Carol Marie Cotty was born on Dec. 23, 1933, in Winthrop, Massachusetts. An only child, she lived with her parents William and Mabel. She had an aunt and a cousin who were already Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur so it was no surprise when she joined them by entering in Waltham, Massachusetts, in 1951. When she went into the Novitiate, she became known as Sister Marion William Cotty, SNDdeN.
An avid learner, Sister Marion earned a bachelor's degree in English from Emmanuel College, a master's degree in English from Boston College, and a master's in Theological Studies in Scripture from Emory University in Georgia.
Her first teaching assignments were in several elementary schools in Massachusetts and Connecticut. She then taught English in St. Thomas Aquinas High School in New Britain, Connecticut, Notre Dame High School in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody, Massachusetts. She also served as a visiting professor at Notre Dame Seishin University in Japan and chaired the religion department at St. Mary High School, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Always an advocate for social justice issues, Sister Marion served as peace liaison with World Without War for the Diocese of Oakland, California, and was the Social Ministry Coordinator of the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island. She also served as a pastoral associate for Notre Dame Parish in Durham, Connecticut, and as chaplain at Northeastern University in Boston.
Wherever Sister Marion ministered, and even in her retirement, she worked for peace and positively impacted many people’s lives. For years, each Friday she would join a group of peace activists in silent protest outside the Federal Court Building in Hartford, Connecticut.
Sister Marion Cotty went home to her good God on Jan. 22, 2024.