Posted January 7, 2025

Sister ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Marietta Culhane, OSF, 94, died in Crozer-Chester Medical Center on Monday, January 6, 2025. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 71 years. Sister Marietta was born Mary Louise Culhane in Chicago, Illinois, where she was a member of St. Peter Canisius Parish and a graduate of Providence High School. She entered the congregation in 1951 and professed her first vows in 1953. She earned a BS in secondary education from Villanova University, an MA in English from St. Bonaventure University, and a PhD in philosophy from Georgetown University. She ministered primarily in education, administration, and parish ministry.

Sister Marietta ministered for 31 years in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. She began teaching elementary school at the Shrine of the Little Flower for one year. She taught high school for the next 11 years—a year at The Catholic High School of Baltimore and 10 years at Towson Catholic High School. During this time, she also served as the Archdiocesan Supervisor of Math. She later served as the Dean of Instruction at Essex Community College and as an ethics consultant. In the late 80s and 90s, Sister Marietta served in pastoral ministry at St. Mary Catholic Church in Cumberland, St. Joseph Parish in Midland, and St. Anthony Shrine in Emmitsburg.

In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Sister Marietta served as the academic dean and instructor at Neumann University in Aston for nine years. She also coordinated education for the congregation at Our Lady of Angels Convent for four years. In 2015, she moved to Assisi House, the congregation’s retirement residence in Aston, where she served in prayer and hospitality ministry until her death.

During her career, she conducted over 250 math workshops in 18 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands; authored a National Science Foundation Institute on Math at Johns Hopkins University; and received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal from Pope John Paul II in 2004. Additional ministry includes four years in the diocese of Wilmington in local house ministry.

All services will be held in Assisi House on Friday, January 10, 2025, and will be livestreamed. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 A.M. Internment of Ashes will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Marietta is survived by her many nieces and nephews, and her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.