Sister Rose Marie Marilyn Duff (Sister St. Raymond)

November 28, 1936 – July 27, 2025

It is with feelings of loss and deep faith in the resurrection that we share with you the death of Sister Rose Marie Marilyn Duff (Sister St. Raymond).  Sister Marilyn was born in Sudbury, Ontario to Evelyn (Mossey) and Thomas Duff. Over the course of time, five siblings were added to the Duff family: Monty (Bonnie), Beverley Calford (Ken), Gail Santsche (Ken), Thomas (Heather), and Brenda Melcher (Ray). Marilyn was preceded into eternal life by her parents, brother Thomas and her brothers-in-law Gary Pidgeon and Ray Melcher.

Marilyn responded to the invitation to dedicate her life to God in serving the Church. She entered The Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie, September 9, 1955, and pronounced her perpetual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in 1963. In her early years in the congregation, Marilyn worked in the Admitting Office of Sudbury General Hospital. Her early clerical education and experience served as a sound foundation for her further studies in Hospital Organization and Management, later studying business administration at university and through perseverance, successfully achieving the much-coveted status of Certified General Accountant (later known as Certified Professional Accountant). Sister Marilyn was elected to Life Member Status in her professional organization in 2017.

Much of Sister Marilyn’s ministry focused on administration, serving in hospitals in Sudbury and North Bay. Sister Marilyn served on the Boards of St. Joseph’s Heritage and St. Joseph’s Hospital, Thunder Bay; Sudbury General Hospital, and was elected the Chairperson of the Board of St. Joseph’s Hospital, North Bay, helping to support and coordinate the amalgamation of St. Joseph’s General Hospital and North Bay General Hospital to become the North Bay Regional Health Centre.   She assisted in planning the merger of St. Joseph’s Heritage and St. Joseph’s General Hospital becoming St. Joseph’s Care Group, offering complex continuing care, mental health and addiction services, long term care and seniors’ housing support in Thunder Bay. Marilyn’s expertise was sought, and she generously served on the Building and Renovation committee of St. Joseph’s Motherhouse. When the Health Services Restructuring Committee ordered the closure of Sudbury General Hospital, Sister Marilyn participated in the negotiating committee, identifying continuing Catholic health care ministry through the development of St. Joseph’s Health Centre.   In addition, Marilyn served on the Board of the Association of Treasurers of Religious Institutes (ATRI) from 1989-1995 and served as the chairperson of the board in her final years of service. It would come as no surprise to know that Marilyn was profiled in the first issue of Influential Women of Northern Ontario , a Northern Ontario business publication.

While supporting many health care projects, Marilyn’s financial and business acumen was critical in her ministry when she was appointed as General Treasurer and Manager of the congregation’s Finance Department in 1982, a position she served with grace and expertise until her “retirement” in 2002. While Marilyn had many administrative and financial skills, she was also an accomplished watercolor artist. This medium offered expression to the deepest longings of her heart, which was to continue to live her life of dedication and service, making the world a better place for all. As a congregation, we join with her family and friends in grieving her loss. All the while, we know that we will be welcomed into the courts of heaven by Marilyn when it is our turn to transition into eternal life.

Sister Marilyn will be welcomed home to the Motherhouse on Friday, August 1, 2025, at 2 PM, with visitation to follow. We will gather for a prayer service at 4 pm. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 4 pm. All are welcome to join us in celebrating and praying in gratitude for the life of this valiant and gifted woman. Donations in memory of Sister Marilyn can be made for the works of The Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie - https://csjssm.ca/donate-now.

Online condolences at www.hillsidefuneral.ca