Marylee Christensen Fithian

Rev. Marylee Fithian (Christensen) passed away peacefully on July 19th. She was 89 years old. She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 60 years, Jack Fithian, and is survived by daughters Lauren Fithian (Guy Hardy), Leslie Fithian, and Allison Fithian Ruby, ten grandchildren, 13 (soon to be 15) great-grandchildren, and sister, Diane Christensen.

Marylee grew up in north Minneapolis, the oldest of four sisters. She graduated from North High School and went on to the University of Minnesota where she earned a Masters in Special Education. She worked as a teacher, advocating for children with special needs and was integral to Project EDGE, an innovative educational program for young children with Down Syndrome and their families. Later she became the Director of the Minnesota Department of Developmental Disabilities Planning Office.

In midlife Marylee embarked on a new path earning her Masters of Divinity at United Theological Seminary, and serving as an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. She felt a special calling to serve in inner city churches that had active peace and social justice ministries and community outreach.

Marylee spent her whole life committed to service, social justice and activism. From the Civil Rights and Anti-War movements of the 60s, to Women's Rights, Immigrant Rights, Marriage Equality, and LGBTQ Rights, she was inspired and guided by a philosophy of non-violent action and resistance.

Marylee was active in organizations such as Soul Force, Minnesota Reconciling Congregations, the Honeywell Project, and the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC), and was integral in the planning of the first gathering, in 1993, of Re-Imagining: A Global Theological Conference By Women: For Men and Women. In addition, for many years she volunteered for the Red Cross disaster services and was a dedicated volunteer Chaplain at the Minnesota State Fair in the 1990s.

Marylee loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. She sang in many choirs over the years, right up to the final weeks of her life. She was a brave and strong woman and a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and foster parent. She taught us all to pursue our dreams and stand up for what is right and good.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 6, at Richfield United Methodist Church, 5835 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis. Visitation at 9:00 am, service at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) and OutFront Minnesota.