(1928 - 2023)

Sister Paul James Villemure, baptized Lois Marie Villemure, died on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 94 years of age and in the 72nd year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Paul James was born in Newberry, Michigan, to Joseph and Alma (Benard) Villemure. She graduated from Newberry High School in Newberry and received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a doctorate in mathematics from Notre Dame University in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Sister spent 58 years ministering in education in Guayama, Puerto Rico; Wilmette, Illinois; and Miami Shores, Florida. This includes service at two institutions of the Congregation: Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette for one year and Barry College (University) in Miami Shores, Florida, for 54 years, all of which were spent as a professor of mathematics and 31 of those years additionally as Chair of the Mathematics Department.

Sister Paul James became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2013. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Robert, Philip, Evar and Charles; and four sisters, Irene Pigeon, Phyllis Rahilly, Marcella Norman and Theresa Thomson. Two other siblings died in infancy. She is survived by brothers Joseph (Carol) of Newberry, Matthew (Bettye) of Chelsea, Thomas (Ann) of Hudsonville, and Peter (Natalie) of Newberry, all in Michigan.

Welcome of Sister Paul James will be on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Dominican Life Center lobby; the Wake will follow from 6:15 to 7:00 p.m. in the Gathering Space in St. Catherine Chapel. The Reception of the Body and Vigil Prayer will be at 7:00 p.m. in St. Catherine Chapel. The Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel on Friday, March 17, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. The Rite of Committal will be in the Congregation cemetery.

All those not attending Sister's services in person are welcome to participate via livestream at https://adriandominicans.org/Live-Stream.

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.

Sister's Prayer Card (PDF)

 

 

Vigil for Sister Paul James

Worship Aid (PDF)

Download video. Videos will be posted for 4-6 weeks, then removed.

Funeral for Sister Paul James

Worship Aid (PDF)

Download video. Videos will be posted for 4-6 weeks, then removed.

 

Left: Graduation photo from Newberry High School, 1946. Right: Alma and Joseph Villemure, parents of Sister Paul James.

Left: Sister Paul James Villemure with the Barry University sign, 2002. Right: Left to right, Sisters Paul James Villemure, Jeanne Marie O’Laughlin, and Myra Jackson at Barry University.

Left: Sisters Dorothy Booms, left, and Paul James Villemure volunteer at Office Support Services at the Motherhouse in Adrian. Center: Sisters John Karen Frei, left, and Paul James Villemure.

Sisters John Karen Frei, Linda Bevilacqua, and Paul James Villemure.

The Villemure siblings, posing on October 23, 1991, are: back row, from left, Charles, Thomas, Robert, Peter, Evan, and Joseph, and front row, from left, Philip, Matthew, Phyllis, Sister Paul James, Marcella, Theresa, and Irene.

2000 Golden Jubilarians, from the August 8, 1950 Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Carol Johannes, Mary Mackert, Paul James Villemure, Kathleen Sutherland, Mary Anthony Marelli, Jean Rosaria Fisch, Anne Elizabeth Monahan, Barbara Hubbard, Theodora McKennan, and Michael Claire Wilson, and front row, from left, Sisters Rina Cappellazzo, Joan Marconi, Diane Erbacher, Joan Petz, Anthonita Porta, Charlotte Francis Moser, Virginia Cushing, Michael Thomas Watson, Mary Louise Gass, Barbara Ann Mason, and Mary Jo Sieg. Not pictured are Sisters Joan Kathleen Lorencz, Joseph Eugene Fogarty, and Florence Marie Viaches. 

 

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