In Loving Memory
Sister Rose Marie Larkin, OSB, 95, died at St. Mary’s Medical Center on Sunday, March 7, 2010. She was born February 22, 1915, in Brainerd, Minnesota and entered the Duluth Benedictine community January 9, 1933. She professed monastic vows July 11, 1934, and celebrated her Silver Jubilee of profession in 1959, her Golden Jubilee in 1984, her Diamond in 1969, her 70th in 2004, and her 75th in 2009.
Sister Rose Marie graduated from Brainerd High School in 1931. She earned a B.A. in English from The College of St. Scholastica in 1941, an M.A. in English from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1944, and a B.S. in Nursing from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, in 1958.
Her ministries included teaching elementary school at St. Timothy’s School, Chicago, Illinois; instructor in English, speech, and debate at Cathedral High School, Duluth, Minnesota; instructor in English and prefect at The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth; head nurse at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Duluth; staff nurse at the University of California Medical Center, the San Francisco City and County General Hospital, and the Hahnemann Hospital Intensive Care Unit, all in San Francisco, California; staff nurse in Coronary Care, St. Luke’s Hospital, Duluth.
She had a great love for her family. After the tragic accidental drowning of her father when she was two years old, her mother raised their seven children. In recent years Sister Rose Marie wrote a special booklet honoring her mother, and she also held the remaining family relatives together. She loved her Irish ancestry and at the age of 79 traveled to Ireland to do research for her family tree.
At her wake it was noted how kind and compassionate she was to others, especially her brother, Father Harry, and her sister, Mary, prior to their deaths in the Benedictine Health Center. One year while teaching at Duluth Cathedral High School her debate team brought home a trophy from the Minnesota State Tournament. Other special interests she had were literature and gardening.
After her retirement she designed and cared for what became known as the “Magnificat Garden” at St. Scholastica Monastery. She also assisted at the Information Desk and was a writer for The Wanderer.
Sister Rose Marie was preceded in death by her parents Patrick and Margaret (McCabe) Larkin; her brothers Father Harry, Father Martin, Father William, Thomas, and Art, and by a sister, Mary (Abell). She is survived by the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A wake service was held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, March 12, 2010, in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel, with visitation until 10:45 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial took place at 11 a.m. with Father Ron Gagne as presider. Internment was at Gethsemane Cemetery.
MINISTRIES
Education Ministry
- St. Timothy’s Chicago, IL
- Cathedral High School, Duluth, MN
- The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN
Health Care Ministry
- St. Mary’s Medical Center, Duluth, MN
- University of California Medical Center, San Francisco, CA
- San Francisco City and County General Hospital, San Francisco, CA
- Hahnemann Hospital Intensive Care Unit, San Francisco, CA
- Coronary Care, St. Luke’s Hospital, Duluth, MN
Hospitality Ministry
- Information Desk, St. Scholastica, Monastery, Duluth, MN
Prayer Ministry