Sister Mary Danielle Coressel, SND
Quiet in manner but part of everything around her, Sister Mary Danielle Coressel led a disciplined life of teaching, missionary work, and clerical service, along with blocks of time for prayer, puzzles, sports, and attention to others. With coaxing, one could surface her wisdom and many talents such as repair jobs accomplished with tools perennially kept in her pockets. On October 6, Sister Mary Danielle (93) completed her earthly mission when she died at Hospice of Northwest Ohio after a short illness.
Born on June 1, 1928, in Defiance, Ohio, to Daniel and Berna (Boff) Coressel, and baptized Mary Jean, she was the oldest girl in a family of nine children. After attending St. Michael Elementary School and Richland-Adams High School, both in Defiance, she entered the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1948 and received the name of Sister Mary Danielle. She earned a BA in Education at Mary Manse College and a Masters in Secondary Education at the University of Toledo.
Sister’s areas of expertise were math, science, and physics teaching grades six through college, beginning with seven years in elementary schools in Toledo, Sandusky, and Fostoria. Her expertise took her to high schools in Ohio and Illinois, including St. Paul High School, Norwalk; St. Mary High School, Sandusky; St. Joseph High School, Fremont; Notre Dame Academy, Toledo; and St. Francis High School in Wheaton, Illinois, where she spent 15 years loving the place and being loved by the people. Sister was also a high school educator in Papua New Guinea teaching at Notre Dame High School in Kumdi and Fatima Secondary School in Banz. Sister was principal at Blessed Trinity Academy in Jacksonville, Florida in 1969. In addition, she taught at Notre Dame Extension College in Toledo and at Holy Trinity Teacher College in Papua New Guinea. Sister’s interest in Papua New Guinea continued throughout the rest of her life. She was especially eager to hear about the young sisters in religious formation.
Sister was a life-long learner, mastering techniques in technology to keep in touch with extended family. In her retirement she lived a scheduled day with time set aside for puzzles, Sudoku, reading all genres, visiting residents, and prayer. She loved anything that challenged her brain, and whatever she did was purposeful activity. She kept in contact with classmates from Mary Manse College. From 2001-2011 Sister was a volunteer clerical worker at St. Anne Hospital.
Sister is preceded in death by her parents; brothers James, Richard, and David; and sisters Dolores Coressel and Lois O’Connell. Sister is survived by three sisters: Eileen Brittain, Carol Herman, and Joyce Grime. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and religious community.
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