(1923-2024)

Sister Miriam Joseph Lekan, baptized Josephine Bernadette Lekan, died on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 101 years of age and in the 81st year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Joseph and Frances (Perko) Lekan. She graduated from Holy Name High School in Cleveland and received a bachelor’s degree in Latin from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a master’s degree in Latin from DePaul University in Chicago. Sister Miriam Joseph was also a licensed practical nurse, certified by the State of Ohio, and a pharmacologist, also certified in Ohio.

Sister Miriam Joseph spent more than 37 years ministering in elementary and secondary education in Rockford and Oak Park, Illinois; Utica, Dearborn, and Grand Ledge, Michigan; Hollywood, Florida; and Cleveland, Shaker Heights, and Medina, Ohio. This includes six years as principal at St. Michael School in Grand Ledge. Sister also ministered as a licensed practical nurse for more than seven years at St. John Hospital and for 10 years at St. Augustine Manor, both in Cleveland. 

Sister Miriam Joseph became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2016. She is preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Cyril, Matt, John, Frank, Anthony, Deacon Louis Lekan, and Rev. Joseph Lekan, SM; sisters, Frances Mlincek, Marie Viskocil, Patricia (Angela) Sammons, and Rosalie (Sally) Lekan, and by a cousin, Sister Mary Ann Zakrajsek, and a third cousin, Sister Rose Pauline Lekan, both Adrian Dominican Sisters. She is survived by loving family members and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.

Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 3, 2024, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 4, 2024. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery. 

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. 

 

LEFT: Eighth-grade graduation from St. Lawrence School, Cleveland, June 1937. MIDDLE LEFT: Sister Miriam Joseph, then a novice, with her parents, 1943. MIDDLE RIGHT: Sister Miriam Joseph with students at Bishop Quarter Military Academy, where she ministered from 1948 to 1958. RIGHT: Sister Miriam Joseph Lekan at her graduation ceremony from Lakewood School of Practical Nursing, August 1982.

MIDDLE: Sister Miriam Joseph plays Scrabble with a group of her Latin students at St. Alphonsus, Dearborn, Michigan, 1959-1960. RIGHT: Sister Miriam Joseph Lekan renews her vows to Sister Marcine Klemm, Chapter Prioress, during her Golden Jubilee celebration in St. Lawrence Chapel, 1992.

LEFT: Members of the 1969 Silver Jubilee Class are: back row, from left, Sisters Agnes Regis Brazell, Christopher Noonan, Joan Patricia O’Reilly, Mary Willard Reagan, and Kevin Maureen Hussey; third row, from left, Sisters Ann Valerie LaKoske, Marie Virginia Snell, Marie Madonna Oliver, Joseph Loretta Lederer, and Mary Arnold Benedetto; second row, from left, Sisters Anne Regina Mullen, Brigetta McDonough (Postulant Mistress), Ann Bernard Goeddeke, Gilmary Foley, Ann de Lourdes Plourde, and Mary Laverne Feeney; and front row, from left, Sisters Miriam Joseph Lekan, Cecilia Marie Brown, Laurence Edward Ferguson (Prioress), Rose Augustine Kiefer, and Patricia Ellen Secor. RIGHT: From left, Sisters Ann Valerie LaKoske, Cecilia Marie Brown, and Miriam Joseph Lekan.

LEFT: Adrian Dominican Sisters from Cleveland were, from left, Sisters Anne Marie Snyder, Rita Anne Moceri, Mary Ann Zakrajsek, Mary Ann Dardy, Miriam Joseph Lekan, and Mary Hrovat. RIGHT: Sister Miriam Joseph Lekan celebrates her 100th birthday with the community in April 2023. Sister Judy Friedel, OP, Chapter Prioress, reads a tribute to her.

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