(1939-2026)

Childhood experiences are certainly pivotal in helping form how a person sees the world, relates to others, and even views God. Bernadine Ann Ziemba, the future Sister Ann, was just three years old when she lost her mother to tuberculosis, and by all accounts her early life shaped her into an independent, self-reliant woman who knew that God cared for her and loved her.

Bernadine, the younger of Roman and Anna (Turczyn) Ziemba’s two children, was born in Dearborn, Michigan, on May 19, 1939. Her brother, Gerald, was five at the time.

Anna made arrangements before she died to ensure her children would be cared for. Gerald was sent to the St. Francis Home for Boys, a military school in Detroit, and Bernadine was placed at the Sarah Fisher Home in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Roman, however, wanted to have his children with him. He found a home in one of Detroit’s west-side Polish parishes, SS. Peter and Paul, and as soon as he was settled he went to get his daughter and son. He raised them as a single father for the rest of their childhood, and Sister Ann always remembered him as a hardworking man who loved his children very much, provided for them, and was at home with them when he was not at work.

Gerald began attending the parish school, which was staffed by the Sylvania (Ohio) Franciscans, but Bernadine was too young and so became a “stay at home kid,” as Sister Ann described it in her life story. Their father worked for Chevrolet, and so while he was at work and Gerald was at school, little Bernadine stayed home, with strict orders not to open the door for anybody, and stayed away from the windows so that no one would see her.

When she was old enough to start kindergarten at SS. Peter and Paul, Roman enrolled her in the afternoon session. He taught her to look at the clock at home and know that when the small hand was on the 12 and the big hand was on the 2, she was to close the door tight behind her and make the five-block walk. Gerald would meet her outside after school and they walked home together.

Because SS. Peter and Paul did not have a high school, Gerald went on to St. Alphonsus High School in Dearborn, where the Adrian Dominican Sisters were the teachers, and in due time Bernadine followed suit.

Read more about Sister Ann (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 Services, Adrian.

Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)

Vigil and Funeral Recordings

Recording of Sister Ann's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, download the recording by clicking on the three dots at the bottom right corner of the screen and choosing "Download." Worship Aid (PDF)

Recording of Sister Ann's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by clicking on the three dots at the bottom right corner of the screen and choosing "Download." Worship Aid (PDF)

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