(1929-2024)

Sister Gloria Korhonen might well have not become an Adrian Dominican Sister at all were it not for the five Sisters she met while a student at Wayne State University. In fact, she probably would not have even been a Catholic.

Gloria Virginia Korhonen was born on March 8, 1929, in Astoria, Oregon, to Arvo and Maemi (Matson) Korhonen. Arvo, a native of Finland, was a Lutheran minister and served as a missionary to the Finnish-immigrant community in Astoria. The family moved to Superior, Wisconsin, where Arvo served several Finnish parishes, when Gloria was about three.

She became “a proud Yooper” (as residents of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, or U.P., are known), as she described herself in her Sister’s Story video, in about fifth grade when the Korhonens moved to a home just outside of Baraga, Michigan. She attended Baraga High School and graduated in 1946.

Her considerable talents in music earned her a scholarship to the University of Michigan. She completed her bachelor’s degree in 1950, taught music at a school in Ohio for a year, and then moved to Detroit to teach at a public grade school.

Because she needed to take classes in order to stay accredited, she enrolled at Wayne State, deciding to earn a master’s degree in special education because she admired the work the special-education teacher at her school was doing and thought it would be a good career for herself. And this is where the Adrian Dominican Sisters become part of her story.

Read more about Sister Gloria (PDF)

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. 

Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)

 

Enjoy these videos that explore the life and ministry of Sister Gloria (Jonathan) Korhonen.

 

 

 

Vigil and Funeral Recordings

Recording of Sister Gloria'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 Gloria's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

Leave your comments and remembrances (if you don't see the comment box below, click on the "Read More" link).