In Loving Memory of Our Beloved Sister Mary Magdalene

Sister Mary Magdalene Takazawa, DLJC, was called by the Lord to her heavenly home on September 30, 2026, at the age of 73. She is lovingly remembered by her family and her Sisters in the Community for her steadfast patience, gentle kindness, and faithfulness to the Lord, even in the midst of deep suffering.

Sister Mary Magdalene was born on December 3, 1952, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Robert and Thelma Takazawa. Named Stephanie at her baptism, she was one of five children and grew up in the Chicago area. Stephanie loved animals, especially horses and dogs, and as children, she and her siblings spent hours walking through the woods and building forts together. They also spent time playing “Mass,” nurturing the faith given to them by their parents.

With a strong intellect and a natural aptitude for business and technology, Sister Mary Magdalene attended the University of Iowa, where she earned a degree in business. After graduation, she built a successful career in marketing analytics and technology in the Chicago area. She even started her own small company doing marketing projects. As computers became increasingly accessible, she embraced the challenge of learning new technology and became known for her remarkable understanding of computers.

Sister Mary Magdalene was blossoming professionally when she began to hear God calling. At age 28, she left behind the career she had worked hard to build to follow Jesus in Religious Life. As her family put it, “God won out,” and she gave herself wholeheartedly to the Lord and to the vocation He had placed before her. On January 19, 1981, she entered the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. She was given the name Sister Mary Magdalene, named for Saint Mary Magdalene, the first witness of the Resurrection of Jesus. Sister Mary Magdalene professed her first vows on April 4, 1983, and made her perpetual vows on April 20, 1987.

Sister Mary Magdalene served the Community in many capacities during her Religious Life, including as Community Treasurer; in the Praise Him! Newsletter Department; and as our resident “tech” expert in the early years of digital technology. Her intelligence and willingness to embrace new technology became a gift to the Community, allowing her to serve the Community in ways that were pioneering for her time. In her later years, Sister Mary Magdalene embraced the ministry of intercession for the Community. Through prayer, she continued to give herself for the salvation of souls, interceding for the Sisters, the mission houses, and the work of evangelization.

Sister Mary Magdalene also had a gift of encouragement. Many young Sisters remember how she would offer a smile, a word of wisdom, or a well-timed question. She was attentive to those around her, always giving her full presence to the person in front of her. She was a kind and patient soul, with a wonderful sense of humor and a laugh and smile that her family cherished.

Sister Mary Magdalene is survived by her mother, Thelma, and her siblings: Robert, Jr. (Debbie), Patrice Huffman, Michelle (Gerard) Erickson, and Anthony (Barbara). She is also lovingly remembered by her many nieces, nephews, and extended family members, as well as by her Sisters in the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Services

All services will be held at Prayer Town Emmanuel and are open to the public.

A time of visitation will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Tony Neusch on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel, followed by burial in the Prayer Town Cemetery. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Sister Mary Magdalene to:

Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ
P.O. Box 64
Prayer Town, Texas 79010

May Sister Mary Magdalene now rejoice in the presence of the Jesus whom she loved and faithfully served.