Sr. Marilyn Hoover, OSU 1932-2026

Sister Marilyn was born Joan E. Hoover on June 23, 1932, in Altoona, Pa., the daughter of Chester and Marie Nagle Hoover, and moved to Youngstown as a child.

She attended Sacred Heart Elementary School and graduated from Ursuline High School in 1951. She entered the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown on Feb. 1, 1951, and made a perpetual profession of vows on Aug. 10, 1956.

Sister Marilyn earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Youngstown State University and did post-baccalaureate work at St. John College, Cleveland; College of Steubenville, Steubenville; and Youngstown State University.

In over 59 years of active ministry Sister Marilyn taught at Immaculate Conception, St. Patrick, Sacred Heart and St. Charles churches, all in Youngstown, and St. Rose in Girard.

When Sister Marilyn retired from teaching, she began to work as director of activities at Windsor Nursing Home and then at Camelot Arms Care Center. She also served as director of the Ursuline Sisters Health Care Center. For over 15 years, she coordinated the altar bread ministry for the Ursuline Sisters. Most recently, Sister Marilyn served the church and the world through a ministry of prayer at the Ursuline Motherhouse.

Over the last several years, Sister Marilyn became an avid walker, even participating in the “Nun Run” to support the Ursuline Sisters Mission. She regularly invited other sisters to join her on her journeys. While she often walked outside, in inclement weather she walked the halls of the Motherhouse and Ursuline Center.

Sister Marilyn leaves her Ursuline Sisters in community and a sister, Marlene (Rubin) Boyce in Rancho Cucamonga, California, and several nieces and nephews across several generations.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, George and Chester Jr.; and sisters, Jane Lyons, Marian Elser and Lillian Linchney.

The Ursuline Sisters will gather for a wake with family and friends beginning at 2:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Ursuline Motherhouse Chapel, 4250 Shields Road, Canfield. The funeral Mass will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the chapel.

Memorial donations can be made to the Ursuline Sisters Mission.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Kinnick Funeral Home in Youngstown. Visit kinnickfuneralhome.com to send condolences to Sister Marilyn’s family.

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