Marilyn J. Llewellyn, PhD, a consummate teacher and scholar, and a cherished daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and friend, of Bellevue, passed away on September 13th, 2026, following complications of surgeries. She was 76.
She was born on June 3rd, 1950, the daughter of James B. Llewellyn and Adeline (Loschiavo) Llewellyn.
Marilyn spent her childhood in Ambridge and attended St. Veronica Elementary and High School, in 1966 she moved with her family to Canton, Ohio, and graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 1968. Months after graduation, Marilyn entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden, PA, a congregation of Roman Catholic women who tolerated the rambunctious 18-year-old entering the convent with a record player and stack of 45s, mostly Motown and 50s rock and roll. Marilyn’s playfulness, wit, adventuresome spirit and deep love of God became a magnet to young Sisters who were drawn to religious life post Vatican II.
In 1971, Marilyn professed her first vows in the congregation while also attending Carlow College where she earned a BA in history. The sisters at St. Catherine’s in Beechview mentored Marilyn as a teacher, but much of her skill came naturally. She was known to sneak out at night and join other teachers at a popular hangout, but it never held her back from giving 100% to her sixth graders at St. Catherine’s. From 1975-1980 Marilyn was principal at Annunciation School in the North Side. She was compassionate and fair toward children, parents and faculty alike. On snow days, Marilyn and the sisters went sled riding on cafeteria trays at Schenley Park. She loved having fun – dancing at a disco in McKees Rocks, enjoying a burger and beer with friends, playing pinocle. You name it.
As much as Marilyn enjoyed good times, she also had a deep passion for social justice. She protested racial discrimination in Pittsburgh, helped mistreated migrants in South Carolina and championed the rights of marginalized people. Marilyn was a feminist and critical thinker who instilled in students, faculty, friends and family the importance of treating others with compassion and acceptance. She was a die-hard Democrat who loved, loved, loved Barack and Michele Obama.
Following her M.A. in American history from Boston College in 1982, Marilyn taught for 10 years at St. Joseph High School in Natrona Heights. Her classes in social studies were enriched with discussions on past and current events. She taught students to think outside the pages and look for those who were excluded from written history but vital to American culture. In 1992, Marilyn was awarded the diocesan Golden Apple for her excellent teaching and was one of six honorees out of 1,200 applicants recognized by the KDKA Thanks to Teachers program.
Marilyn earned her doctorate in curriculum and teaching from The Union Institute and Graduate University based in Cincinnati. As part of her studies, she co-authored Dealing with Differences: Taking action on class, race, gender and disability, and participated in the Dissertation Research/Writing Study Group affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh. Her dissertation, Bringing Forth a World: Spirituality as Pedagogy, reflected on her experiences in the classroom, her dedication to justice and her life as a Sister of St. Joseph. Before her graduation in 1998, Marilyn was hired by Carlow University where she spent the next 23 years in the Education Department.
As a respected faculty member, Marilyn held the following positions at Carlow: Dean and Professor of Education, University Senate co-chair, Program Chair for the Master of Education with concentrations in elementary education, special education, instructional technology and secondary education. She was certification officer and director as well as taught courses in undergraduate and graduation education. Over the years, Marilyn created and/or co-created many programs and courses at Carlow. She wrote and co/authored four books on education, was published in edited books and peer-reviewed education journals as well as presented at many national and international conferences. In 2002, Marilyn received Carlow University’s most prestigious faculty award: the Max and Esther Sestilli Award for Excellence in Teaching. She was the only person in the room who was stunned by the honor.
Several years before Marilyn retired in 2021 as Carlow Professor Emerita, she ended her 46-year formal membership as a Sisters of St. Joseph. It was a difficult and painful decision for her, but one she felt was right. Marilyn continued to teach and built a house in Bellevue that became the hub for birthday and holiday celebrations, Steeler games, bridge club and informal gatherings of friends, including Sisters and colleagues. She loved visits from her family and watching “the twins,” her nephew and niece Camden and Ryan Banks. It was always a vacation at Aunt Mar’s home.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her nephew, Jerome Clark, her aunt Sister Muriel Llewellyn and her grandparents, Giuseppe and Carmela Loschiavo and Evan and Elizabeth Llewellyn. She is survived by her very dearest friend, Sister Roberta Campbell, OSB, of Bakerstown, Pennsylvania, her brother, Eric, of Columbus, Ohio, his niece, Andrea (Jason) Banks of Columbus, Ohio, their children, Camden and Ryan, her niece, Carmela Llewellyn of Akron, Ohio, and her children, Jayla and Alannie Llewellyn and Sergio Noel and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden, numerous cousins, her colleagues, hundreds of students, and a cadre of friends who cannot imagine life without her. She leaves a whole in so many lives.
Marilyn chose to be cremated. A celebration of her life will take place on Saturday, October 17th, from 1-4 p.m. at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse, 1020 State Street, Baden. Contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, or Casa San Jose, 1604 Broadway Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15216.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the John Syka Funeral Home, Inc., 833 Kennedy Drive, Ambridge.
