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(1937-2026)
Sister Anneliese Sinnott, baptized Cecilia Sinnott, died on Monday, March 30, 2026, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 88 years of age and in the 70th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Anneliese was born in Chicago to William and Anna (Haack) Sinnott. She graduated from Aquinas High School in Chicago and received a bachelor’s degree in applied music from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian; a master’s degree in musical education from DePaul University in Chicago; a master’s degree in religious studies from the University of Detroit; a Master of Divinity degree in theology from SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan; and a doctorate in systematic theology from Katholieke University in Leuven, Belgium.
Sister Anneliese ministered for almost 17 years teaching music in schools in Rockford and Chicago, Illinois. Later, she was Associate Dean for four years at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary; served in several capacities for a total of 21 years at Marygrove College in Detroit, including as Director of Pastoral Ministry; and ministered for 29 years as a professor, dean, and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit.
She also served for five years as chair of the board for the Dominican Center for Religious Development (now the Dominican Center: Spirituality in Mission) in Farmington Hills, Michigan, and served the Congregation for two years as director of formation. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2025.
Sister Anneliese was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Ronald. She is survived by other loving family members and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Prayers of Committal will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Vigil Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2026 in St. Catherine Chapel. The Memorial Mass will be in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 10, 2026. Those who are not attending services in person are welcome to participate via live stream at https://adriandominicans.org/Live-Stream.
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 Services, Adrian.
Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)
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 Anneliese'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 Anneliese's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
LEFT: Cecilia, the future Sister Anneliese, circa 1940. MIDDLE LEFT: Young Sinnott siblings, Cecilia and Ronald.
LEFT: Adrian Dominican Sisters who studied theology at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, Orchard Lake, Michigan, circa 1973, are, from left, Sisters Mary Tardiff, Anneliese Sinnott, Mary Catherine Nolan, and Joan Delaplane. RIGHT: Members of the 1995 Gate of Heaven Community in Detroit are, back row, from left, Sisters Arlene Kosmatka and Cheryl Liske, and front row, from left, Sisters Anneliese Sinnott, Rosemarie Kieffer, and Nancyann Turner.
LEFT: Sisters Anneliese Sinnott, left, and Nadine Foley, with Ophelia the camel during the 2012 Holy Land Armchair Pilgrimage. RIGHT: Members of the Congregation’s Constitution Committee were, from left, Sisters Anneliese Sinnott, Miriam Mullins, Nadine Foley, Teresa Disch, and Mary Tardiff.
Playing in the Bell Choir during the 2002 Gathering were, back row, from left, Sisters Carol Bollin, Sarajane Seaver, and Sara Fairbanks, and front row, from left, Sisters Mary Frances Fleischaker, Anneliese Sinnott, Catherine Ormond Olds, Lorraine Réaume, and Sheila N. Flynn.
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 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.
Leave your comments and remembrances – if you don't see the comment box below, click on the "Read More" link.
Thank you so much for all of the recordings provided. I indirectly heard of Sr. Anneliese’s passing or Aunt Cela as I called her just last week. We do not live close to each other so we kept in touch through the years through emails. I have very fond memories of her since I was a little girl going to the convent to see her(it was so quiet there!), in my twenties her visiting me as she traveled through Az. and lastly spending a couple days with her a few years after my dad passed. She always remembered my children on their birthdays and holidays and I’m grateful we stayed in touch as the years went by. Thank you again for all of the recordings. ❤️
Very sad to learn of Sister Anneliese's passing. I was fortunate to have been taught by Sister Anneliese when I was a student at St Philip Neri in Chicago. I am class of 1970. Sister Anneliese came over to Aquinas Dominican (it was literally right next store to Neri) so I was lucky to still see her. I was in choir at Neri and would come up to school early for choir lessons and practice. I think my senior year, Sister Anneliese entered us in a CYO competition and we had the best of times. We sang "Simple Things". She was a wonderful teacher, amazing. She was incredibly patient and good with all levels of students. I watched her video, never knew she grew up in OLP or was even from Chicago. I think when we were kids, we thought all the Adrian Dominican nuns came from somewhere in Detroit (well except for my cousins).I wish I had known that Sister Anneliese was living in Detroit, as I have lived there off and on over the years, last stint was 2016-2019. Sister Anneliese was the best of the best, I think those of us who were taught by her were especially lucky, as the saying goes, we were better for having known her.AnnR
Sr Anneliese was one of the most influential persons in my life.She spoke up for my entrance into St Philip Neri when I was trying to transfer there from Faulkner School for girls.I had been very unhappy when my family moved from our house on Luella to 72 nd and the lake and entered me into Faulkner. I should have gone to the other Catholic school in our new district but my friends were at Neri. There was a young African American boy who was being accepted into Neri from out of the district and from what I heard she spoke up and said if you take him you have to take Carol. I transferred there in seventh grade.I loved my two years at Neri. The sisters were amazing.Sr Anneliese taught me music and Science. She always looked so fresh and neat and she smelled like ivory soap.I then entered Aquinas where our friendship continued. She helped me navigate the death of my father and I helped her with the death of her mother. We remained friends throughout the years and she was a genuinely wonderful person.Anneliese’s forward-thinking contributions to women's role in the Church undoubtedly made a difference. I am proud of her and applaud all her accomplishments. Anneliese and so many of the other Adrian Dominican sisters I came to know changed my life. She will be missed.
Carol - how very cool that you stayed in contact with Sister Anneliese. She was an amazing person!I am really glad you didn't end up at Faulkner :)AnnR
Sisters, Whereas in our Dominican tradition we recognize that a member who has remained at the Priory or Motherhouse cooking for a lifetime is as important to the Holy Preaching as the most zealous professor or eloquent pulpit preacher is, it is only honest and true to acknowledge that Sister Anneleise's contributions to theology, theological education, women's issues in ecclesiology and ecumenism have been stellar, numerous and harnessed much appreciation. In addition to ranking among that heroic generation of Catholic school Sisters with enormous enrollments at a time when Catholic education was making a profound imprint on our entire Nation, she took the Order's name with her into several intellectual and pastoral frontiers and was widely admired. Her accomplishments included memberships in the Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance, the West Detroit Interfaith Community Organization, the American Association of University Professors, the College Theology Society, the Catholic Theological Society of America, and the Women's Theology Initiative, to name only what I knew about. Anneliese will be missed as a person, a friend to many, a teacher, a professor, an explorer, and many more things that are reflective of her wonderful personal identity as well as of her professional stature. She has done our Order proud! May God grant her eternal rest.
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