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(1948-2025)
Sister Donna Marie Baker died on Friday, August 22, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 76 years of age and in the 58th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Donna Marie was born in Detroit to Patrick L. and Virginia (Wyrauch) Baker. She graduated from St. Agatha High School in Detroit and obtained a bachelor’s degree in English from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a master’s degree in Reading/Consultant/Resource from Cardinal Stritch College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Sister Donna spent 48 years ministering in education in Southgate, Michigan; Jacksonville, St. Petersburg, and West Palm Beach, Florida; and Slidell, Louisiana. This includes serving 13 years as assistant elementary principal at St. Margaret Mary School in Slidell and 15 years as junior high school teacher and two years as the middle school director at Rosarian Academy, a legacy institution of the Congregation in West Palm Beach. Sister Donna became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2023.
Sister Donna was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers William and Patrick. She is survived by her sisters Linda Anderson (James), Mary Beihl (Bernie), Sharron Valentine, and Colleen Wilson (Steve); brothers Dennis Baker and Michael Baker (Kay); other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 27, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 28, 2025. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.
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)
LEFT: Donna in kindergarten, at the age of 5. MIDDLE RIGHT: Sister Donna as a Postulant, 1966. RIGHT: Sister Donna Marie with her parents, Patrick and Virginia.
LEFT: Members of the Baker family in 1998 are, back row, from left, Patrick, Bill, Denny, and Michael, and front row, from left, Sherry, Colleen, Mary, Patrick (their father), Linda, and Sister Donna. RIGHT: Posing together during the Congregation’s Gathering 2002 are, from left, Sisters Donna Baker, Dorothy Dempsey, Jeanne Lefebvre, Rose Celeste O’Connell, and Mary Rita Gleason.
LEFT: Sisters Mary Ann Caulfield, left, and Donna Baker enjoy Rosarian Academy’s 80th Anniversary Breakfast, 2006. RIGHT: Members of the 2017 Golden Jubilee Crowd, August 1967 reception, are: back row, from left, Kathleen Klingen, Marie Skebe, Corinne Mary Florek, and Donna Markham; middle row, from left, Sisters Joanne Podlucky, Mary Jane Lubinski, Ellen Burkhardt, Patricia Siemen (Prioress), and Donna Marie Baker; and front row, from left, Marie Solanus Reilly, Julie Hyer, Nancy Jurecki, and Nancy Murray.
LEFT: Sister Donna at her 69th birthday celebration in Sauce Restaurant, Adrian, November 13, 2017. MIDDLE: Celebrating the 2025 Jubilee are: back row, from left, Sisters Catherine Olds, Mary Ann Caulfield, and Judith Rimbey, and seated, from left, Sisters Donna Baker and Patricia Leonard. RIGHT: From left, Sisters Donna Baker, Mary Ann Caulfield, and Kathleen Klingen.
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(1934-2025)
Sister Dorothy Booms, formerly known as Sister Rose Alphonsus Booms, died on Monday, August 18, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 90 years of age and in the 72nd year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Dorothy was born in Harbor Beach, Michigan, to Marcus and Mary (Klee) Booms. She graduated from SS. Peter and Paul High School in Ruth, Michigan, and received a bachelor’s degree in French from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a master’s degree in elementary education from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.
She ministered 31 years in education in Utica, Iron Mountain, Escanaba, and Norway, Michigan; Chicago, Rockford and Joliet, Illinois; Des Moines, Iowa; Tallahassee and Melbourne, Florida; and Lemon Grove, California. This included seven years as principal at Dickinson Area Catholic School in Iron Mountain. She served five years at the Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan, as secretary for the Religious Education Department, and ministered for five years at St. Bernard Parish in Alpena, Michigan, where she was secretary and bookkeeper.
