Sister Marie Scott CSA

Sister Marie Scott, CSA, baptized Joan Marie, died peacefully October 30, 2025, at St. Francis Home, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Marie was born September 11, 1949, in Gary, Indiana, the daughter of Ruth Ann Scott. As an infant she was adopted by her grandparents, Richard and Elizabeth McGrath Scott. Their nine children became brothers and sisters to Marie and together they shared many happy childhood memories. Marie attended St. Mary's Catholic Grade School and Crown Point High School, Crown Point, Indiana. Upon graduation from high school, she began working in the Metallurgical Laboratory at US Steel, Gary, Indiana, and earned a technician's degree in metallurgy from Indiana University. During her nine years at US Steel, Marie belonged to one of the national chapters of NOW, the National Organization for Women. This group empowered her to initiate a collective class action lawsuit on behalf of women in several steel mills who faced discrimination and earned lower wages than male employees. She was instrumental in helping the women win the lawsuit, an achievement that Marie described as one of the highlights of her life. Following this effort, Marie received an Associate Degree in Religious Education from Calumet College of St. Joseph, Hammond, Indiana. She began serving as a volunteer at St. Mary's Parish in Crown Point, teaching English as a second language to Vietnamese boat people. Her volunteer service led her to reconnect with her grade schoolteachers, the Sisters of St. Agnes, who encouraged her to consider religious life. The sisters invited her to join them for a summer mission experience working with children in Seboyeta, New Mexico, to see if she enjoyed working alongside sisters in ministry. This experience led Marie to enter St. Agnes Convent September 5, 1977. She made her first profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes on July 24, 1981, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Over her years in active ministry, Sister Marie earned a BS in Education, majoring in history and theology, from Marian College, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; an MA in US History from Fordham University, Bronx, NY; and an MA in Pastoral Ministry with a focus on pastoral counseling and spiritual direction from St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She lived and served with joyful energy, creativity, and dedication first as a high school history and religion teacher at St. Mary's Springs, Fond du Lac (1982-1983) and at Sacred Heart High School, Yonkers, New York (1983-1988). In 1988, she was appointed to the role of vocation director for CSA, a position she held until the summer of 1990 when she was named novice director for the congregation, serving in this role for ten years. While director of novices, she began ministering at Marian University, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin (1991) teaching part-time in the history department. In 1997, she became the Director of Campus Ministry and Assistant Professor of History. She devoted twenty-seven years to Marian University retiring in 2018. She was beloved on the campus by students, faculty, and staff, serving as a spiritual guide and creating many opportunities for the Marian community to engage in social justice efforts and outreach to those in need. In 2018, Sister Marie was appointed as a CSA Regional Coordinator, ministering to the sisters across the United States. Sister Marie served on several committees for her CSA community and engaged in many social justice and peace initiatives. The CSA community gathers each Advent at St. Agnes Convent for the annual lighting of the Peace Tree, a tradition Sister Marie initiated in 1991 at the beginning of the Gulf War.
Beginning in 2020, health issues began to ravage her body. The many people with whom Sister shared life and ministry surrounded her with their presence and support. She was admitted to St. Francis Home in March 2023 and received loving care until the time of her death.
Sister Marie was preceded in death by her birth mother, Ruth Scott Crippen, her adoptive parents, her brothers Kenneth, Paul, James, and Buehl; her sisters Joan Cerovina, Lois (Richard) Thompson, and Faye (John) McLeod.
Sister is survived by her brothers Jerome Scott and Harry (Sheri) Crippen; her nieces, nephews, and their families and by the Sisters of St. Agnes, with whom she lived, prayed, and ministered.
Cremation has taken place.
Services for Sister Marie will be held Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
A Prayer Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. in Nazareth Center Chapel, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. at St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, with Fr. Thomas Zelinski, OFM Cap., presiding.
Burial of cremains will follow, weather permitting, at St. Joseph Springs Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Memorials may be directed to the CSA Mission Advancement Office, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI 54937.
The Sisters of St. Agnes and the Scott family are grateful to the nurses and staff of St. Francis Home and Hospice Hope for their devoted care of Marie.
Zacherl Funeral Home is serving the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Agnes.