SINSINAWA — Dominican Sister Margaret Mary Murphy, OP (Madeleine Barat), died March 13, 2010, at the Dominican Motherhouse, Sinsinawa. The funeral Mass was held in Queen of the Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa March 17, 2010, followed by burial in the Motherhouse Cemetery.
Sister Margaret Mary made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Aug. 5, 1950, and her final profession Aug. 5, 1953. She taught elementary school for 16 years and high school for 12 years. Sister Margaret Mary ministered as a staff member of the Dominican Education Center, Sinsinawa, Wis., for two years; communication director for the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation for four years; school secretary for one year; and researcher and volunteer in the Archives at the Motherhouse, Sinsinawa, for five years. Sister Margaret served as a writer and/or editor in Chicago for 20 years. She was also a photographer. She served in Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Montana and Missouri.
In the Diocese of Madison, Sister Margaret Mary taught at Edgewood High, Madison, 1963-1966; served as a staff member of the Dominican Education, Sinsinawa, 1975-1977; as communication director for the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation, 1977-1981; and had served as a researcher in the Archives since 2005.
Sister Margaret Mary was born May 29, 1929, in Omaha, Neb., the daughter of John and Anna (McDermott) Murphy. Her parents and a brother, John Murphy, preceded her in death. She is survived by a sister, Carol Beran; nieces; nephews; and her Dominican Sisters with whom she shared life for 59 years.
Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9701 or online at www.sinsinawa.org by clicking on “Donate to Us,” then “Honors and Memorials.”
Repeat broadcasts of the wake and funeral for Sister Margaret Mary are available online at www.ustream.tv/Sinsinawa.