MARLBOROUGH - Sister Clare Marie Klein, RGS (known in religion as Magdalen of the Assumption) of Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Contemplative Community, died Thursday, July 1, 2010 at St. Patrick's Manor in Framingham after a long illness. She was 88 years of age and had been a Sister of the Good Shepherd for 70 years. A native of New York, she was the daughter of the late John and Katherine (O'Hearn) Klein. In 1940 she entered the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Contemplative Community in Troy, N.Y., a community with a lifestyle where the Sisters spent hours daily in prayer and activities suited to a contemplative life. She professed her First Vows in 1942 and her Final Vows in 1952. Sister Clare Marie was very gifted and had many ministries. When she was a young Sister, she cared for a paralyzed Sister and learned early what illness was. She was an extremely creative and talented seamstress, making the Sisters' habits. In the early 1960s, she learned hand weaving from a guild man from England and made hundreds of hand-woven vestments and stoles, and also exceptional Afghans and baby sets. Sister Clare Marie was gifted in writing poetry that was very meditative and depicted her Contemplative life. Sister was a past Community Superior and held other leadership roles. She had a deep love for Mary and the Blessed Mother, and also a great devotion to the recitation of the Rosary and was never without her Rosary beads. She had a great love for nature and God's animals, especially dogs. Sister Clare Marie is survived by her loving sisters-in-law, Patricia Klein of New York and Ruth Klein of Florida, Eleanor Klein of New York and many nephews and nieces. She was the sister of the late John Klein, Robert Klein, Thomas Klein, Harold Klein, Mary Mei and James Klein.

A Mass of Christian burial will take place Wednesday, July 7, at 10 a.m., at Good Shepherd Center Chapel in Marlborough, followed by interment in Mt. Benedict Cemetery in West Roxbury. Visiting hours will take place Tuesday, July 6, from 4 to 8 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m., at Good Shepherd Center, 406 Hemenway Street, Marlborough. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Fitzgerald & Collins Funeral Home (www.CollinsFuneral.com), 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough. Sisters of the Good Shepherd, a worldwide Congregation, were founded in France by St. Mary Euphrasia in 1835. They came to Boston in 1867, to Marlborough in 1964 and to Harwich in 1993.