Sister Marla Smith

Sister Marla (Virginia) Smith, OSF, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis, of Dubuque, Iowa, will celebrate her Double Diamond Jubilee (70 years) on Sunday, Oct. 11, at Mount St. Francis Center in Dubuque.

She is the daughter of William and Mae Smith, and was born on a farm near Webster City. After graduating from high school in Stratford, and attending the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, she worked as a secretary in the Department of Agriculture in Indianapolis, Indiana. Following this work experience, she attended Iowa State University in Ames and later transferred to Clarke College in Dubuque. After college graduation and a dietetic internship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, she entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque.

Sister Marla’s first ministry assignment was as a dietitian at Xavier Hospital in Dubuque, where she worked for 22 years, taking time off to earn a master’s degree at Iowa State University. She moved to Ames where she worked as a dietitian at Mary Greeley Medical Center and later as a secretary at Iowa State University. Sister is retired and lives at Clare House in Dubuque.

“I believe jubilee is a special time for joy and gratitude,” she said.

Cards can be sent to Sister Marla at 3390 Windsor Ave., Dubuque, IA 52001.