Sister Marianne Evans (formerly Sister M. James Rita) died in Lankenau Hospital on Sunday, January 30, 2022 in the 53rd year of her religious life. Sister recently celebrated her Golden Jubilee, fiftieth anniversary of her First Vows. Family members and many friends celebrated the joy of this glorious celebration.
Marianne was born on November 25, 1947. Her dear parents Leonard and Ethel (Chinery) Evans raised their family of four children in Most Blessed Sacrament Parish in Philadelphia then St. Andrew Parish in Drexel Hill. Marianne attended Most Blessed Sacrament Elementary School and graduated in 1961. Marianne then attended Archbishop Prendergast High School from which she graduated in 1965. Before entering the Community, Marianne took courses at Immaculata College and St. Joseph University.
Marianne entered the Community on September 8, 1968; she received her habit and religious name, Sister M. James Rita, on June 27, 1969. Sister pronounced her First Vows on June 28, 1971.
In 1989, our Sisters had the opportunity to maintain their religious name or return to their baptismal name – Sister chose to return to her baptismal name.
Throughout Sister Marianne’s teaching ministry – the fall of 1971 through the school year ending in June 2011 – she taught first, second, third, and fifth grade children. Sister served in a variety of geographic places. Sister taught at St. Monica, Philadelphia; St. Mark in Bristol; St. Charles in Cornwells Heights; Holy Family in Harrisburg; Holy Rosary in Cherry Hill; Immaculate Heart in Ashland; SS. Philip & James in Exton; St. Matthew in Philadelphia; Immaculate Heart in Girardville; St. Martin of Tours in Philadelphia; and St. John Paul II in West Brandywine.
In the fall of 2011 until the school year ending 2017, Sister Marianne continued her ministry at St. John Paul II as a very valued teacher assistant and tutor to those children in need. In the fall of 2017, Sister continued her valued service at St. Laurence School in Upper Darby through the school year ending 2021. Relatively early in the new school year, Sister Marianne, whose health, already compromised, succumbed to the ravages of complications with Covid and pneumonia and died on Sunday, January 30, 2022. Sister leaves in her wake grieving family members, grieving friends and colleagues, and grieving IHM members. Sister always had a big smile and a bigger heart. God rest her beautiful soul.
In addition to her IHM Community, especially her loving Community at St. Laurence Convent, her brother James (Nancie), her sisters Denise McKenzie (Michael) and Helene Oteri (Dominic), her nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews survive Sister.
Her parents Leonard James Evans and Ethel Rita (Chinery) Evans predecease Sister Marianne.
Reverend Shaun Mahoney, the main celebrant and homilist, celebrated Sister’s Funeral Mass on Friday, February 4, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. Reverend Thomas Whittingham, Reverend Joseph McCaffrey, Reverend John Burger, and Reverend Michael Callaghan concelebrated with Father Shaun.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355