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(1938-2026)
Sister Ann Marie Davidson Wood died on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at her home. She was 88 years of age and in the 41st year of her religious profession: 18 years in the Dominican Sisters of Edmonds, Washington, and in her 23rd year in the Adrian Dominican Congregation after the Edmonds and Adrian congregations merged in 2003.
Sister Ann Marie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Paul W. and Lucille (Zitzmann) Davidson. She graduated from Dominican High School in New Orleans and obtained an associate's degree in nursing from Shoreline Community College; a bachelor's degree in psychology and women’s studies from the University of Washington; a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from Seattle University; and a Doctorate in pastoral counseling from Graduate Theological Foundation in Donaldson, Indiana.
Before entering religious life, Ann Marie was married and raised four sons. She worked for 15 years as an operating room nurse at Harborview and other hospitals in Seattle, while also pursuing studies, and later managed a dental office for several years.
Following profession, Sister Ann Marie served for five years as Director of Chaplaincy Services at Children’s Hospital Stanford in Palo Alto, California; two years as an oncology chaplain at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Washington; and five years as Director of Pastoral Care at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle. She also ministered for four years as a spiritual director and 12 years in spirituality/nature ministry in Mountlake, Washington.
Sister was preceded in death by her parents and stepmother, Hildegard. She is survived by her four sons: Daniel, David, Glen (Catherine), and Scott; her grandchildren, Madison Wood and Harlin Wood (Anna); her foster sister, J. Patricia Dannahy Reidy; other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
A Memorial service will be held at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 8900 35th Avenue, Seattle, Washington, on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a brief reception. After the reception, burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery, 5041 35th Avenue NE, Seattle. A Memorial Mass will be held in Adrian in St. Catherine Chapel 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Beck’s Tribute Center, Edmonds, Washington.
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 link below.
Recording of Sister Ann Marie's Memorial Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as."
LEFT: Ann Marie with her mother, Lucile Zitzmann Davidson,1938. CENTER: Ann Marie Davidson, Mercy School of Nursing, 1957. RIGHT: Ann Marie, right, celebrates with colleagues her studies at Oxford University, England.
LEFT: Sister Ann Marie with fellow birders, Washington State. RIGHT: Sister Ann Marie with her sons and their families, 2023.
LEFT: Sister Ann Marie Wood explores Alaska and its glaciers. CENTER: Members of the Alvida Mission Group are: back row, from left, Sisters Carolyn Roeber and Mary Ellen Leciejewski and front row, from left, Sisters Mary Soher, Corinne Florek, Janice Holkup, Marian Castelluccio, Nancy Jurecki, and Ann Marie Wood. RIGHT: Sister Ann Marie looks through one of her bird guides.
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(1933-2026)
Sister Mary Alan Stuart, baptized Rita Jean Stuart, died on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 92 years of age and in the 71st year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Mary Alan was born in Chicago to Arthur and Cecilia (Studer) Stuart. She graduated from St. Ambrose High School in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, and received a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in mixed science, both from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, and a doctorate in human nutrition from Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana.
Sister Mary Alan ministered for 27 years in education in Chicago, Illinois; Fort Walton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Tampa, Florida; Santurce and Ponce, Puerto Rico; and Santo Domingo and Bonao, Dominican Republic. She was a research fellow for five years at Purdue University; the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota; and the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
Sister ministered for one year as a senior clinical research associate and for five years as assistant professor and director of dietetics at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, 10 years as an outreach dietitian at St. Joseph Hospital, and six years as a volunteer dietitian and seven years as chairman of the board at the Continuing Care Hospital, all in Lexington. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2021.
Sister Mary Alan was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Alan R. Stuart, David Stuart, Ruth Ann Stuart, Louise Irene Stuart, and Christine Buck. She is survived by her brother Paul Stuart (Margaret), other loving family members, and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2026. 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.
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 Mary Alan'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 Mary Alan's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
LEFT: Rita Jean, 1935. MIDDLE LEFT: Rita Jean, 1939, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. MIDDLE RIGHT: 1951 graduate of St. Ambrose High School, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. RIGHT: Sister Mary Alan Stuart at St. Mary Star of the Sea, Chicago, 1952-1957.
LEFT: From left, Connie Weaver, PhD, and Sister Mary Alan Stuart, OP, PhD, graduation from Purdue University, May 15, 1983. RIGHT: The Stuart family gathers in 1979 to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of their parents. They are, back row from left, David, Sister Mary Alan, and Alan, and front, from left, Christine, Cecilia (mother), Paul, Arthur (father), and Ruth.
LEFT: From left, Sisters Mary Kay Homan, Joann Plumpe, Elizabeth Kubacki, Clare O’Connor, Mary Alan Stuart, and Patricia Benson.
Members of the 2011 Christmas Diamond Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Nancy Fischer, Barbara Ann Hehr, Patricia J. Walsh, Mary Louise Head, Joan Weitz, Helen Belsito, Anne Beauvais, and Celeste Mary Bourke; middle row, from left, Sisters Mary Alice Naour, Helen Laier, Thomas Leo Monahan, Patricia Dolan, Angela Susalla, June Racicot, Patricia Spangler, and Attracta Kelly (Prioress); and front row, from left, Sisters Marilyn Foster, Marion Coppe, Betty Lou Myers, Robert Irene Buchanan, Mary Alan Stuart, Mary Catherine Nolan, and Jane Robert Stuckel.
(1928-2026)
Sister Margaret Urban, formerly known as Sister Michael Elizabeth, died on Friday, February 6, 2026, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 97 years of age and in the 77th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Margaret was born in Detroit to Michael and Elizabeth (Kulwicki) Urban. She graduated from Dominican High School in Detroit and received a bachelor’s degree in English from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, a master’s degree in English from DePaul University in Chicago, and a master’s degree in psychology/substance abuse counseling from Mercy College (University of Detroit Mercy) in Detroit.