She ministered for two years as secretary for the Consortium of Hope for Oakland Inner-City Catholic Education (CHOICE) in Oakland, California; during this time, she also served the Congregation as secretary for the Dominican West Chapter in California. She also served the Congregation for six years as secretary for the Southeast Adrian Chapter (SEAC) in Farmington Hills, Michigan, two years in Transportation /Residence Services, and four years in the Archives Office. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2007.
Sister Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Ann Berryhill and Donald, William, and Helen Booms. She is survived by four sisters: Grace England, Arlene Davenport, Rosemarie Booms, and Joan (Martin) Miller; four brothers: Raymond (Marjean), Dennis (Patricia), Lawrence (Judy), and Leroy (Susan) Booms; other loving family and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30-7:00 pm on Monday, August 25, 2025, in the Gathering Space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 pm Monday, August 25, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 am Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221.
LEFT: First Holy Communion, 1942. MIDDLE LEFT: 1952 graduate of Saints Peter and Paul High School, Ruth, Michigan. RIGHT: Sister Dorothy (Rose Alphonsus) with her parents, Mary and Marcus Booms.
LEFT: Sister Dorothy with students in her classroom in Iron Mountain, Michigan. RIGHT: From left, Sisters Dorothy Booms, Mary Eileen Sullivan, and Michael Claire Wilson.
LEFT: Sisters Dorothy Booms, left, and Paul James Villemure volunteer at Office Support Services at the Motherhouse, February 2015. RIGHT: Members of Sister Dorothy’s “crowd” are, from left: Sisters Lorraine Sinn, Lorraine Pepin, Marguerite Renuart, Frances Madigan, Cora Marie Campbell, and Dorothy Booms.
LEFT: Members of the 2012 Diamond Jubilarian Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Dorothy Booms, Lorraine Pepin, Carolyn Nelson, Reta Drexler, Arlene Marie Kosmatka, Frances Madigan, and Attracta Kelly (Prioress); middle row, from left, Sisters Kathryn Hartnett, Marguerite Renuart, Maureen Keeler, Lorraine Sinn, and Cora Marie Campbell; and front row, from left, Sisters Anne Cenci, Ann Kelly, Joann Weigang, and Magdalena Ezoe. RIGHT: Community members from Livonia, Michigan, enjoying a meal together are, from left, Sisters Colette Madden, Mary Jane Schallert, Adrianna Emery, Bridget Maier, Lenore Boivin, and Dorothy Booms.
(1939-2025)
Sister Rosalie Esquerra, formerly known as Sister Maria Antonia Esquerra, died on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 86 years of age and in the 69th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Rosalie was born in Kingman, Arizona, to Raymond and Eva (Torres) Esquerra. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Adrian, Michigan, and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Arizona in Tucson.
Sister Rosalie ministered 17 years in education in Detroit, Michigan; Douglas and Winslow, Arizona; and Las Vegas, Nevada. This included one year as principal at Our Lady of Las Vegas and two years as education specialist at the Latin American Pastoral Center in Detroit. She then served for 12 years as associate director for Focus Life, Inc. in Detroit. Focus Life was renamed Life Directions in 1987.
Sister Rosalie served in many ministerial roles for Life Directions from 1987 on: three years as associate director, one year as formation director, four years as the CEO, and nine years as the director of training, all in Detroit. She also served Life Directions in Chicago for over two years as project director and in Tucson, Arizona, for 10 years as director and one year as an administrator. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2021.
Sister Rosalie was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Roger, Raymond, Donald, Richard, Mary Louise, and Regina Lozoya. She is survived by siblings Robert, Roland, Rebecca, Randolph and Ronald Esquerra and Rachel Stapleton, other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 18, 2025, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Monday, August 18, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2025. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.
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 Rosalie'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 Rosalie's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
LEFT: Rosalie at the age of 4. MIDDLE LEFT: Sister Rosalie at St. Mary, Kingman, Arizona. MIDDLE RIGHT: As a postulant, December 25, 1955. RIGHT: Sister Rosalie adds music to her ministry as a teacher at St. Joseph, Winslow, Arizona, 1968-1971.
