Associate Marcia Conlin
Born to earthly life: October 30, 1920
Covenanted with SSND: May 28, 1992
Entered eternal life: February 20, 2009
When Marcia McCumsey Conlin first heard of SSND Associates, she said she heard a call that “spoke to my heart” and was, “a matter of the spirit.” This happened in the mid-80s when Marcia was living in downtown Milwaukee and got to know the School Sisters of Notre Dame who had moved to Marshall Street.
Some sisters became parishioners of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Sister Benilda Dix joined the staff of the parish newsletter, The Network, of which Marcia was the founding editor. Since SSND was contributing the printing of the newsletter, Marcia also got to work with Sisters Helen Marie Skierkowski and Dianne Marie Engelhart.
Still employed fulltime at UWM, Marcia planned to become an SSND associate as soon as she retired. In 1992, she made her first covenant as an SSND associate in a simple ceremony in the motherhouse chapel. From then on she connected even more closely with the Marshall Street community and joined them for various occasions.
She faithfully attended all associate gatherings until she moved into a nursing facility; then she continued to be a prayer associate. She was always interested in and prayed for what was going on, and greatly appreciated the cards and communications that were sent to her.
Sister Benilda had been the sister partner of both Marcia and Kathy Motzko and the three of them were together when Marcia went home to her loving God. With them, singing Alleluias at that moment in a Luther Manor hospice room, were Sister Mary Catherine Dundon, Pastor Dave Patterson, and a visiting deacon. Marcia is survived by one daughter, Victoria Brundage.
She was always a very private person, as amply evidenced by the surprises that came out in the eulogy and in pictures of her early years provided by Victoria. A voracious reader and patron of the arts, she had been active in Milwaukee artistic and literary circles, but usually deflected personal questions.
Her life, nevertheless, spoke loudly to us who knew her during the last quarter of her 88 years of life. “She was a spiritually gifted, beautiful, talented, sensitive, mature woman of faith. We shall miss her quiet presence,” Sister Benilda said.
The Mass of Christian Burial, attended by several associates and sisters, was celebrated by Father Carl Last at the Cathedral of St. John on February 26.
– Mary Benilda Dix, SSND
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