(1930-2025)

Alice was a true daughter of St. Dominic – living the vows: simple life, sharing what she had with others, always being obedient to what the Congregation was asking of her and loving God with her whole soul, mind and spirit. She always gave herself 100 percent to whatever she was asked to do – even if it meant going to Puerto Rico when she didn’t know Spanish.

This description of Sister Alice Riegel came from her good friend Sister Mary Kay Homan in her homily for Sister Alice’s funeral. “Alice has many titles: sister, aunt, friend, confidante, supporter, and cheerleader – giving people the strength to make difficult decisions and to see God’s hand in any decision,” Sister Mary Kay continued. “Alice was my FRIEND. She was a gift from God.”

Alice Agnes Riegel was born on July 28, 1930, at a hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, not far from the couple’s home on Detroit’s west side, to Alden and Laura (Ouellette) Riegel. She was the couple’s first child, born just two days shy of their second wedding anniversary. Three more children were to follow: Mary Lou, Carol Anne, and William Alden.

The country was in the early months of the Great Depression, and the Riegels felt the impact. The day after Alice was born, Alden came to the hospital to bring his wife a small cradle that had been passed down through the family, filled with flowers. When Laura wondered how he could be there instead of at work, he told her that he had lost his job. He later went to work at a dairy.

After Mary Lou was born, the family moved to a different home a few miles away. They attended St. Brigid Church and, in the parish school, “God’s plan for me began,” she wrote in her autobiography – for there, she was taught by the Adrian Dominican Sisters.

Read more about Sister Alice (PDF)

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)

Vigil and Funeral Recordings

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 Alice'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 Alice'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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