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(1920-2017)
Sister Helen Walsh, known also as Sister Rose Michaeleen, was born in Chicago on June 15, 1920. She was the second oldest of six children born to William and Rosemary (O’Sullivan) Walsh.
Her parents were married at St. Bride Church on Thanksgiving Day in 1917. Because her dad was serving in the army, the couple walked out of church beneath an arch of soldier’s swords in military style. When the war ended, her father returned to his law practice.
In her autobiography, Sister Helen described the arrival of her five siblings and the gifts of her parents.
The first child, Rosemary, was born on November 1, 1918, in a military hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan. Soon the war ended and the family moved to Port Huron, my father’s birthplace. When I was expected, my father took my mother back to Chicago, where he felt the best doctors could be had. However because of the speed of my arrival, a hospital intern was in charge and I arrived late on Sunday night June 15, 1920, at South Shore Hospital. When I was four, my brother Billie was born and the story was later told that I asked my mother if she could return him get a baby that didn’t cry so much. My last three siblings, Nan, Mary Jo and Joe, were born in Port Huron and all were surrounded by doting relatives.
Read more about Sister Helen (pdf)
Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221.
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(1944-2017)
Sister Mary Ann Dardy, known also as Sister John Marguerite, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 26, 1944. She was the second of three children born to Henry and Mary Margaret (Lindich) Dardy. The family’s ancestry is Polish/Slovenian. Her two brothers are Hank (now deceased) and Tony.
Her parents were married in June of 1940. Eventually, her father was able to obtain the large home of his parents by assuming their mortgage. It had four apartments that were in poor repair, but her father rebuilt it from the foundation to the roof. He died in 1990, and her mother continued to live in that house for many years.
Here is Sister Mary Ann’s brief description of her family.
Though we don’t agree on everything, I would describe our relationship as “closely-held.” From Catholic roots, I attended a Catholic grade school and high school. It was through the influence of the sisters who taught me, that I probably heard the call to dedicate my life to God most clearly.
After graduating from Hoban Dominican High School, Sister Mary Ann entered the postulate on June 26, 1962, at the age of eighteen. In December of that year, she received her religious name, Sister John Marguerite. She made first profession on December 29, 1963, and the following month was assigned to teach at St. Patrick School in Joliet, Illinois. Two months later she was sent to Our Lady of Good Counsel in Chicago, where she taught for two academic years. In August 1966 she was assigned to teach at St. Kilian School in Chicago for one year.
Read more about Sister Mary Ann (pdf)
(1921-2017)
Dorothy Mary Jehle, known also as Sister Norbert Mary, was born on April 7, 1921, in Chicago. She was the oldest of six children born to Herman and Dorothy (Elvin) Jehle. Her five younger siblings, in the order of their birth, were Philip, Francis, Barbara, Kathleen, and Eleanor.
Both of her parents were born in Kansas. Her father was a manufacturing jeweler whose work caused the family to move a few times. This is reflected in the various schools Sister Dorothy attended.
Her elementary education began at St. Joseph and Holy Cross Schools in South Bend, Indiana. When the family moved to Joliet, Illinois, she finished grade school at St. Patrick, where she met the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Her high school years were at St. Francis Academy in Joliet.
After graduating in 1939, Sister Dorothy attended the College of St. Francis in Joliet, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in 1943. She then worked as a reporter at the local newspaper, Joliet Spectator, until she entered the postulate on February 2, 1945.
Read more about Sister Dorothy (pdf)
(1919-2017)
“One does not get too far from one’s dream”
Sister Diana, baptized Mary Agatha Miller, was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, on February 10, 1919. She was the third of seven children born to William and Lucy (MacArthur) Miller. Her two older brothers, Jerry and Blake, were born in Detroit. Her four younger siblings – Edward, Jane, Philip, and Grace – were born in Royal Oak.
In her autobiography, Sister Diana shared the following details about her family and her attraction to foreign missions.
My father and mother met in Michigan and their courtship lasted for three years. Finally in January 1912 William and Lucy were married and my mother embraced Catholicism. During the Great Depression they lost all the worldly things they had. This forced us to move closer to [St. Mary] School which delighted us because now we could go home for lunch. We lived on the east side of Royal Oak with plenty of space: trees, wild flowers in the woods, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, berry bushes and three kinds of grapes.
I went to St. Mary for grade and high school. One time in the thirties, a missionary priest came to the school and talked about his work in Hunan, China. I believe this priest was Father William Westhovan. It was then that my thoughts about China began. Dad and Mother were always behind me, listening, suggesting and helping.
I entered Adrian in the fall of 1937 and at that time there was talk in the community of opening a place in Hunan, China. However, Japan invaded China and we were on the brink of World War II. Adrian was advised not to pursue the mission fields in the Orient. My yearning and desire to work with His little ones has never ceased.
Read more about Sister Diana (pdf)
Our Adrian Dominican cemetery with its circular headstones is a beautiful place of rest for women who gave their lives in service to God — and a peaceful place for contemplation and remembrance.
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