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(1934-2025)
Sister Joanne Wimmer, formerly known as Sister James Alice Wimmer, died on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 90 years of age and in the 64th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Joanne was born in Des Moines, Iowa, to James and Alice (Malone) Wimmer. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Des Moines, Iowa, and received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a Master of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Sister Joanne spent 6½ years ministering as an elementary teacher in Paw Paw, Michigan, and Chicago and Joliet, Illinois. She was an auditor for four years for Arthur Anderson & Co., Chicago, and a cost accountant for one year at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, also in Chicago. She served in the finance office as auditor and chief accountant for seven years at St. Rose De Lima Hospital in Henderson, Nevada, and as senior financial analyst for 19 years at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, California, both legacy institutions of the Congregation. Sister Joanne also ministered for the Congregation in Adrian for five years in the Finance and Information offices and was administrative assistant for six years at the Dominican West Chapter Office in San Francisco, California.
Sister Joanne became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2015. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Susan Mimick. Sister is survived by a brother, James (Nan) Wimmer, other loving family members, and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.
Those not attending services in person are welcome to participate via live stream at https://adriandominicans.org/Live-Stream.
Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.
Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)
Note: To view recordings with closed captioning, they must be viewed on our public video library rather than through the links below.
Recording of Sister Joanne's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
Recording of Sister Joanne's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
LEFT: Joanne with her mother Alice. MIDDLE LEFT: Joanne at the age of 5. MIDDLE RIGHT: Joanne, standing, left, with her mother Alice, brother James, and little sister Susan. RIGHT: Joanne with her father James during his time in the Navy.
MIDDLE: Sister Joanne Wimmer in her graduation photo from St. Joseph Academy in Des Moines, Iowa, 1952. RIGHT: Members of the Alavida Mission Group meeting in Santa Cruz, California in 2004, are: standing, from left, Sisters Judith Benkert, Carolyn Roeber, Corinne Florek, Mary Ellen Leciejewski, and Ann Marie Wood, and seated, from left, Sisters Claudia Morgan, Judy Rimbey, Joanne Wimmer, and Virginia King.
RIGHT: Members of the 2010 Golden Jubilee June 1960 Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Patricia Fischer, Joann Plumpe, Barbara Jean Quincey, Joanne Wimmer, Anita Chiappetta, June Mary Deswysen, and Mary Helen Smolbrook; middle row, from left, Sisters Diane Pitera, Patricia Benson, Joanne Peters, Mary Katherine Homan, Grace Gianella, Kathleen Erard, Catherine Ormond Olds, and Helen Faiver; and front row, from left, Sisters Mary Elizabeth Gaiss, Joan Lawrence Sustersic, Juliann Flynn, Susan Marie Ouwerkerk, Maryetta Churches, Janet Marie Fulgenzi, Patricia Erickson, and Donna Markham (Prioress). Not pictured is Sister Ann Rena Shinkey.
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Sister Janet Kubiak, formerly known as Sister Christine Thomas Kubiak, died on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 90 years of age and in the 72nd year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Janet was born in Detroit to Frank and Clara (Fitch) Kubiak. She graduated from Dominican High School in Detroit and received a bachelor’s degree in English from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian.
Sister Janet spent 32 years ministering in elementary and high school education in Escanaba, Michigan; Chicago and Riverdale, Illinois; and Des Moines and West Des Moines, Iowa. She ministered for nine years as an education/financial aid counselor at the Higher Education Center in Des Moines and for two years in admission/outpatient testing at Mercy Hospital, also in Des Moines.
Sister Janet became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2022. She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings: George, Stanley, John, Frank, and Thomas Kubiak; Marion Gee, Cecilia Zack, and Verna Moran. Sister Janet is survived by other loving family members and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 3, 2025. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.
Recording of Sister Janet's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
Recording of Sister Janet's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
MIDDLE LEFT: Sister Christine Thomas with her mother, Clara Kubiak. RIGHT: Sister Janet at her ministry site, Mercy Hospital in Iowa, where she served in Admissions, 1997-1999.
LEFT: Sister Janet with her companion. RIGHT: Crowd members gather: from left, Sisters Frances Madigan, Loretta Sinn, Marguerite Renuart, Janet Kubiak, and Arlene Marie Kosmatka.
