(1938-2026)

In the early twentieth century, tiny Corunna, Michigan, and the surrounding area became home to many Czech immigrants for whom the rural setting and climate reminded them of their homeland.

Among those settlers were the Marsik and Pelikan families. Frantisek (Frank) Marsik was born in Bohemia and came to this country with his family when he was about a year and a half old. After living first in Minnesota and then in North Dakota, the Marsiks arrived in Corunna in 1920.

That same year the Pelikans, originally of Moravia, moved to Corunna from Iowa, where three children had been born, including their oldest, Frances.

With Corunna’s thriving Czech community being very tight-knit, it was only a matter of time before Frank and Frances’ paths crossed. They married in 1933 and moved to nearby Flint, Michigan, where Frank worked for the Buick division of General Motors.

In time, the couple had three children, all of whom were actually born in the Owosso hospital so that Frances could be near her family. First, in 1934, came Frank, then Vlasti (the future Sister Christa) on February 4, 1938, and finally Joseph in 1939.

Disliking city life, when an opportunity arose in 1942 to move back to Corunna the family did so. The children all attended Corunna Public School, but when young Frank needed to repeat eighth grade, he chose to attend St. Paul School in Owosso so as to have a different teacher, and when he remained at St. Paul for high school his siblings followed suit.

There, the children were taught by Adrian Dominican Sisters, and Vlasti soon knew she wanted to enter the Congregation after graduation. As that time neared in 1955, however, she realized that her dream was not going to materialize because of opposition from her parents, who did not want their only daughter going off to what her father termed “like a prison.”

So, she undertook what she, in her autobiography, called “my next best solution”: she enrolled at Siena Heights College (later University) so she could be near the Motherhouse and, she hoped, make the transition to religious life easier for her parents. Her intent was to enter the Congregation in short order – but she discovered she liked college life and remained at Siena Heights all four years, earning her bachelor’s degree in Latin.

Read more about Sister Christa (PDF)

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)

Vigil and Funeral Recordings

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

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