Mary Burgard

BURGARD

Sr. Mary Marc, SND Annette Martha

"Suffering is something in our lives that we can use for our own growth and for that of other people." This was the motto of Sister Mary Marc and she lived its reality for thirty-three years. Born Annette Martha, she was welcomed into the home of Hattie and Ross Burgard in October of 1941. Always a happy child, she grew up on a farm in an active, warm and generous household of ten brothers and sisters on a farm in Erie, Michigan. With her siblings, she attended St. Joseph School and developed a desire from a very young age to follow her two sisters into religious life. After graduation, she entered the Notre Dame Aspirancy and attended Notre Dame Academy. In February of 1959, she was received into the community and made her first vows in 1961.

Sister Mary Marc received her first degree from Mary Manse College, Toledo, and continued her education at Xavier University, Cincinnati. She went on to supplement her training as a Montessori Directress at the Chicago MMTTC. Her teaching career focused on kindergarten and first grade children where she became an exceptional teacher. However, even though in 1980 she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she continued her beloved work with children as long as she could. Sister Mary Marc also reached out to others who were handicapped through the organization CUSA, a postal and e-mail outreach connecting the

disabled or chronically ill. Through her writing and positive outlook on life, she touched many with the support and encouragement needed to sustain them in their daily suffering.

In her educational career, she served at St. Joseph and Sacred Heart, Fremont; St. Jude, Fort Wayne, IN; Gesu and Ladyfield, Toledo; and Lial Elementary, Whitehouse, OH.

Preceding her in death are her parents and brother, Martin. Left to mourn her are her brothers, David, Daniel, and Dale, and her sisters, Madeline (Homer) Ausmus, Florence (Thomas) Hilkens, Susan (Robert) Darmofal, Sister Mary Ross, Sister Mary Dale and Sister Mary Kent, SND, and many nieces and nephews and the sisters of her religious community.

Visitation will be at the Notre Dame Provincial

Center, 3837 Secor Road on

Friday, August 23, from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. with Sharing of Memories at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Saturday, August 24, at 10:30 a.m. in the Provincial Center Chapel. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.

Arrangements are made by Urbanski Funeral Home. Any tributes may be made to the Sisters of Notre Dame.