Sister Marguerite Cool OP

Cool, OP, Sister Marguerite, born Mary Margaret Cool in Roseville, MI died on November 17, 2023. She was 82 years old and a Dominican Sister for 63 years. Sister Marguerite earned a BA from Aquinas College in Sociology with a minor in History and English, an MA in Religious Studies at the Aquinas Institute of Religious Studies, a program of Aquinas College and an MA from Central Michigan University in Administration in Elementary Education. Sister Marguerite taught in Catholic parish schools throughout Michigan including Taylor, Bay City, Beal City, Muskegon, Wyoming, and Grand Rapids. In 1998, the Department of Elementary Schools of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) presented a certificate to Sister Marguerite in recognition of her thirty-four years of outstanding service as a Catholic school educator. In the same year she was nominated for the Diocesan Teacher of the Year Award. After retiring from classroom teaching, Sister Marguerite together with Sister Jean Kramer founded Partners in Parenting in 1999. This powerful service continued until 2016. Using a modified Winnebago Motorhome, the two seasoned teachers served approximately eight thousand parents and their children who had been referred to them by social service agencies, schools, and the family court system. Sisters Marguerite and Jean modeled constructive techniques and proven methods of building positive relationships between parents and their children as they traveled to areas where the need for such mentoring was great. Sr. Marguerite’s life-long ministry was intricately woven into one word: to love, unconditionally. She loved her family, her Sisters in community, her own classroom students, all students in the school, staff, parents, and administrators - and they knew it. Of her, it was known there was someone always there to share a hug, a tear, a lovely handmade card, a special prayer, a listening ear. Her life was one of service in ministry. Sister Marguerite was in every way a Dominican teacher and preacher. Sr. Marguerite is survived by her sister, Janet (William) Navigato; sister-in-law Delores Cool; nieces, nephews, many friends, and members of her Dominican Community. Sister Marguerite will repose at Marywood Chapel of the Word, 111 Lakeside Dr NE, with visitation on Tuesday, November 21 from 6:00-7:00 pm followed by a Remembering Service at 7:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, November 22 at 10:00 am at Marywood Chapel of the Word. Sisters, Family, and Close Friends are invited to join us in person for the Remembering Service and Funeral. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials in Sister Marguerite Cool’s name may be made to the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters.