Sister Jean Marshall, OP, of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, New York, died in Nyack Hospital on May 7, 2015.
Born in the Bronx, NY on January 20, 1942, Jean was the daughter of Vincent and Rita Cullen Marshall. She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on September 8, 1959 and received the name Sister Rita Vincent. She professed her first vows in 1961 and her final vows in 1966.
Sister earned a B.A. in Spanish from St. Thomas Aquinas College, NY and a MS in Education from City College of New York, NY.
During her professional life, Sister was an elementary teacher in the Brooklyn diocese and the Archdiocese of New York. She taught at St. Joseph, Bronx, NY (1961-62); St. Rose of Lima, NYC, NY (1962-65 and 1977-1983); Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Richmond Hill, NY (1965-68); St. Agnes, Sparkill, NY (1968-69) and St. John Chrysostom, Bronx NY (1969-77). In 1983 Sr. Jean founded St. Rita’s Center for Immigrant and Refugee Services (formerly St. Rita’s Asian Center). For thirty-two years she worked tirelessly on behalf of the many refugees who came to the center seeking a better life. Her work has been recognized many times over and she has certainly made a difference in the lives of many.
Sister Jean is predeceased by her parents Rita and Vincent Marshall and her brother Donald. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Dorothy Marshall (Boyertown, PA), many cousins and dear friends.
Sister Jean was faithful to the God she loved and to the life she chose as a Dominican sister. We are grateful for her fifty-five years in the congregation and we thank God for her life and her goodness. May the Lord shine His light upon her and give her eternal rest in the kingdom of heaven.