Sr. MarieClare Powell, SSND

The oldest of two children was born to Parries (Kell) and Cyril Powell on September 9, 1926, in Cairo, Illinois.  She was baptized on September 26, 1926, at St. Joseph Church and named Martha Ann.  Her brother, Robert, completed the Powell family.

Martha attended St. Joseph Grade School staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame.  For one year she attended Cairo High School and then completed her secondary education at St. Joseph High School.  She was impressed with the education she received and the life of her SSND teachers.

Graduating from high school, she wished to share in their life.  She entered the candidature at Sancta Maria in Ripa, St. Louis, Missouri on August 30, 1944.  She was received into the novitiate on July 29, 1946, and given the name MarieClare.  She professed first vows on July 30, 1947, and final vows on July 30, 1953.

Sister MarieClare was granted a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Arkansas State University, Conway, Arkansas in 1953 and a master’s degree in physics from the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana in 1962.  As a life-long learner, she continued to take courses in the sciences and humanities.

Following profession, Sister MarieClare began her teaching career at St. Joseph, Conway, Arkansas.  After four years, she spent the next 20 years in secondary education.  In Louisiana, she taught at Redemptorist Senior High School, Baton Rouge and Immaculata High School, Marrero.  She taught at St. Anthony High School, Effingham, Illinois; St. Joseph High School, Conway, Arkansas; Aquinas High School, Fort Madison, Iowa.  In 1965, she became principal at Redemptorist High School, New Orleans, Louisiana.

In 1971, she began 20 years as Coordinator of Special Projects in educational communication for the archdiocese of New Orleans.

In 1991, she was missioned to Debrecen, Hungary where she served as an English teacher for secondary students and teachers and as an instructor in post-secondary telecommunications.  Returning to the United States in 1999, she researched various approaches to Catholic radio and television production in the archdiocese of New Orleans.  She spent 6 months teaching English to Vietnamese Sisters in Vietnam.

From 2003 to 2019, she ministered at St. Mary of the Pines, Chatawa, Mississippi in a variety of ways: information and communication technology special projects, grant procurement and community service.

For many years, she wrote the biography/obituary of the deceased Sisters of the former Dallas Province.

In 2019, she retired at St. Anthony’s Gardens, Covington, Louisiana and continued to be engaged in special projects.  She passed away peacefully in her bedroom at St. Anthony’s Gardens, Covington, Louisiana on January 24, 2026.

Reflecting on her years of ministry, she stated, “I have appreciated and promoted and participated in the development of learning by all means – all delivery systems – print, radio, television and electronic networks.  I have encouraged discovery of and right use of and right mix of mediated and in-person teaching… I hope to continue using all means in my approach to TRUTH and helping others to do so.”

May she now rejoice as she enters eternal life and beholds her God face to face.

Services will take place at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 501 Holy Trinity Dr., Covington, LA on February 3, 2026, beginning with Visitation at 10:00 AM, a Prayer/Sharing at 10:30 AM followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM.  Burial will take place that afternoon in St. Joseph Cemetery, 2220 Washington Ave., New Orleans.  Celebrating the Mass will be Fr. Rodney Bourg.

Services are entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home of Covington, LA.

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