(1932-2026)

Sister Mary White, formerly known as Sister Mary Stephen, died on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 93 years of age and in the 74th year of her religious profession: 51 years in the Dominican Sisters of Edmonds, Washington, and in her 23rd year in the Adrian Dominican Congregation after the Edmonds and Adrian congregations merged in 2003.

Sister Mary was born in Montevideo, Minnesota, to Henry and Frances (Jahn) White. She graduated from Holy Angels Academy in Seattle, Washington. She went on to receive a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in natural science, both from Seattle University, and a Master of Religious Education degree from Fort Wright College in Spokane, Washington.

Sister spent 19 years ministering in education and 26 years in various other ministries in Seattle, Spokane, Aberdeen, Everett, and Edmonds, Washington; Miles City, Montana; and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. These included five years as the coordinator of Bible study groups at St. Alphonsus in Seattle and three years at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Everett. She also ministered for nine years as the director of the Dominican Reflection Center in Edmonds. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2008.

Sister Mary was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul White and Rev. David White. She is survived by a sister, Laura Jezik; other loving family members and friends; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.

Prayers of Committal will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, March 27, 2026, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Vigil Service for Sister Mary will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in St. Catherine Chapel. 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)

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

 

LEFT: 1950 graduate of Holy Angeles High School, Seattle. RIGHT: Sister Mary White participates in the 1998 Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center Service-A-Thon at St. Edward School, Seattle.

MIDDLE: Standing, from left, Sisters Mary White and Georgina Luznicky, and seated, from left, Sisters Marie Geraldine Brownell and Eileen Meyers. RIGHT: From left, Sisters Mary White and Michele Kopp.

LEFT: 2003 members of the Rosary Heights community are, from left, Sisters Dorothy Berg, Michele Kopp, Mary White, Philomena Perreault, and Judy Byron. RIGHT: Participating in the November 2017 Angel Tree Drive at the Historical Museum in Adrian are, from left, Sisters Jean Marie Lehtinen, Beverly Bobola, Paul James Villemure, and Mary White. 

Members of the 2010 Diamond Jubilee December Reception Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Kieran Therese Quirke, Mary White, Ann Rozalia Szabo, Shirley Smith, Jeannine Therese McGorray, Geraldine Maloney, and Sean Morley; middle row, from left, Sisters Rita Crotty, Lucy Ann Quinn, Loretta May, Noreen Burke, Genevieve Jeziolkowski, Marlene Kuhnlein, and Janet Michael Hudspeth; and front row, from left, Sisters Lila Watt, Carol Denise Koenig, Virginia Beattie, Maria Goretti Browne, Ellen Kennedy, Joseph Eilese Hukle, and Donna Markham (Prioress).

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