Sister Marjorie Jones, CSC
Word has been received of the death of Sister Marjorie (Jones) who died at 5:48 p.m. on Wednesday, January 12, 2011, in Saint Mary’s Convent, Notre Dame, Indiana.
Sister Marjorie wrote in great detail about her life before she entered the congregation including stories about the love of the cello she and her father shared. She had a cherished memory of the time he took her shopping for her first cello and how much that meant to her.
She loved classical music and struggled to become accomplished in playing the works of the masters. This was an integral part of her development as a teenager and she carried that goal into her life in community. The highlights she mentions were of her successes as a member of various orchestras as a young musician. After coming to Saint Mary’s she writes of how hard she worked to prepare for the cello recitals she gave for the sisters.
Even after she was no longer able to perform for an audience she continued to be faithful to her daily times of practice. Failing health finally made even this small pleasure impossible though she still enjoyed listening to the music of the masters.
Sister’s ministries were centered in the field of library science and she spent more than 30 years working in Saint Mary’s College library where as a librarian she did cataloging and data entry.
In 1987 Sister Marjorie’s mother was no longer able to live independently so sister rented an apartment in South Bend and for six years took care of her mother while continuing to work in the college library. Sister Marjorie often spoke of her gratitude to the congregation for giving her this privilege and what joy it gave her mother.
As the years passed and health failed her and she was no longer able to be independent, she often told her sister visitors how she was attempting each day to grow in personal prayer. Her reverence for the Eucharist became central to her spiritual life and she looked forward to receiving the Lord each day.
Sister Marjorie is now with her Lord and hears the choir of angels to delight her musical ear. May she rest in peace.
Funeral arrangements for Sister are as follows: Reception of the body and wake with the memento on Wednesday, January 19, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. with the Mass of Resurrection at 1:30 p.m. the same day. These ceremonies will take place in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto.