Posted on March 1, 2023
Dominican Sister of Peace Denise (Mary Lou) Macko, OP (93), died on December 25, 2022, at the Regina Health Center in Akron, OH.
Sr. Denise, the daughter of Mary Rock and Andrew Macko, was born in Youngstown, OH on October 7, 1929. She entered the Congregation in 1959, after earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Youngstown University. She made first profession in 1961 and took her final vows in 1967.
A true Dominican, Sr. Denise loved to study. She continued her education in science by earning a Master of Science in Chemistry with a minor in Physics from Notre Dame. She continued her education by taking courses and seminars at John Carroll University, the University of Akron, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio State University, and even Dijon University in France. She wanted to be as fully prepared as possible for her ministry as an educator.
Sister Denise ministered at Saint Vincent-Saint Mary High School and at Our Lady of the Elms High School for more than two decades.
Of course, Sr. Denise’s talents were obvious to her Congregation, and she was elected to the Elms House Council as well as the Board of Elections. She was appointed to both the Admission and Formation Commission and the Finance and Development Commission.
Not content with teaching and serving her congregation, Sr. Denise also taught the metric system at the Summit County Society of the Blind and volunteered at Xavier Society for the Blind as a transcriber of Braille.
Sr. Denise returned to study computer science at the University of Akron while teaching there as well. She worked as a computer programmer for Tru-Fit in Medina for several years before helping the Akron Motherhouse and the Congregation with their computer installations.
Sr. Denise’s interests were as wide as her ministry, ranging from needlework to winemaking to golf. She loved the Cleveland Guardians, Browns, and Cavaliers. A true itinerant, Sister Denise also loved to travel and visited not only many areas of the United States but also London, France, Switzerland, and Quebec.
Sr. Denise entered a ministry of prayer and presence at the Regina Health Center in 2019.
Sr. Denise was preceded in death by her parents, brother, and two sisters. She is survived by several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on January 5 at Our Lady of the Elms Convent Chapel. Per her request, Sister has been cremated.
To donate in Sr. Denise’s memory, please click here.
To download a printable copy of this memorial, click here.
Memorial gifts in Sr. Denise Macko’s memory may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr. Columbus, OH 43219 or oppeace.org.