Sister Marilu Townsend

Current Ministry Location – WUS Region

Marilu Townsend was born December 10, 1939 in Keokuk, IA to Katherine Mary (Borsch) Townsend and William P. Townsend. She had one brother: Patrick Leo. Marilu graduated from a High School in Keokuk in 1957.

Marilu entered the Maryknoll Sisters August 22, 1957 at the novitiate in Valley Park, MO.  She professed First Vows August 22, 1960 at Valley Park and Final Vows August 22, 1966 in California. After First Profession, Sister Marilu spent three years at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in NY, working in the Records Office and serving as Guest Mistress, before beginning the many dedicated years of study that would prepare her for mission.

Sister Marilu earned her Bachelor Degree in Chemistry at San Francisco College for Women in 1966 and then her M.D. at Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI in 1970.  Sister Marilu did an Internship in Med/Health at San Joaquin General Hospital, CA, in 1971, did her Residency in Medicine again at the same Hospital in 1973 and another Residency in Medicine at the same Hospital in 1977, before completing her Residency in Family Practice.

Sister Marilu went on to a General Surgery Residency, and was appointed the Chief Surgery Resident.

It was at this point that Sister Marilu was assigned to Hawaii in 1978 where she worked with eager dedication for eighteen years as an Emergency Room Physician.

Sister Marilu served for several more years in a San Antonio, TX Emergency Room before retiring from medicine and devoting herself to the full-time care of her elderly parents.  On her father’s death, she continued to oversee her mother’s care, while serving with the St. Vincent de Paul Conference in St. Pius X Parish, San Antonio.

Sister Marilu remained in San Antonio, where she lived out her missionary vocation by making God’s love visible through tireless volunteer work.