Sister Christine Marian, RSHM died peacefully at Marymount Convent, Tarrytown, NY, Wednesday, October 2, 2024. She was 98 years of age and had been a member of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary for 78 years.
Beverly Marian was born in New York City, NY, on February 4, 1926, to Joseph B. and Ophelia Marian.
She received a BA in Spanish from Marymount College, Tarrytown, NY, and an MA in Italian from Columbia University, New York, NY.
After graduating from Marymount Secondary School, Tarrytown, NY, she entered the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary at the Novitiate in Tarrytown, NY, on July 22, 1944. Sr. Christine made her first vows in Tarrytown on February 5, 1946 and her final vows in Rome, Italy on February 5, 1951.
Sr. Christine’s first assignment, in the summer of 1946, was to Marymount, Via Nomentana, Rome, Italy. Although WWII had officially ended in Europe, the signs of war, occupation, and political unrest were strong in the country and the city. She taught at Marymount in both Italian an international schools (1946-1957). Later, she returned to the Italian school, Istituto Marymount, where she taught and was assistant principal (1968-1970).
She taught at Marymount College, Tarrytown for one year (1957-1958) before going to Colombia. During her first assignment to Colombia, she taught at Marymount School, Medellin and Marymount School, Bogota (1958-1960). During her second assignment to Colombia, Sr. Christine taught and was assistant principal at Escuela de la Madre Butler, in Barranquilla (1966-1968).
Sr. Christine taught at Marymount School of New York, NYC (1960-1963), Marymount School, Arlington, VA (1963-1965), and Marymount Secondary School, Tarrytown (1965-1966). She also taught at Fr. Lopez High School, Daytona Beach, FL (1980-1982) and St. Nicholas of Tolentine High School, Bronx, NY (1982-1983).
Much of Sr. Christine’s ministry involved her work in administration. She worked for the RSHM Eastern American Province in the Marian Center, Tarrytown (1970-1973) and Provincial Center (1983-1985) business offices. She served in the business office at Istituto Marymount, Rome (1985-1987 and 2008-2011). She served at the RSHM Generalate in Rome as assistant to the General Secretary and General Treasurer (1996-1999).
She worked in the business office at St. Catherine’s Academy, Bronx, NY(1987-1996 and 2000-2008) and was a staff member with the Leviticus Fund, Yonkers NY (1999-2000).
In 2001, she moved to Marymount Convent, Tarrytown. Sr. Christine took on the responsibility for the small shop for the sisters, which she ran until shortly before she died. She was a member of the Convent community at the time of her death.
Sister Christine is survived by her niece, Lindsey Svetlay, and grandnieces Allison Pinholster, Shannon Townsend, Maeve Hauswald, and by the members of her religious family.
Services are at Marymount Convent, 32 Warren Avenue, Tarrytown, NY. Visiting is on Friday, October 4, 2024, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm with the Vigil Service at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at 10 am. Burial Mount Calvary Cemetery, White Plains to follow.
We invite you to join us for the Vigil Service and Mass at Marymount Convent by livestream on our website (www.rshm-east.org), where they will be archived.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in her name may be made to Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, 50 Wilson Park Drive, Tarrytown, NY, 10591.
I have been thinking of Sr. Christine and was planning on visiting her after I had recovered from surgery this fall. I was principal (just retired) at St. Catharine Academy and asked her to work with me. She was a challenge but we work together well and worked through many difficult situations. I had a very good relationship with her.
I am very grateful for her. Rest in peace Christine.