Posted May 13, 2025

Sister Marian Christi Fehrenbach died in Camilla Hall on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. Sister died in the 69^th year of her religious life.

Mary Ann Fehrenbach was born on July 2, 1937. Her parents Joseph and Mary Margaret (McAndrew) raised their family in St. Helena Parish in Philadelphia. Mary Ann attended St. Helena Elementary School (1943-1951) and Little Flower Girls’ High School (1951-1955). Later, while in Community, Sister earned an A.B. degree in Elementary Education (Music) from Immaculata College and an M.A. degree in Education from Trenton State College.

Mary Ann entered the Congregation on September 8, 1955; she received her habit and her religious name, Sister Marian Christi, on March 8, 1956 and pronounced her First Vows on August 15, 1957.

For the first 20 years of Sister Marian Christi’s full-time teaching ministry, Sister taught children in grades 1 through 6 plus Music. Sister did an excellent job managing classroom responsibilities along with her very busy music schedule. During this time, Sister served at St. Joseph Locust Gap, St. Edward Shamokin, St. Teresa Valley Forge, SS. Philip and James Exton, SS. Simon and Jude Bethlehem, St. Agnes West Chester, Assumption Feasterville and St. Ann Phoenixville.

From the fall of 1976 through 2002, Sister taught 7^th and 8^th grade students at St. John of the Cross Roslyn, St. David Willow Grove, Our Lady of Fatima Bensalem, and St. Matthew Philadelphia. Sister also served as the Principal of St. Joseph-St. Robert School in Warrington during this period. Sister Marian Christi served the school community of Holy Innocents from 2002 through 2006 as a substitute teacher, a tutor, and a member of the Staff Development Team.

When Sister went to Cardinal Dougherty High School in 2006, Sister’s talent for organization and writing skills along with her pleasant manner made her a perfect fit for the Development Office. In 2010, Sister worked with the students at St. Martin of Tours in the realm of Advanced and Remedial Writing Skills and Library Skills.

The students that Sister taught, the Sisters with whom Sister lived, and the families with whom Sister interacted were as touched by her skills as by her goodness, her kindness, and her pleasant manner.

In August 2012, Sister Marian Christi joined her Sisters at Camilla Hall as a welcomed member of the Apostolate of Prayer and Service Community. Sister served her Sisters in prayer and humility. God rest you dear Sister Marian Christi.

In addition to her IHM Community, Sister Marian Christi is survived by her sisters Claire Connelly (Joseph), Dolores Connell (Thomas) and Joan Schafer, her nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Sister is predeceased by her parents Joseph Andrew Fehrenbach and Mary Margaret (McAndrew) Fehrenbach, and her brother-in-law Jack Schafer.

Reverend Francis Chambers, O.S.A. and Reverend Monsignor Kenneth McAteer concelebrated Sister Marian Christi’s Funeral Mass on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:

Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355