Please Pray for
the repose of the soul of
Sister Marian Curran, RSM
In Oakland, CA on October 13, 2012, at the age of 90.
A native of San Mateo, CA, Bernice Curran arrived at Mills Hospital in 1922. She was the eldest of four siblings. Ruth, Jeanne and George soon followed. There was no Catholic school nearby, so Bernice attended Park School and Peninsula School, graduating in 1936. She entered Mercy High School and remembers Sister M. Charleta Barry, Sister M. Athanasius Sheridan, and Sister M. Martin having a great influence on her.
Upon graduation in 1940, she spent a semester in college, then worked at IBM where she learned business skills. She was then ready to enter, but December 7, 1941, intervened and upon the advice of her parents, she postponed her entry until 1943. It wasn't long before Bernice, now called Sister Marian, was put to work developing her business and accounting skills assisting Sister M. Baptista, even commuting in the coach to St. Mary's Hospital to work in the business office. She was next assigned to the newly opened Notre Dame Hospital for six years.
In 1953 she began a 14-year ministry at Mercy Hospital in Bakersfield, first as accountant and local councilor, than as superior/administrator from 1959-1966. She spent most of these years assisting in the rebuilding of the hospital after the 1952 earthquake, her practical no-nonsense nature and business experience standing her in good stead.