Obituary of Sr. Marilyn McCusker

Sister of Christian Charity Marilyn McCusker passed away on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at Mallinckrodt Convent, Mendham, New Jersey. Marilyn McCusker was born in New York City on December 15, 1940, to Eugene and Kathleen (Starr) McCusker.  Marilyn entered the Sisters of Christian Charity on August 28, 1958, in Mendham and began her Novitiate on August 21, 1959, receiving the name Sister Mary Alma. (Years later, she would return to her baptismal name and was known as Sister Marilyn.)  She professed her First Vows on August 21, 1961, and her Perpetual Vows on August 20, 1967.

Sister Marilyn attended St. Luke School, Immaculate Conception School and Cathedral High School Annex, all in the Bronx, NY. She graduated from Immaculata High School, Mendham, earned an Associate in Arts Degree from Assumption College for Sisters, Mendham, a Bachelor of Science in Education from Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ and a Master of Arts in the Teaching of Mathematics from Villanova University, Villanova, PA.

Sister Marilyn’s active apostolate throughout nearly 65 years as a Sister of Christian Charity was lovingly dedicated to education at St. Mary School, Pittston, PA; St. Nicholas School, Jersey City, NJ; St. Michael School, Netcong, NJ; St. Joseph School, Jim Thorpe, PA; St. Nicholas School, Wilkes-Barre, PA; St. Maria Goretti High School for Girls, Philadelphia, PA; Delone Catholic High School, McSherrystown, PA; and Bishop McDevitt High School, Harrisburg, PA.  In January 2021, Sister Marilyn retired to the Motherhouse in Mendham where she continued her avocation of genealogy research and participated in a ministry of prayer and presence until her death.

During her 35 years at Bishop McDevitt High School, Sister Marilyn taught science and math, chaired the Science Department, and – at various times through the years – served on multiple committees, including the Academic, National Honor Society, Technology, Vocation, and Middle States Committees. She also moderated numerous clubs and activities, including the Science Olympiad, Science Fair, Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science, Quiz Bowl, Mission, and Peer Counselors. Many of her students went far in the Science Olympiad and Science Fair and succeeded in science- and math-related careers, crediting Sister Marilyn’s influence in their lives.

In 2019, Assumption College for Sisters named Sister Marilyn “Alumna of the Year” for her “long and distinguished career in Catholic education” and her “reputation for excellence.” In 2022, Sister Marilyn was recognized by Bishop McDevitt High School for 35 years of teaching there and for 60 years in Catholic education. 

Sister Marilyn is survived by the Sisters of Christian Charity, and by her brothers, Eugene McCusker and John McCusker and their families, her niece, Anna McCusker, and her cousins, Kathleen and Joseph Hasset, Carole and John Lucas, and Mary Rooney.

Visitation will be held in the Chapel of Mary Immaculate at the Motherhouse in Mendham on Sunday January 7, 2024, from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. with Vespers being prayed at 4:30 p.m. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Chapel of Mary Immaculate on Monday January 8 at 11 a.m. and will be livestreamed at sccus.org. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery on the grounds of the Motherhouse. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Sister Marilyn McCusker to the Sisters of Christian Charity, 350 Bernardsville Road, Mendham, NJ, 07945, or at sccus.org/donate.