Marilyn Hickey

Hickey RSM, Sister Marilyn A., (Sister Mary Vianney) died in the Hospice Inn at St. Peter's Hospital on Tuesday, December 22, 2015, her father's birthday. She had been a Sister of Mercy for 61 years. Born in Troy, New York, she was the daughter of the late Raymond P. Hickey and Mary Ryan Hickey. Sister Marilyn earned a bachelor's and a master's degree from the College of St. Rose, Albany, and a master's degree in Special Education from the State University of New York at Albany. She ministered as a teacher at St. Agnes, Cohoes; Blessed Sacrament, Albany; St. Paul the Apostle, Troy; and Vincentian Grade School, Albany. She went on to become the principal of Vincentian Grade School, a position she held for fifteen years. Her commitment to ensuring that every child receive a quality education moved her to collaborate with Sister Lucina Hayes CSJ and the New York State Education Department on a project to provide essential services. The result was the creation of a Center at Vincentian for children with learning disabilities. It became a model for other schools in the diocese. St. Madeleine Sophie Parish in Guilderland was blessed to have Sister Marilyn on staff for ten years as Principal of the School and Co-Director of Religious Education and for an additional seventeen years as Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation. The fact that she was super-organized enabled her to juggle multiple responsibilities, while her ready smile and respect for all she encountered endeared her to faculty, students and parents and served to build lasting friendships. It was a priority to Sister Marilyn that the children who came into the school to attend religious education classes feel just as comfortable as those who attended school there daily. Sister made it a practice to be at the door to welcome these children before classes and to say goodbye to them as they left. After "retiring", Sister Marilyn dedicated herself wholeheartedly to a new ministry of Mercy, that of Advocate for Sisters of Mercy in nursing homes. In addition to her parents, Sister Marilyn was predeceased by her brother, Raymond L. Hickey. She is survived by her two grandnephews, James Winney (Lisa) of Rotterdam, New York, and Anthony Winney (David Gatzke) of San Diego, California, a great grandniece and nephew, and many cousins as well as by her religious community, the Sisters of Mercy. Viewing hours will be from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sunday, December 27, in the Chapel of the Convent of Mercy, 634 New Scotland Avenue, Albany. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Prayer Service of Remembrance in the Chapel at 7:00 p.m. The Liturgy of Christian Death and Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Monday, December 28, at the Convent of Mercy. Interment will follow in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Greenbush. The Sisters of Mercy are grateful to the staffs of St. Peter's Hospital and the Hospice Inn at St. Peter's for the great tenderness with which they cared for our Sister. Contributions may be made in Sister Marilyn's memory to the Sisters of Mercy, 634 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, New York 12208.