Associate Earlene Dutton

Earlene was born on November 21st, the Feast of the Presentation, in Oakland. She states, “How blessed I was and still am today.” Due to family problems, her dad took Earlene to St. Joseph’s Convent in Berkeley. He said to the Sister, “Can you take my daughter as a boarder?’’ Sister replied, “We already have 50 boarders. That’s our limit.” Her dad replied, “If I can’t turn to you, Sister, who can I turn to?” Sister said, “OK, we’ll accept her.” So began Earlene’s introduction at the age of seven to the Sisters of the Presentation! 

She spent seven years with these noble women, four years boarding with the Notre Dame nuns in Belmont, and four more years at Holy Names University while living with her dad. After college, she married her wonderful husband, Bob Dutton, and they had two girls and two boys who made them very proud. As the years passed, she kept very busy teaching CCD at her parish, St. Lawrence O’Toole. When her youngest child was in first grade, she went to work to help pay Catholic school tuition. She taught at St. Bernard’s in Oakland and St. Joseph’s in Berkeley.

Earlene Dutton and Nanette Miller at an Associate's Retreat in October 2022.

After retiring, she volunteered for the next 20-plus years at St. Mary’s Center with Sister Marilyn Medau. While working with Sister Marilyn on the first fund raising auction, Earlene’s husband died from a ruptured appendix. Shortly after that, she became a Presentation Associate. She has been an Associate for over 20 years now. Earlene remarks, “Today I’m almost 85, had a stroke, and have had to give up many things. However, I can still bring Jesus to the elderly in a nursing home. I’ve had a good life, thanks to God, the Presentation Sisters, and many others. I THANK THEM ALL.”