LEFT: Sister Janet Kubiak celebrates her Golden Jubilee, 2002. RIGHT: Members of the 2002 Golden Jubilee Crowd are, back row, from left, Sisters Janet Kubiak, Reta Drexler, Maureen Fay, Carolyn Nelson, Ursula Ording, Frances Madigan, Marguerite Renuart, Arlene Marie Kosmatka, and Dorothy Booms; middle row, from left, Sisters Lorraine Sinn, Joann Weigang, Lorraine Pepin, Patricia Caulfield, Margaret Foley, Maria Riley, and Maureen Keeler; and front row, from left, Sisters Cora Marie Campbell, Ann Kelly, Anne Cenci, Lois Mary Rochon, Margaret Richard Pillon, Magdalena Ezoe, and Kathryn Hartnett.
(1937-2025)
Sister Patricia M. Martin, formerly known as Sister John Martin, died on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 96 years of age and in the 78th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister was born in Detroit to John and Louise (Hartung) Martin. She graduated from Morenci High School in Morenci, Michigan, and received a bachelor’s degree in home economics from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a master’s degree in nutrition from Michigan State University in East Lansing. She was also a registered dietitian with the American Dietetic Association.
Sister Patricia ministered for 29 years in elementary and secondary education in Marblehead, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; and Bad Axe, Caro, Lansing, and Dearborn, Michigan. She served the Congregation for three years as a driver in Transportation Services at Maria Health Care Center in Adrian. She ministered as a dietitian for 12 years in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Jackson, Michigan, and for 10 years as a coordinator for the aging, also in Jackson. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2011.
Sister Patricia was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Edward, John, and William; and sisters Barbara Ferris, Dolores Figy, and Rosemary Case. She is survived by a sister, Martha Monahan; other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Committal will be in the Congregation Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
Recording of Sister Patricia's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
Recording of Sister Patricia's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
LEFT: Baby Patricia with her brother Ed. MIDDLE LEFT: Patricia in 1936. MIDDLE RIGHT: First Holy Communion.
LEFT: Patricia Martin on her entrance day, 1946. MIDDLE: The Martin Siblings, photographed in 1996, are: back row, from left, Edward, William, and John; middle row, from left, Martha and Dolores; and front row, from left, Rose, Barbara, and Patricia. RIGHT: Members of the 2006 Diamond Jubilee Crowd are, back row, from left, Sisters Marie Noreen Nolan, Patricia Dillon, Shirley Cushing, Joanne Patricia Gwizdala, and Mary Ripplinger, and front row, from left, Sisters Eileen Souva, Patricia Martin, Patricia Riley, Alice Marie Lacina, and Geraldine McNamara.
LEFT: Sisters Mary Beaubien, left, and Patricia Martin at Myrtle Beach, circa 2010. MIDDLE: Members of the Nova Vita Mission Group in 2004 are: back row, from left, Sisters Ann Patrice Remkus and Helen Belsito, Associates Carol Jeziolkowski and Barbara Coneset, and Sister Virginia Corley; middle row, from left, Sisters Patricia Janowicz, Patricia Martin, Joanetta Bruene, Mary Margaret Donnelly, and Jean Harlan; and front row, from left, Sisters Marie Decker, Jean Annette Rudolph, Jean Anthony Sporer, and Mary Emidio Singer. RIGHT: Enjoying the beach in Monterey, California, in July 1989 are, from left, Sisters Shirley Cushing, Marie Brigid McDonald, Patricia Martin, and Mary Ripplinger.
When the three Adrian Dominican Sisters who founded the Colegio Santo Domingo – Sisters Mary Philip Ryan, Thomas Ann (Eileen) Burke, and Rudolf (Dorothea) Beuttenmuller – arrived in the Dominican Republic in September 1945 to begin the process, one of the first people they met there was Humberto Ruíz Castillo, the architect/builder selected for the project.
Among the four boys and three girls born to Humberto and his wife, Ana (Berges) Castillo, were two girls who would soon become Colegio students and would go on to join the Congregation: Teresita, known as TeTe, and Margarita, called Margot, the youngest of the seven. Their siblings were Fernando, Humberto, Hugo, Felix, and Pura.
Margot was born in Santo Domingo on March 6, 1937. Her earliest schooling came at the Franciscan Colegio Serafin Asis, which she attended through fourth grade. When the Colegio Santo Domingo opened in 1946, she transferred and was a student there until her junior year of high school.
Right from the start of the Adrian Dominican presence in Santo Domingo, the Sisters and the Ruízes had a very close relationship. “I became very fond of the Sisters, who were joyous, prayerful, intelligent, and friendly,” Sister Margot wrote in her autobiography. “When I decided to enter religious life, there was but one choice: the Adrian Dominicans. When I told Sister Mary Philip of my interest in religious life, she immediately helped me to make arrangements to go to Adrian. I think she was afraid some other congregation would get me.”
Read more about Sister Margarita (PDF)
Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221.
Recording of Sister Margarita's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
Recording of Sister Margarita's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
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