Born to Daniel and Berna (Boff) Coressel, Mary Jean was the oldest girl in a family of nine children. After attending St. Michael Elementary School and Richland-Adams High School, both in Defiance, she entered the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1948 and received the name of Sister Mary Danielle. She earned a Bachelor degree in Education at Mary Manse College and a Masters degree in Secondary Education at the University of Toledo.
Sister’s areas of expertise were math, science, and physics teaching grades six through college, in Ohio, Illinois, and Florida. Sister was also a high school educator in Papua New Guinea at Notre Dame High School in Kumdi, Fatima Secondary School in Banz, and Holy Trinity Teacher College in Mt. Hagen. At the time she was missioned to Papua New Guinea, Notre Dame High School there was just coming into existence. Sister Mary Danielle was instrumental in establishing this school. Sister’s interest in Papua New Guinea continued throughout the rest of her life. She was especially eager to hear about the young sisters in religious formation.
Quiet in manner but part of everything around her, Sister Mary Danielle led a disciplined life of teaching, missionary work, and clerical service, along with blocks of time for prayer, puzzles, sports, and attention to others. With coaxing, one could surface her wisdom and many talents such as repair jobs accomplished with tools perennially kept in her pockets. She always had time for anything that was asked of her. No matter what it was she gave it her all and seemed to enjoy it. She was handy with tools, quick with numbers, savvy with technology, willing to serve, and visit the sick and dying.
Through the years, Sister Mary Danielle suffered much. She considered suffering as formative and through her 93 years became the silent woman of valor. On October 6, Sister Mary Danielle completed her earthly mission when she died at Hospice of Northwest Ohio after a short illness. Sister Mary Danielle surrendered all that she was and had into the welcoming embrace of her Beloved.
May she rest in peace.