(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.

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.

 

 

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.

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