Dominican Sister of Peace Rosemarie (Margery Ann) Robinson, 89, died on December 1, 2018, at the Regina Health Care Center of the Dominican Sisters of Peace in Akron, OH. Described as "gracious, kindly, diligent, wise, competent, capable, good-humored, generous, ingenious, and outstanding,” Sr. Rosemarie celebrated 70 years of religious life this year.
Born in Youngstown, OH, in 1929, Sr. Rosemarie was one of nine children born to Anne Helbig and George Robinson. She entered religious life in 1946, following the example of her sister, Sr. Bernadine, who is also a Dominican Sister of Peace.
Sister Rosemarie earned her Bachelor of Science in Education in 1958 and her Master of Science in Education in 1966 from St. John College of Cleveland. True to the Dominican charism, she also continued her studies with courses at Ball State, Kent State, Siena Heights and the University of Dayton.
Sr. Rosemarie took her love of learning and study to her early ministry, serving as a teacher and educational administrator at schools in Akron, Barberton, Cleveland and Doylestown, OH. Beyond teaching her elementary and middle school students, she also served as a mentor and guide for the teachers on her staffs.
She was an active and important support to her founding congregation, the Dominican Sisters of Akron. She was elected Second Councilor in 1969, and served as President from 1973 to 1981. She was thrilled to preside over the burning of the million-dollar mortgage in 1976.
Her educational experience was put to good use as she served as business manager, personnel director and maintenance coordinator at Our Lady of the Elms, and on various committees as well.
As first Co-delegate for Religious and later Delegate for the Diocese of Cleveland, Sr. Rosemarie used her gifts of leadership and foresight to enhance the lives and spirit of the religious in the diocese. In her final years, she served the people of God and her Sisters in a ministry of prayer and presence at our Akron Motherhouse and at the Regina Care Center.
In the history of the Dominican Sisters of Akron, A Moment of Grace, Sr. Diana Culbertson, OP, wrote “Sr. Rosemarie’s years of leadership would test her skills as a calm administrator … She offered the kind of quiet steadiness at the helm that the community needed in tumultuous times. If she ever became exasperated at unpredictable events and crises that she would inevitably face, her demeanor consistently suggested that all was under control-and it usually was. "
Sr. Rosemarie is survived by three sisters, Anita Watson, Coletta and Sister Bernadine Robinson, OP. She was preceded in death by her parents, Anne and George, her brothers, George and Richard, and three sisters, Eileen Macupa, Kathleen and Rosemary.
A Memorial Mass was be held at Our Lady of the Elms Convent Chapel in Akron, OH, on Thursday, December 6. Sr. Rosemarie was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Akron, OH.
Memorial gifts in Sr. Rosemarie Robinson’s memory may be submitted securely online at www.oppeace.org or sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Drive, Columbus, OH 43219.
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