Sister Marlyss Dionne (Sister Julia Marie), age 86, of Valley City, ND, died peacefully at Maryvale Convent, Valley City, ND September 7, 2021. Visitation will be from 6-7 p.m. Sunday, September 12 and 9 a.m.-9:50 a.m. Monday, September 13. Her prayer service will be Sunday, September 12 at 7 p.m. and the funeral will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 13, 2021.
Sister Marlyss was born at Rolette, ND November 23, 1934 to Hylas and Josephine (Strand) Dionne. She professed Vows of obedience, poverty and consecrated chastity in 1953 with the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation (SMP) in Spring Valley, Illinois. She attended elementary school at Russel School, secondary education at Notre Dame, Willow City, ND and graduated high school from St. Catherine’s School, Valley City, ND 1951. She received her Bachelor Degree from College of Great Falls, Montana in 1965 in elementary education and history. Her Master Degree was from Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA in systematic and moral theology in 1984.
Sister Marlyss loved to teach and did so at the following schools: St. Catherine’s, Valley City, ND 1953-54, 1962-66, 1968-77; St. Joseph, Wild Rice, ND 1954-1960; St. Aloysius, Oakwood, ND 1960-62; St. Aloysius, Lisbon, ND 1966-68; and St. Louis, Princeton, IL 1979-83. She was a born leader so was also principal at St. Catherine’s and St. Louis.
Sister Marlyss served as director of religious education at Galesville, WI 1983-84 and pastoral associate at St. Patrick Parish, Dickinson, ND 1992-93. She served as Provincial Councilor 1972-78, Assistant Provincial 1984-92, Provincial Superior 1996-2005 and Hospitality Director 2006-20 all at Maryvale, Valley City, ND. She served in parish ministry at St. Cecilia’s Church and mission integration leader at St. Aloisius Medical Center both in Harvey, ND 1993-96. Through her leadership of our Religious Community she became very involved in our health care ministry. She served on numerous hospital and long-term care Board of Directors chairing the SMP-Long Term Care Board of Directors for many years. She also served and chaired the SMP Health System Board of Directors and was a Member of SMP Health Ministry.
Sister Marlyss is survived by her Religious Community, the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation; her sisters Elaine Crosby and Ramona Johnson; nieces and nephews and their descendants.
An online guestbook is available and the Funeral Mass will be livestreamed at www.lerudschuldt.com