Catherine was born at the home of her maternal grandmother on July 2nd, 1906 in Logan Ohio, to Catherine McCourtney and Nicholas Rarick. She was the 5th of 6 children. When she was but 2 years old she was afflicted with spinal meningitis and not expected to live. An unmarried sister of her mother took her and nursed her back to health, while her mother gave birth to their sixth child.

After finishing high school, Catherine attended Ohio University for two years, followed by 6 months of business school. During this time she lived at a Catholic home for girls attending the business school. After this additional training she secured a bookkeeping position for a coal company. It was during this time that she heard about the Clyde Benedictines in an issue of "Tabernacle and Purgatory." Her letter requesting to enter the postulancy met with a favorable response. She entered Clyde in October 1931, her first vows were pronounced on April 18th, 1934, with final monastic profession in April of 1939.

In 1974 when Sr. Marcella was asked to reflect on her life and write down some autobiographical notes, she so simply said of herself: "At this writing, I have been in the convent for over forty years. I first worked at the correspondence department trying to fulfill the Will of God."

Sisters' work in the Sacristy was the highlight of her life. This work was for her an extension and continuation of 'doing the work of God'. Sister lived all her monastic life in Clyde, until moving to St. Louis to join the Health Care Community in January of 1990. Only a week before her death, it became apparent that she was seriously ill with cancer.

"...But anyone who does the will of God remains forever." (l Jn. 2:17) Just as this Word of God was being proclaimed to the community gathered together at Morning Prayer, our Sr. M. Marcella gently breathed her last, and entered into God forever. Sister died at St. Benedict Health Care Center on Tuesday, May 22, 1990 at about 7:20 AM.