Sr. Mary Louise Martin, CSJ, entered eternal life May 8 at the age of 83.

Mary Louise Martin was born in Pontiac on April 4, 1932, the daughter of John and Margaret (Mersino) Martin. She was a member of St. Michael Parish in Pontiac at the time of her entrance into the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph on Jan. 2, 1950. She received the name Sr. Marie Goretti at her reception July 2, 1950, but later returned to her baptismal name. She pronounced first vows July 2, 1952, and final vows July 2, 1955. Sr. Martin has two sisters, Jean Joseph and Rose Mary, who also joined the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1944 and 1946, respectively.

Sr. Martin earned degrees from Nazareth College and Xavier University. She began teaching at various elementary schools in the Congregation, beginning with Holy Maternity School in Dowagiac. Throughout her ministry, she also taught at St. Veronica and St. John Bosco, Detroit (where she was also principal), St. John Vianney, St. Cyril and Barbour Hall, St. Gerald in Lansing, Holy Family in Byron Center, Holy Angels in Sturgis, St. Mary’s Visitation School in Byron Center and as administrator of St. Rose of Lima in Hastings. She also served in administration at St. Joseph School in Lake Orion, and later returned to Nazareth to work in personnel and facility services. After her return to Nazareth in 2002, Sr. Martin served in pastoral care at Borgess Nursing Home.

A Mass of Christian burial was to be celebrated May 13 in Holy Family Chapel in Nazareth.