Sister Mary Magdalene of the Cross, OCD

September 22, 1929 - June 17, 2022

Sister Mary Magdalene of the Cross, OCD, (Dolores Elaine Malcolm), 92, a member of the Carmelite Community, died June 17, 2022, at the Monastery. Sister Mary Magdalene was born September 22, 1929, daughter of the late William and Violet Malcolm. She is survived by her sisters, Pat Adams, Myrtie (Donald) White, Harrietta (David) Weddle and Sharon (Larry) Kesler. Sister Mary Magdalen was preceded in death by her father, William Malcolm, her mother and step-father, Violet and Harry Taylor, a sister, Connie Walters and her twin brothers, Billy and Kenneth Malcolm, as well as her brother-in-law, Arthur Adams. Born in Detroit, MI, Sister grew up for the most part in Trafalgar, IN, “a wide spot in the road” as she would laughingly describe her hometown. Definitely “all Irish”, as we would say, Sister possessed a natural talent for song and storytelling which delighted not only her younger siblings but later all her Sisters in Carmel. How we will miss those bright “smiling eyes” as she shared her joy with us at recreation, in song or rhyme, with the simplicity of a child. In fact, she never lost a sense of child-like wonder-especially for anything in nature-a snowflake, the delicate shading of a flower, a sunset or rainbow-always leading her to awe for the God who created such beauty. Raised to respect all expressions of faith, young Dolores entered the Catholic Church due to the goodness of her “dear Mary”, the elderly, (also Irish), woman at whose boarding house she stayed while working to earn money for college. Shortly after Baptism, Dolores discerned her vocation to Carmel. As the Monastery nearest to her was already full she would eventually enter our Community in 1951, receiving the Holy Habit and her religious name of Sister Mary Magdalene of the Cross a year later. With her deep love of the Advent/Christmas Season, it was her great joy to make her First Vows on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, 1954 and her Final Vows on the same Feast three years later. Sister Mary Magdalene’s main duty, at which she was excellent, was cooking. We marveled at her ability to take the most ordinary leftovers and make them into a tasty meal. Along with this, Sister helped with the many printing jobs which were a source3 of income for the Community in its early days. She was also a very compassionate infirmarian and loved working outdoors. Her greatest service to the Community though, was the witness of her great love for Jesus. This was evident in her ever deepening amazement at His Loving Presence in the Eucharist, her unbounded gratitude for the gift of Faith she had received, her vocation to Carmel, as well as the sincerity of her selfless charity shown to each Sister in so many little ways-often accompanied with that precious smile that seemed to reflect the light of Christ shining through her blue “Irish Eyes.” As we entrust our dear Sister Mary Magdalene to the Lord whom she loved and served for over 70 years in Carmel, we are sure that her love and prayers will be with us always-along no doubt, with a song or two! A Prayer Service will e conducted by our Chaplain, Rev. Eric Olson, on Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm. Visitation will be one hour prior. A Mass of Christian Burial, also open to the public, will be offered at the Monastery Chapel by Rev. Eric Olson and Concelebrants on Thursday, June 23rd at 10:00 am CT. Burial will be in the Carmelite Monastery Cemetery. Memorials or Masses may be offered to the Carmelite Monastery in lieu of flowers. The Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.