(1922-2022)

Sister Mary Catharina Bereiter, baptized Mary Bereiter, died on Monday, May 23, 2022, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 100 years of age and in the 77th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Mary Catharina was born in Chicago to Edward and Mary (Orzali) Bereiter. She graduated from Amundsen High School in Chicago and received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, a master’s degree in mathematics from University of Detroit (Detroit Mercy), and a doctorate in mathematics from Wayne State University, Detroit. 

Sister spent 29 years ministering in education in Detroit and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and Oakland, California. This includes six years at Dominican High School in Detroit and ten years as a professor at Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, both sponsored institutions of the Congregation. 

She served two years as a religious education coordinator for the Holy Family Center in Adrian, four years as a pastoral minister at St. Leo Parish in Detroit, and four years as the program administrative assistant at F.O.C.U.S., Inc. in Detroit. 

Sister Mary Catharina became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2013. She was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters: Barbara Harrell, Virginia Bereiter and Catherine Speirs; and a brother, Edward Bereiter. She is survived by other loving family members and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.

Due to COVID-19 mitigation protocols, the Dominican Life Center is closed to all guests or visitors until further notice. All are welcome to participate in Sister’s wake and funeral via live stream. 

Rite of Committal (burial) for Sister Mary Catharina was held on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in the Congregation Cemetery. A Memorial Mass will be on Friday, May 27, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Catherine Chapel. The Ritual of Remembering will be held on Friday, May 27, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. in the Rose Room at the Dominican Life Center.

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)

Funeral for Sister Mary Catharina

Worship Aid (PDF)

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Remembrance for Sister Mary Catharina

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Left: Members of the Bereiter family are, from left, Edward, the father, and siblings Edward, Mary, Mary Barbara Emma (Sister Mary Catharina), Virginia, Catherine, and Barbara. Right: As a postulant

Left: Sister Mary Catharina Bereiter and Bishop Thomas Gumbleton celebrates her Diamond (60-year) Jubilee with Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, April 17, 2004. Right: Sister Mary Catharina Bereiter, front and center, sings with the Metropolitan Catholic Gospel Choir of Detroit.

Left: Members of the Nokomis Mission Chapter include, from left, Associate Janet Thomas and Sisters Aneesah McNamee, Mary James Hickey, Gloria Korhonen, Barbara Chenicek, Diane Burgermeister, Ritz Schiltz, Mary Catharina Bereiter, and Magdalena Ezoe. Right: Celebrating their Golden Jubilee together in 1994 are, from left, Sisters Mary LaMantia, Mary Catharina Bereiter, Florence Gibbons, and Anna Rita Sullivan.

Sister Christa Marsik, left, congratulates Sister Mary Catharina on her 100th birthday after her special Mass, April 20, 2022. Right: Sister Mary Catharina with her nieces, from left, Joanne Littlefield, Patricia Meyer, Mary Caye Speirs, and Lizanne Speirs.

Members of the 2014 Diamond (60-year) Jubilee Crowd are, back row, from left, Sisters Anna Rita Sullivan, Francis John Rzeppa, Elizabeth Clare Schindler, Marie Rosanna Flanagan, Rosemary Conlon, Noreen Marie George, Mary Catharina Bereiter, and Mary LaMantia, and in front, Sister Lorraine Marie Mackin.

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