Sister Eleanor Mary Marconi, IHM

Doing the Next Right Thing

Many IHM Sisters at OLP are classified as Prayer Ministers. Daily announcements and prayer intentions (and their updates) that Sister Eleanor Mary makes are also directions that guide the Prayer Ministers as they transition from their active ministry life. Many have discovered how grateful others are if we simply say “I will ask the Sisters to Pray.” It is true – IHMs do not Retire – and, with Sr. Eleanor Mary’s guidance, we have gone from “Nuns Praying” to being proud members of a “Powerhouse of Prayer.”

Eleanor Mary is the middle child of Dominic and Aurelia Marconi. (Older sister – Judy and younger brother Michael). She was born in 1946 in Lock Haven, PA. Her father worked in a meat-packing facility that was located very close to her backyard. Tragically, there was an explosion in the part of the facility where Ellie’s father worked just as Ellie (7) and her sister were going out the back door to school (her mother was in the kitchen) and he was killed instantly.

Experiencing such a shock at such a young age can have a lifelong impact – especially on one’s memory. For Ellie, the impact has had its blessing. The blessing is that she is much freer than most to address issues in the present moment and has developed a remarkable list of strategies to successfully serve in her ministry. She’s been the Director of Finance at St. Joseph’s, a member of two Leadership Teams serving for 8 years as Treasurer and for another 8 years – as a Councilor for Missioning and Community Life when OLP was being built and decisions made about the future of the Marian Convent.

Ellie had IHM teachers at both St. Agnes Grade School and Immaculate Conception High School. She spent time in the convent taking piano lessons and cleaning She sang Latin at the daily 6:30 am Mass. In high school she enrolled in the Business track and Sister Eleanor Desaulniers was one of her teachers. She would go on to be Ellie’s Sponsor.

Eleanor was sent to teach Business courses at Laurel Hill Academy, St. Alphonsus High School and St. Mary of the Mount High School. Eleanor concluded that the best place for her gifts was not in the classroom. So, as an opportunity presented itself, she served as the Finance Director at Saint Joseph’s Center.

When Eleanor’s term as IHM Treasurer ended, she decided she wanted to move beyond being known only for her business skills; so, she pursued a sabbatical program at Blessing Place in Louisiana.

Next, she moved to Rocky Mount, NC, where she was part-time Pastoral Associate in the Church as well as a Clinical and Pastoral Education Student and part-time Chaplain at Nash General Hospital.

In 2005, Eleanor became part of the OLP Administrative Team even though she was still completing her second 8 year commitment on the Leadership Team. These last 20 years have come with some significant challenges. In 2016, her sister, Judy, had a serious life-changing fall. After years of physical therapy, Ellie was able to obtain placement for her in 2022 at Marywood Heights. In between, Covid arrived and Ellie became the only IHM to need to be treated in the ICU. And, as we approach the end of 2025, Ellie is completing her recovery from heart surgery. Her good friend of over 40 years, Sister Maureen Marion, OSF, has been a faithful presence and support during this time.

Recently she conducted Thanksgiving Prayer at Our Lady of Peace Residence. Time moves on and as best she can, Ellie does “The Next Right Thing.”