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(1932-2022)
Sister Virginia Beattie, formerly known as Sister John Louise Beattie, died on Sunday, September 25, 2022, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 90 years of age and in the 71st year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Virginia was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, to John and Mary (Judge) Beattie. She graduated from St. Mary High School in Waltham, Massachusetts, and received a bachelor’s degree in English from Barry College (University) in Miami, Florida; a master’s degree in education from Florida State University in Tallahassee; and a master’s degree in pastoral theology from Aquinas Institute of Theology in Dubuque, Iowa. She also had Clinical Pastoral Education training at Rochester Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, and St. Luke Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Sister ministered in elementary and secondary education for 20 years in Adrian; Chicago, Illinois; Miami Shores, St. Petersburg, Pensacola, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Montgomery, Alabama; and Santurce and Guayama, Puerto Rico. She served one year as a pastoral associate/coordinator at Oak Park Hospital in Oak Park, Illinois, and six years at St. Lawrence Hospital in Lansing, Michigan. Sister also ministered for 11 years in mental health care in Fraser, Detroit, and New Baltimore, Michigan, and five years as a community and outreach worker for Catholic Charities in Dubuque.
Sister Virginia became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2017. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, John and Raymond Beattie; and her sisters, Phyllis Ryan, Grace Hay, and Barbara Priest. She is survived by loving family and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Due to COVID-19 mitigation protocols, the Dominican Life Center is closed to all guests or visitors until further notice. All are welcome to participate in Sister’s services via live stream.
The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 28, 2022, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 29, 2022. 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.
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Left: The Beattie family includes standing, from left, Ray, Mary (mother), and Jack; and seated in front, from left, John (father), Virginia, Grace, Phyllis, and Barbara. Right: Mary Beattie with her daughter, Sister Virginia Beattie
Left: Sister Virginia Beattie with her mother, Mary Beattie
Ministering at St. Bede in Montgomery, Alabama, were, from left, Sisters Sean Michael (Margaret Ann) McGuinness, Grace Albert (Grace) Dougherty, John Louise (Virginia) Beattie, and James Anita (Catherine) McKillop.
Left: From left, Sister Virginia Beattie and Associate Mercedes Fitzsimmons. Right: Sister Virginia Beattie takes a walk during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Jill Maria Murdy
Members of the 2010 Diamond Jubilarians December Reception Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Kieran Therese Quirke, Mary White, Ann Rozalia Szabo, Shirley Smith, Jeannine Therese McGorray, Geraldine Maloney, and Sean Morley; middle row, from left, Sisters Rita Crotty, Lucy Ann Quinn, Loretta May, Noreen Burke, Genevieve Jeziolkowski, Marlene Kuhnlein, and Janet Michael Hudspeth; and front row, from left, Sister Lila Watt, Carol Denise Koenig, Virginia Beattie, Maria Goretti Browne, Ellen Kennedy, Joseph Eilese Hukle, and Donna Markham (Prioress).
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Sister Frances Barfield, formerly known as Sister David Therese, died on Monday, September 19, 2022, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 90 years of age and in the 73rd year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Frances was born in Pensacola, Florida, to David C. and Theresa (Post) Barfield. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Adrian and received a bachelor’s degree in history from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian; a master’s degree in education from Barry College (University) in Miami Shores, Florida; and a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Sister spent more than 30 years ministering in elementary education in Elmwood Park and Joliet, Illinois; Palatka, Tallahassee, Gulfport, and Fort Walton Beach, Florida; and Georgetown, Kingstree and Greenville, South Carolina. This includes 10 years as principal of schools in South Carolina. Sister also served in parish ministry for 22 years in Winter Park and Melbourne, Florida, and in Metairie, Terrytown, Gretna, and New Orleans, Louisiana. She worked with the elderly for eight years in Winter Park and Melbourne, Florida, and in Givhans, South Carolina.
Sister Frances became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2009. She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Theresa Bodette, David Barfield Jr, and Jesse Barfield. She is survived by siblings Genevieve Due and Albert Barfield; other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Monday, September 26, 2022, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.
Left: First Holy Communion. Right: Sister Frances with her parents, Theresa and David Barfield
Right: The Barfield family in 1950: from left, brothers Jesse and Albert; parents David and Theresa, Sister Frances, and, standing in front of her, Genevieve
Left: Gathered in 2009 are, from left, Sisters Mary Ann Caulfield, Donna Marie Baker, Frances Barfield, and Mary Diane McMeekin. Right: Members of the Gulf Coast Mission Group meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1999 to celebrate Sister Frances Barfield’s Golden Jubilee are, from left, Sisters Paul Emelia Brown, Maureen Therese Masuga, Frances Barfield, Mary E. Waldron, and Jean Charles Birney.
Left: Sisters Francis Elizabeth McDonnell, left, and Frances Barfield. Right: From left, Sisters Barbara Ann Rund, Elizabeth Kubacki, Maureen Comer, Carol Fleming, and Frances Barfield
Left: From left, Sisters Mary Jean Clemenger and Frances Barfield. Right: From left, Sisters Dorothy Jehle, Frances Barfield, and Clare Genevieve Huddas
Members of the 2009 Diamond Jubilee Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Aileen McClain, Geraldine Megel, Mary Elizabeth Crimmins, Grace Flowers, Jean Marie Jeziolkowski, and Madeline Mary Dervin, and front row, from left, Sisters Thomas James Burns, Anastasia McNichols, Frances Barfield, Jane Irene Hutton, and Donna Markham (Prioress).
