Bon Secours Sister Mary Jean Aulenback, who served as a nurse in Baltimore and managed her order’s bookstore at its Marriottsville headquarters, died Nov. 17 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She was 93 and living at Marian Hall, the retirement home for the Sisters of Bon Secours, at the time of her death.
Sister Jean worked as a staff nurse at Bon Secours Hospital (now Grace Medical Center) 1962-80. During her nursing ministry, she was a staff nurse, head nurse, supervisor and worked in the intensive care unit.
After leaving Baltimore in 1980 to serve as a nurse in Michigan and Virginia, Sister Jean returned to Maryland to work at her congregation’s headquarters. She served as manager of the bookstore for 10 years at the Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center. She also served as sacristan of the chapel and worked part-time nursing the elderly sisters living at Marian Hall.
Sister Jean was born in 1930 in Nova Scotia, Canada. She graduated from high school in Bridgewater and nursing school with the Sisters of Charity in Halifax. After graduation, she worked in the maternity department of a hospital in Halifax.
She immigrated to the United States in 1952, arriving in Michigan, where she met the Sisters of Bon Secours and joined the congregation in 1958. After making first vows in 1960, she was assigned to Bon Secours Hospital in Methuen, Mass. She moved to Maryland in 1962 and professed her final vows in 1965.
Sister Jean enjoyed birdwatching, stargazing and watching movies.
A funeral Mass will be offered Dec. 1 at 11 a.m. in the chapel of the Sisters of Bon Secours at 1525 Marriottsville Road. The liturgy will be preceded by a sharing of memories about Sister Jean at 10:30 a.m.
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