Sister Marya Dugard, OP

SINSINAWA, Wis. — A funeral Mass was planned for Wednesday, Oct. 12, for Sister Marya Dugard, OP, at the Sinsinawa Dominican motherhouse. Burial was to follow in the motherhouse cemetery.

Sister Marya died on Oct. 2, 2022, at St. Dominic Villa in Hazel Green, Wisconsin. She was 92.

The daughter of Joseph and Anne (Pescetelli) Dugard, Sister Marya was born in Peoria on Aug. 31, 1930. She made her first profession as a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa on Aug. 5, 1950, and her perpetual profession on Aug. 5, 1953.

In the Diocese of Peoria, she taught at Visitation School, Kewanee (1972-73), and St. Mark School, Peoria (2000-01), where she was also an aide (1974-75). She ministered as a pastoral associate at St. Martin de Porres Parish, Peoria (1973-74), and served as a visitor to the elderly and ill at Holy Trinity Parish, Bloomington (1980-81); St. Mark Parish, Peoria (2001-12); and St. Augustine Manor, Peoria (2012-14).

In addition, Sister Marya provided family care in Bloomington (1980-86) and in Peoria (1998-2000). She also volunteered, promoting devotion to the rosary.

Her parents and a sister, Elizabeth Spenard, preceded her in death. She is survived by a sister, Lorraine Dugard; two brothers, Edward Dugard and Michael Dugard; nieces and nephews; and her Dominican Sisters, with whom she shared 72 years of religious life.

To view the wake for Sister Marya, visit sinsinawa.org/live at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11. The funeral Mass will be broadcast at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12.

Memorials may be sent to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, IL 53824-9701, or made online at sinsinawa.org/donate.