Sister Margaret ministered in elementary and secondary education for 20 years in Chicago, Illinois; and in Detroit, Adrian, and Jackson, Michigan. She served the Congregation for three years as Director of Apostolate for Immaculate Conception Province and two years as secretary for the SEAC Chapter Office, both in Detroit.
She also served for nine years in pastoral ministry in Midland and Dearborn, Michigan and ministered with the Genesee Catholic Education Office in Flint, Michigan; for the Archdiocese of Detroit; and for the U.S. Catholic Commission Office in Lansing, Michigan, for a total of 12 years. She was a substance abuse therapist and EAP psychotherapist for nine years at hospitals in Port Huron and St. Clair, Michigan. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2016.
Sister Margaret was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Anastasia Kosmalski and Elizabeth Wyles. She 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, February 11, 2026, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 11, 2026, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.
Recording of Sister Margaret'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 Margaret's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
LEFT: Margaret at about the age of 1. MIDDLE LEFT: First Holy Communion. MIDDLE RIGHT: Margaret with her parents, Elizabeth and Michael, on her high school graduation day.
LEFT: From left, Sisters Margaret Urban and Kathleen Gaynor. RIGHT: Sister Margaret in her social work ministries, 1980s.
LEFT: Back row, from left, Sisters Marie Solanus Reilly, Elizabeth Flaherty, and Helen Mack, and front row, from left, Sisters Patricia Sporer, Kathleen Gaynor, and Margaret Urban. RIGHT: Sisters Margaret Urban, left, with her classmate, Sister Mary DeSlaes Herman, CSSF, at Sister Margaret’s Golden Jubilee, 1998.
Members of the 1998 Golden Jubilee December 1948 crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Judith Mary Singer, Mary Catherine Jordan, Marie Geraldine Brownell, Mary D. O’Connor, John Norton Barrett, and Joyce Banks; middle row, from left, Sisters Joan Sopha, Nora Brady, Mary Schmagner, Celestine Dunne, Margaret Urban, Therese DeCanio, and Patricia Wiley; and front row, from left, Sisters Mary E. Quinn, Mary Helen Mack, Dorothy Thielk, Mary Frances Radtke, Patricia Ann Hurley, Marion O’Connor, and Alice Riegel. Sister Catherine Eggleston is not pictured.
(1939-2026)
Sister Barbara Cervenka, formerly known as Sister James Annette, died on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 86 years of age and in the 68th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Barbara was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to James and Florence (Balzer) Cervenka. She graduated from Hoban Dominican High School in Cleveland and obtained a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Sister Barbara ministered for more than 44 years in education in Maybee, Detroit, Madison Heights, Adrian, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. This includes 11 years as a member of the faculty at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and 21 years as a member of the faculty at Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, an Adrian Dominican sponsored institution. She served four years on the Congregation’s General Council.
Sister Barbara also ministered for almost 14 years as co-director at Con/Vida in Detroit. Con/Vida is a non-profit that promotes understanding of the diverse cultures, traditions, and history of the Americas through art. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2026.
Sister was preceded in death by her parents; her stepmother, Annette (Kawalac) Cervenka; and her sister, Sister Anita Marie Cervenka, SND. She 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, February 4, 2026, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 4, 2026, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 5, 2026. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.
Recording of Sister Barb'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 Barb's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
LEFT: From left, Sister Mary Naomi (Anita) Cervenka, SND, and her blood sister, Sister Barbara Cervenka, OP. MIDDLE LEFT: Sister Barbara, creative art instructor at Siena Heights College, 1971-1978. MIDDLE RIGHT: 1956 graduate of Hoban Dominican High School, Cleveland, Ohio.
LEFT: Members of the 1978-1982 General Council are, L to R, Sisters Barbara Cervenka, Carol Johannes (Prioress), Carol Jean McDonnell, Catherine DeClercq, and Nadine Foley. RIGHT: Sister Barbara Cervenka with her father, James Cervenka, in his garden, 1975.
LEFT: Artists posing in INAI are: standing, from left, Sister Aneesah McNamee, Sister Nancyann Turner, and Mame Jackson and, seated in front, Sister Barbara Cervenka. MIDDLE: From left, Sisters Carol Johannes and Barbara Cervenka, 2020. RIGHT: Sister Barbara relaxes at an art exhibit in INAI.
LEFT: Celebrating Sister Barbara’s 80th birthday are, back row from left, Sisters Sharon Weber, Catherine DeClercq, and Barbara Cervenka and front row from left, Kathleen Griffiths and Sisters Nancyann Turner and Carol Johannes. RIGHT: From left, Mame Jackson and Sister Barbara Cervenka, friends and co-directors of Con/Vida: Popular Arts of the Americas.
Sister Barbara Cervenka stands in front of some of the 1,000 paintings of origami cranes that she created as a fund-raiser for the Dominican Sisters of Iraq after they fled from ISIS. The paintings were exhibited during the October 2017 Homecoming Weekend at Siena Heights University.
Members of the 2017 Diamond Jubilee December Reception Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Frances Lombaer, Bernitha Glombowski, Evelyn Inez Montez, Patricia Siemen (Prioress), Mary Ann Phillip, Mary Therese Napolitan, and Joella Miller; middle row, from left, Sisters Janet Traut, Jude Van Baalen, Joan Kowalski, Barbara Cervenka, Patricia Brady, and Margaret Ann McGuiness; and front row, from left, Sisters Helen McAllister, Susan Elaine Kresse, Helen Diane McGuirt, Eunice Drazba, and Dorothea Gramlich.
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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