MIDDLE: Sister Rosalie Esquerra in her ministry as Associate Director of Focus Life, Detroit, 1976-1988. RIGHT: Sister Rosalie celebrates during a Eucharistic liturgy.
LEFT: From left, Sisters Rosalie Esquerra, Noella Maria McLeod, and Barbara Ann Long. RIGHT: Sister Rosalie with her parents, Raymond and Eva.
LEFT: Sister Rosalie enjoys some travel time. RIGHT: Members of the 2015 Diamond Jubilee December Crowd are back row, from left, Sisters Rosalie Esquerra, Kathleen Waters, Norine Burns, Molly Nicholson, Sheila Delaney, and Nancyann Turner; third row, from left, Sisters Leontia Cooney, Barbara Ann Long, Margaret Manners, Mary Kastens, and Joan Leo Kehn; second row, from left, Sisters Mary Hemmen, Anneliese Sinnott, Joan Mary, Jo Ann Lucas, and Elizabeth Gibbons; and front row, from left, Sisters Esther Ortega, Marilyn Uline, Arlene Seckel, Ann Ziemba, and Jovanna Stein.
(1928-2025)
Sister Shirley Ann Cushing, formerly known as Sister Blanche Marie, died on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 97 years of age and in the 78th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Shirley was born in Detroit to Frank and Blanche (Réaume) Cushing. She graduated from St. Theresa High School in Detroit and received a bachelor’s degree in English from Siena Heights College (University), Adrian; a master’s degree in English from DePaul University, Chicago; and a master’s degree in religious education and a Doctor of Law degree, both from the University of Detroit (now University of Detroit Mercy).
Sister Shirley ministered in education for 20 years in Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Shaker Heights, Ohio; and Tokyo, Japan. She served three years as Postulant Mistress and three years as Juniorate Director for the Congregation. She served for one year as pastoral minister at St. Lawrence in Utica, Michigan, and seven years as the Adult Education Resource Director at St. Edmund in Warren, Michigan.
Sister Shirley then served for seven years as a staff attorney in the senior unit for Lakeshore Legal Service, Inc. in Mount Clemens, Michigan, and seven years as the attorney manager for the legal program at Macomb County Department of Senior Services in Mount Clemens. She moved to the Dominican Life Center in 2021.
Sister Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, William Cushing and Father Frank Cushing; and her sisters, Dorothy Cushing, Mary Blanche Trudeau, and Sister Virginia Cushing, also an Adrian Dominican Sister. She is survived by other loving family members and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.
Recording of Sister Shirley'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 Shirley's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
LEFT: 1945 graduate of St. Theresa High School, Detroit. MIDDLE RIGHT: From left, siblings Sister Blanche Marie (Shirley) Cushing, Father Frank Cushing, and Sister William Francis (Virginia) Cushing. RIGHT: Sister Shirley prepares for her graduation from the University of Detroit Law School, May 13, 1984.
LEFT: From left, Sisters Anne Liam Lees, Shirley Cushing, Margaret Lane, and Arlene Kosmatka. RIGHT: Members of the 2016 Double-Diamond Jubilee Crowd are: back row, standing and sitting, from left, Sisters Sheila N. Flynn, Anne Bernadette Stein, Ann Romayne Fallon, Beverly McEachin, Patricia M. Martin, Shirley Ann Cushing, Joanne Patricia Gwizdala, Edith Kathleen Zemke, and Jean Fitzgerald, and front row, from left, Sisters Ann Patrice Remkus, Jean Irene McAllister, Winifred C. M. Lynch, Georgina Luznicky, and Marie Therese Emery.
LEFT: Sister Shirley visits a shop in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. MIDDLE LEFT: Sister Shirley stands in front of the Holy Cross Abbey, built in 1252 in Sligo, Ireland. MIDDLE RIGHT: Blood sisters Shirley (left) and Virginia Cushing. RIGHT: Sisters Shirley Cushing, left, and Virginia Cushing celebrate Christmas.
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