Marion R. Ressel, OFM

1916 – 2006

Br. Marion F. Ressel, OFM, was born on June 26, 1916, in Philadelphia, Pa. He served two years with honor in the United States Marine Corps before joining the Order.

Br. Marion was received into the novitiate Aug. 11, 1951, at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J. He professed first vows there on Aug. 13, 1952. On Aug. 17, 1955, he professed solemn vows in Allegany, N.Y.

His assignments included maintaining the houses of the Province, guest master, refectorian and support staff. He served at a variety of the Provinces locations, including St. Francis College, Rye Beach, N.H., Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New York City, Holy Name College in Silver Spring, Md., St. Elizabeth’s Friary, Denver, Colo., St. Anthony Shrine, Boston, Mass.

From 1976 to 1979, Br. Marion served as vicar at St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, Fla. In 2001, he moved to Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J.

Br. Marion was one of the many Marine veterans that came to the Order after World War II. Having seen first hand the price of hatred and violence, he dedicated his religious life to serving as an instrument of peace, love and good will. As friary guest master, Br. Marion modeled the Franciscan spirit of hospitality and fraternity. He was a gentle and kind man who made you feel welcomed when you were a guest in his friary.

He was very proud of his time in the service and worked as a dispatcher for Greyhound Bus Lines before becoming a friar. Br. Marion enjoyed traveling for his vacations, especially by train. He liked nature and being outdoors.

He died June 20, 2006 at Holy Name Friary. Br. Marion was 89 years old and a professed Franciscan friar for 53 years.