Sister Mary Aidan Zurline
OKLAHOMA CITY - Mary Jo Zurline passed peacefully on October 10, 2021 in Oklahoma City. She was born to Joseph and Kathleen (McGinley) Zurline in Oklahoma City, OK on April 13, 1933. She was raised with her siblings on the family farm in Southwest Oklahoma City and began helping with the farm chores at an early age. Mary Jo attended elementary school and high school at Mount St. Mary’s Academy in Oklahoma City, OK, graduating in 1951. She received a B.A. in Elementary Education at Webster College in St. Louis, MO and an M.A. in Elementary Education at University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK.
Mary Jo entered the Sisters of Mercy Convent on September 11, 1953 at Webster Groves, MO and made her profession of religious vows on August 16, 1961 at St. Louis, MO taking the name Sister Mary Aidan. In 1959, she began her teaching career at Immaculate Conception School in Oklahoma City, OK. She went on to teach at St. Joseph School, John Carroll School, Sacred Heart School, Rosary School, Christ the King, and Putnam City Public Schools, all located in Oklahoma City.
Sister Mary Aidan enjoyed her many years of teaching. After her retirement, she lived on her family farm where she maintained the land and livestock there for many years. She loved the animals she kept on the family farm. In October 2019, Sister Mary Aidan began living at the Mercy Health Center Convent, where she attended mass and continued her faithful ministry of prayer. She enjoyed the many community activities & events, the community members, and her co-workers.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her siblings George Zurline, Helen B. (Zurline) Wolf, Marguerite Zurline, Jack Zurline, and Dorothy (Zurline) Briggs. She is survived by her niece, Anne Mycek, and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family. She is also survived by her special lifetime friend Ron Toby; the Sisters of Mercy; Mercy Associates; and numerous co-workers, friends, former students, and compassionate physicians & caregivers.
Wake & Rosary will be 6PM Wednesday, October 13 at Smith & Kernke – 23rd St. Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11AM Thursday, October 14 at St. James the Greater Catholic Church with burial to follow at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Oklahoma City.