Sister Maris Stella Korb

Sister Maris’ Funeral Mass will be livestreamed and viewable below starting at 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 20:

Sister Maris Stella Korb a member of the Union of Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary died February 16, 2026, at St. Catherine’s South, Fargo ND.

She was born July 27, 1937, near Calio, ND. At her baptism her parents, Peter and Anna (Janowski) Korb, named her Marjorie Ann She was the youngest of the five children in her family. In 1953 she joined the Presentation Sisters in Fargo and progressed through the levels of formation, entering the novitiate in 1955 (at which time she received the name Maris Stella) and professing perpetual vows in 1960.

A graduate of Shanley High School and of the College of St. Scholastica, S. Maris Stella was an avid reader of a variety of genres. She participated in many programs focused on enhancing skills for her ministries and on enriching her spiritual life.

Her early years in ministry (1957-1972) were spent teaching elementary and junior high students at Holy Spirt, St. Anthony’s and St. Mary’s parochial schools in Fargo. She also provided religious education classes on Saturdays to children in Hillsboro and Mayville. She served in the Fargo Diocese Office of Religious Education for three years. It was while there that she was influenced by the writing of Catherine de Hueck to serve with people made poor and went to Appalachia where she resided in Jellico, TN, for four years while providing social support services in that region. In 1979 administration of her religious community assigned her to pastoral ministry for four years in Oriska and Buffalo, ND. S. Maris Stella was elected to administration in her religious congregation and following her term of office which ended in 1983, she directed religious education programs in St. Peter’s parish Wibaux, Mt. From 1986 to 1991 she was a pastoral minister on the Cheyenne River Reservation in SD. From there she crossed the country to Jersey City, NJ, where she cared for babies born HIV positive until their permanent status was established and they went home or were placed in foster care. In 1994 she was asked to assume administration of the Dorothy Day House in Moorhead. With that project stabilized, in 1998 she joined Sacred Heart Southeran Missions where she served people in and around Hernando, MS, until 2004 when her congregation asked her to be director of its Peace and Justice Office in Fargo. She served in this position until 2014 when she experienced the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease.

She is predeceased by her parents and her siblings, Ethel Hettwer, Jeanette Korb, Harvey Korb and Eileen Beck. She is survived by four generations of nieces and nephews, Presentation Sisters and Associates.

Over her 57 years of active ministry, she positively touched many lives and made many friends. She also ruffled some feathers. She was kind and gentle but not soft and fuzzy. While not by nature confrontative, she spoke truth to power as she saw need to do so. During her 12 years of illness, she modeled acceptance, gratitude and love.

She lived the Beatitudes. May she now live seeing the face of the God she faithfully served.