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(1925-2023)
Sister Margaret Mary McGill, formerly known as Sister Agnes Carol, died on Friday, January 27, 2023, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 97 years of age and in the 78th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Margaret Mary was born in Providence, Rhode Island, to John and Agnes (Acorn) McGill. She graduated from St. Ann High School in West Palm Beach, Florida, and received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian; a Licentiate in Spanish Literature from the University of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic; and a master’s degree in bilingual education from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She was also certified as a paralegal in immigration law by Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Sister spent 13 years ministering in elementary and secondary education in Michigan, including two years as a professor at Mercy College in Detroit, and 13 years at Barry College (University) in Miami Shores, Florida, including five years as director of the International Students Center.
Additional educational ministries included nine years at St. Anthony School in Guayama, Puerto Rico; four years as a bilingual specialist for Chelsea Public Schools in Massachusetts; nine years in the Dominican Republic as a teacher, college professor and department head, school superintendent, and principal; two years with the DePorres P.L.A.C.E Literacy Center in Riviera Beach, Florida; and two years with the Ministry of Education and Culture in Kaposvar, Hungary. She also served as a paralegal in immigration law in Florida and Kentucky for five years.
Sister Margaret Mary became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2009. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Hope Paine and Dorothy Martin, and a brother, Robert McGill. She is survived by loving family members and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
COVID-19 vaccinated persons may attend the Vigil and Funeral in person. All are welcome to participate in Sister’s services via live stream.
Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 31, 2023, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 1, 2023. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.
Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.
Sister's Prayer Card (PDF)
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(1929-2023)
Sister Helen Hankerd, formerly known as Sister Mary Ingrid, died on Friday, January 20, 2023, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 93 years of age and in the 74th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Helen was born in Chelsea, Michigan, to Emmett and Oleta (Hutzel) Hankerd. She graduated from Chelsea High School and received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a master’s degree in Music Education from Michigan State University in East Lansing.
Sister spent 37 years ministering in education in Detroit, Ruth, Chelsea, Monroe, and Manchester, Michigan, and in Cincinnati, Wickliffe, and Medina, Ohio. She also ministered for 19 years as the Extended School Director for St. Thomas in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2020.
Sister Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Paul; and her sisters, Jane Cecile Hankerd and Rose Ann Salvante. She is survived by her sisters, Mary Houle of Chelsea and Therese Scharphorn and Eileen Brooks, both of Jackson, Michigan; other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, in the Gathering Space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 pm Wednesday, January 25, 2023, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 26, 2023. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.
Worship Aid (PDF)
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Left: Helen at the age of two. Right: The Hankerd siblings in 1944 are, back row, from left: Helen, Mary, and Therese, and front row, from left, Eileen, “Bud,” and Rose Ann.
Left: Helen as a 1947 graduate of Chelsea High School, Chelsea, Michigan. Right: Sister Helen with Father Don
Right: From left, Sisters Helen Hankerd, Ann Bernadette Stein, and Patricia Weigang, St. Mary, Chelsea, 1990
Left: The Hankerd siblings celebrate Sister Helen's Golden Jubilee in 1998. They are, from left, Therese Scharphorn, Sister Helen, Paul “Bud” Hankerd, Eileen Brooks, Mary Houle, and Rose Ann Salvante.
(1938-2022)
A fortuitous move from Beloit, Wisconsin, to Rockford, Illinois, brought Teresa Josephine Disch to the place where she would eventually meet the Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Teresa was born on March 17, 1938, in Beloit to Casper and Josephine (Finnegan) Disch. At some point after her birth, the little family moved to Rockford because Casper’s employer had transferred him there. Three more children would in time be born to the couple: Richard in 1939, Rita in 1941, and Robert in 1947.
“My relationship with my parents was very good,” Sister Teresa wrote in her autobiography. “I experienced love, trust and encouragement. They challenged me to do my best and assume responsibility within and beyond our household.”
Her elementary schooling came from the Sisters of Loretto at St. Peter School. High school was spent at Bishop Muldoon High School, where she had the Adrian Dominican Sisters as her teachers and enjoyed many opportunities for leadership development.
Read more about Sister Teresa (PDF)
Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221.
(1939-2022)
In her eulogy for Sister Helen McAllister, Sister Judy Friedel, Chapter Prioress of the Holy Rosary Mission Chapter, described Sister Helen this way:
Helen was a people-person, a devoted family member, a dedicated teacher and co-worker, a committed family member, friend to many. The four pillars of Dominican life were foundational to her growth as a person. Her life was lived fully, remaining close to family and friends, with a very tender heart for God’s little ones. She loved people, parties, travel.
Helen Diana McAllister was born on March 11, 1939, at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, Illinois. She was the first child born to Thomas McAllister, who worked as a clerk for the Chicago Stock Exchange, and his wife, Margaret Helen (Paschke).
The family lived in Little Flower Parish, on Chicago’s South Side, until 1941, not long after another daughter, Judy, was born. They then moved to an apartment on South Yale, across the street from St. Carthage Church and School. In time, three more children – Rosemary, Dennis, and Susan – entered the family.
Helen attended Yale Public School for kindergarten and half of first grade and then was enrolled at St. Carthage School. It was here that she first met the Adrian Dominican Sisters, initially in the person of Sister Catherine Siena Fisher, her first-grade teacher. “She was very strict; in fact, I think I was a bit afraid of her,” Sister Helen said in her life story as she recounted the time she got in trouble for talking with her best friend and did not tell her mother about it … only to have both her parents find out from Sister Catherine Siena that same day at an open house.
Read more about Sister Helen (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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