(1934-2025)

Michigan’s “Thumb” region, on the east side of the state bordering Lake Huron, was the birthplace of many Adrian Dominican Sisters, including Sister Dorothy Booms.

Dorothy Anna Booms was the first daughter and the third of thirteen children born to Marcus and Mary (Klee) Booms. She came into the family on November 7, 1934, joining brothers William and Donald. Later came Jim, Arlene, Helen, Grace, Chuck, Ann Marie, Dennis, Raymond, Rosemarie, and Joan. Rosemarie and Joan were both born after Dorothy entered the convent.

The family lived on an 80-acre dairy farm near Harbor Beach. The farmhouse had a small bedroom on the first floor for the parents and two bedrooms on the second floor, one for the boys and one for the girls. “I can remember sharing a big bed with two of my little sisters,” Sister Dorothy wrote in her autobiography. “Our mattresses were made of straw. My father changed the straw each year.”

All the children had their assigned chores. The boys worked with their father to tend the animals, clean the barn, and harvest the crops. Marcus always used horses out in the fields, even after he bought a tractor: “He loved the peace and quiet of being out on the field with his team of horses,” she wrote. The girls helped their mother with household chores, ranging from cleaning to preparing vegetables for cooking and canning to setting the table for meals. As the oldest girl, Dorothy helped prepare and serve the meals.

The children loved to play outside and, if the weather did not allow that, they played school in the house. Since Dorothy was the oldest girl, she was always the teacher, which often led her mother to suggest, “You know, if you like teaching so much, maybe you should be a Sister.”

Read more about Sister Dorothy (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 Dorothy'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 Dorothy'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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