The funeral Mass for Sister Marilyn Jean Burkemper, OSU, was celebrated Feb. 3 at St. Ferdinand Church in Florissant. She died peacefully Jan. 27 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. She was 75 and served many years as a teacher and counselor in parish schools in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, including the past 13 at St. Ferdinand School in Florissant.
Born on Feb. 27, 1943, in Old Monroe, she graduated from Ursuline Academy in Kirkwood, entered the Ursuline Sisters in July 1961 and professed vows in January 1964. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from The College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, N.Y., and a master’s degree in elementary school counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
In the St. Louis Archdiocese, Sister Marilyn taught at St. Peter School in Kirkwood (1984-91) and at St. Catherine of Alexandria School in St. Louis (1996-2002). She was a teacher and counselor at John Paul II School in St. Louis (2002-04) and had been a resource teacher and learning consultant at St. Ferdinand School since 2005.
She also taught at parish schools in Illinois and Texas, where she was principal of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Galveston (1975-79).
She is survived by her brothers Larry Burkemper, Walter Burkemper, Brother Syl Burkemper, SM, and Glennon Burkemper; and her sister, Doris Burkemper.
