Marcellina Alum Otii

On the evening of July 8, 2023, Marcellina Alum Otii passed away at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Marcellina was 73 years old. She is survived by her husband Albert, her five children Hellen, Anena, Atim, Ageno and Bongomin, her grandson Okema, her brothers Justine, Paul and Alex, and her sisters Pasque, Josephine, Angela, Doreen.

Marcellina was born on March 26, 1950 in Nairobi, Kenya to Justino Tokwero and Roza Terezina Areyemo. She grew up in Pawel Kal (present day Amoro District), Uganda. As a young person, Marcellina was a good student and helped out around the home. The eldest of nine children, Marcellina was helpful to the family. She worked in the garden, fetched water or firewood, and helped take care of her younger siblings.

After graduating from Sacred Heart Secondary School, Marcellina continued her studies to become an educator. She taught primary and secondary school and trained teachers before she married Albert Olum Otii in 1975. Together they had two daughters before leaving Uganda in 1979 and relocating to Denver, Colorado as refugees. In the United States, Marcellina and Albert grew their family with two more daughters and a son. While in Colorado, Marcellina completed a Bachelors and Masters degree, a K-12 teacher's certification, a diploma in Montessori education, and an educational administration certification. She taught adult education to immigrants before serving for nearly 30 years in early childhood education as a Montessori teacher and coach at Family Star, Mile High Early Learning Center, and in Denver Public Schools.

Her work with Denver Public Schools blossomed into a storied education career, positively impacting many communities and thousands of students of schools. Marellina was recognized by many for her community and educational work including with the 2015 Educator of the Year Award from the Education Center, the 2015 Mary Rhodes Award from the Sisters of Loretto, the 2017 Generosity of Joseph Honor from the Sisters of St Joseph Calondoret and the 2022 Making the Difference Leadership Award from Family Star.

Marcellina was also passionate about her community and served at her church, St Ignatius Loyola, in several community groups such as the African Support Group, UNESCO, and Rotary Club. Her entrepreneurial spirit and love for northern Uganda led her to create the non-profit organization Team Africa: Ties That Bind. The organization was created to provide educational scholarships to children in northern Uganda, support catechists as local leaders and engage their families to create pathways to financial independence. In 2017, Marcellina founded Mother Earth Montessori - a community-based organization that provides affordable and quality Montessori education, nutrition, and vocational skills to disadvantaged children and their parents in Gulu City, Uganda. The school officially opened in early 2020 and remains open to this day.

Throughout her life, Marcellina lived her life to serve God. As a daughter, sister, mother, wife, grandmother, aunt, friend, educator, community leader; Marcellina was continually living out her faith. She would often say, "whatever you do, do it with love". Her smile, joy, determination, authenticity, strength, kindness, and love are gifts from God that live on in each life Marcellina touched. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you give a gift toward Macellinas legacy at Mother Earth Montessori.

Services will be livestreamed the day of the service Click Here to view.