted from the gracious touch of Marilyn’s creativity.

I think this transformation of spaces to add grace and beauty along with Marilyn’s influence as an educator of so many nurses gave witness to the God she trusted and who made all things new. Her deep faith in God, the way, the truth and the life enabled her to bear the long struggle of her last days. Any time I visited Marilyn in Maria Regina she would say she did not know why she was in such a dependent condition but there was a deep sense of trust in the God who conquered death and would be with her on this last phase of her journey.

So, today we celebrate and thank Marilyn for being God’s presence to the countless lives she touched and to each one of us here who truly loved her.

Sister Marilyn Hartmann, CSJ died on April 23, 2019 in the 64th year of her religious life.