Sister Barbara Ann Mason, formerly known as Sister Augustine Mary, died on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 89 years of age and in the 72nd year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Barbara Ann was born in St. Johns, Arizona, to Augustine and Mary (Marquez) Mason. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Adrian, received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, and earned a master’s degree in Spanish from Holy Names College in Oakland, California.
Sister spent 48 years in education in Oakland, Oceanside, La Jolla, and San Diego, California; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Detroit, Michigan. This includes 19 years as principal of St. Mary Star of the Sea in Oceanside.
Sister Barbara Ann became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2010. She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings: Augustine, Leo, and Herman Mason and Esmel Jaramillo. She is survived by loving family members and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 21, 2022, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 22, 2022. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.
Left: Sister Barbara Ann Mason’s parents, Mary and Augustine Mason
From left, Sisters Barbara Mason, Dorothy Jehle, Frances Barfield, and Clare Genevieve Huddas
Right: Sisters Barbara Ann Mason, left, and Mary Jo Sieg
Right: Members of the 2010 Diamond Jubilee Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Carol Johannes, Rina Cappellazzo, Joseph Eugene Fogarty, Barbara Hubbard, Mary Mackert, and Mary Louise Gass; middle row, from left, Sisters Joan Marconi, Diane Erbacher, Paul James Villemure, Charlotte Francis Moser, Mary Anthony Marelli, and Kathleen Sutherland; and front row, from left, Sisters Theodora McKennan, Mary Jo Sieg, Florence Marie Viaches, Michael Claire Wilson, Barbara Ann Mason, and Donna Markham (Prioress).
(1929-2022)
Sister Shirley Thielk, formerly known as Sister Joyce Edward, died on Sunday, September 11, 2022, 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 Shirley was born in Highland Park, Michigan, to Edward and Hilda (Wellnitz) Thielk. She graduated from St. Ambrose High School in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, and received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in counseling, both from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian; a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Detroit (Detroit Mercy); and a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Dayton.
Sister spent 24 years ministering in education in Chicago, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio; Utica, Michigan; and Malawi, East Africa. This includes 11 years at Hoban Dominican High School in Cleveland, an institution of the Congregation.
Sister Shirley was also an administrative assistant for two years at St. Theresa Home for the Aged in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was provincial administrator for four years for St. Catherine of Siena Province in Detroit and ministered for twelve years in the Finance Office of the Dominican Motherhouse in Adrian. She spent 14 years in the Computer Services Department and medical staff offices at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, California.
Sister Shirley became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2009. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Thomas and David Thielk; and five sisters, Elizabeth Mitchell, Geraldine Jordan, Joyce Opromalla, Joanne Mackris and Jacqueline Kunysz. She is survived by seven siblings: Kathryn Warras (Bryan) of West Bloomfield, John Thielk (Mouy) of Fair Haven, and Sister Dorothy Thielk – also an Adrian Dominican Sister – all in Michigan; Edward Thielk of San Fernando, California; Margaret Zukowski (Daniel) of Amherst, Virginia; Rose Marie Popowitz of Porter, Texas; and Donald Thielk of Kula, Hawaii; other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 14, 2022, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 15, 2022. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.
Left: Sisters Shirley Thielk, left, and Dorothy Thielk, right, pose with their parents, 1970.
Right: From left, Sisters Jeanne Burns, Shirley Thielk, and Veronica Kelley at Dominican Hospital, Santa Cruz, California
Left: From left, Sisters Karen Fisk, Linda Bevilacqua, Nadine Foley, Shirley Thielk, and Winifred Lynch participate in Transformations 1989, a gathering at the Motherhouse. Right: Sisters Shirley Thielk, left, and Joan Leo Kehn celebrate Christmas.
Left: Sisters Shirley Thielk, left, and Kathleen Therese McCann. Right: Sisters Marcine Klemm, left, and Shirley Thielk
Members of the Pilgrim People Mission Group in 2008-2009 are: back row, from left, Sister Madeline Mary Dervin; Associates Nancy McNulty and Caroline Manildi; Sisters Marion O’Loughlin, Mina Riggs, Jean Fitzgerald, and Jeri Renner; and front row, from left, Sisters Marie Wiedner, Judith Silva, Shirley Thielk, Mary Margaret Beh, and Veronica Kelley.
Left: Sisters Jean Fitzgerald, left, and Shirley Thielk. Right: Members of the 2017 Double Diamond December Reception Crowd are, back row, from left, Sisters Shirley Mary Heymes, Patricia Siemen (Prioress), Jeanne Burns, Shirley Thielk, Mary Saynay, and Marcine Klemm, and front row, from left, Sisters Theresa Nightingale, Margaret Lane, Kathleen Therese McCann, Janet Persyk, and Cyrilla Zarek.
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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