Sister Mary John Lamken, O.P.

Born: April 3, 1915

Professed: April 30, 1935

Born to eternal life: February 20, 2009

Margaret Catherine Lamken was born April 3, 1915 at Providence, Rhode Island to Andrew Frederick Lamken, born in Germany and Anne Dorothy Rainiger, born in Boston. Her father and sister Emma Dorothy both died while she was a young child, and she and her mother went to live with her maternal grandmother.

On September 6, 1934, she entered St. Catharine Novitiate taking the name Sister Mary John. In later years she still felt the separation that left her mother alone.

From the time of her profession, April 30, 1936, Sister Mary John taught first music at South Bend, Indiana; and then at Holy Rosary Academy, Louisville, Kentucky; Our Lady of Lourdes, Queens Village, New York; Resurrection, Brooklyn, New York; and Mt. Trinity Academy, Watertown, Massachusetts. While at Mt. Trinity she learned to play band instruments so that she could form a marching band. Her talent and energy also sparked the enthusiasm of an active Glee Club.

In 1953, Sr. Mary John left Mt. Trinity to attend the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Here she obtained a B/Mus in Piano/Theory. In 1961, she received a M/Mus from the New England Conservatory of Music in Piano/Pedagogy, although the organ was her greatest love.

Sr. Mary John also taught at St. Dominic Academy, Waverley, MA. In 1956 she went to St. Catharine Motherhouse as organist and to teach at the Academy/College piano, orchestra, and Glee Club. She returned to Mt. Trinity in 1958 resuming her former role there and adding that of Community Supervisor of Music.

In 1971, Sr. Mary John expanded her ministry to clerical work as secretary in the Eastern Regional Office—she remained always a musician. Until 1989, she divided her time between working in the Regional Office, teaching piano, and being an organist. She retired to community service at the Motherhouse in 1998 and to Sansbury Care Center in 2004.

Sr. Mary John was a many-faceted person. She was positive. She found good in every body and everything. Her favorite expression was, "Isn’t it won-der-ful?" She was accepting. She made the best of whatever happened. She was generous. She shared her talents and her possessions with everyone in need.

Sr. Mary John had a deep love for the memory of her father and sister, as well as gratitude and love for her mother and grandmother. She was fiercely proud of her German heritage and was thrilled whenever anyone could converse in German with her.

Sr. Mary John, what a "won-der-ful" reunion you must be enjoying with your beloved family finally reunited in the presence of your God.

Pray for us!