Sister Marcelia Maglinte, BVM

Sister Marcelia Maglinte, BVM, 85, died Thursday, July 4, 2024, at Mount Carmel Bluffs, Dubuque, Iowa.

Visitation, the Sharing of Memories and Mass of Christian Burial were on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Burial was in the Mount Carmel cemetery.

Sister Marcelia was born on March 2, 1939, in Kealia, Hawaii, to Demetrio and Marcela (Boca) Maglinte. She entered the BVM congregation Aug. 2, 1957, from St. Catherine parish, Kapaʿa, Hawaii. She professed first vows on Feb. 3, 1960, and final vows on July 16, 1965.

Sister Marcelia ministered as an elementary teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bartholomew, Chicago; St Joseph, Round Lake, Ill.; St. Anthony, Missoula, Mont.; St. Bernard, Los Angeles; Presentation, Stockton, Calif.; St. Patrick, Carlsbad, Calif.; and Kapaʿa, Kilauea, and Lihikai Elementary Schools, Hawaii. She also taught at Maui Waena Intermediate School, Kapaʿa High School, and Kapaʿa International School, all in Hawaii. She served as director of religious education at St. Catherine Parish, Kapaʿa, Hawaii.

“Marcelia’s Hawaiian culture was never lost on those with whom she came in contact. Her artistry and crafting explored the touches of her heritage. She was an excellent hula dancer, very graceful, and the movements were taught to anyone who wanted to learn. Even when volunteering in the kitchen at Damien House in Guayaquil, Ecuador, she spent quality time with patients teaching the traditional Hawaiian dances and how to make paper leis. Leis were a part of every good celebration.” (Eulogy).

She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Isidra “Manang” (Simeon) Aqui, Adela (Silverio “Fred”) Galvez, Segunda “Sally” (Kenneth “Mano”) Pia, Jovita “Bita” (Quirino “Cas”) Domingo, Plecita “Boy” (Adriano) Mendoza, and Beatrice “Atey” (Justiniano) Tactay; and brother-in-law Delpidio “Sonny” Labuguen. She is survived by sisters Cresencia “Cres” Labuguen, Hawaii, and Gloria “Toneng” (Angel) Madrid, Lihue, Hawaii; nieces; nephews; and the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 66 years.

Memorials may be given to Sisters of Charity, BVM, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003 or online at https://www.bvmsisters.org/support_donate.cfm.