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(1941-2024)
Sister Sarah Ann Sharkey, formerly known as Sister John Peter, died on November 19, 2024, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 83 years of age and in the 64th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Sarah Ann was born in Abilene, Texas, to Paul and Marceline (Braden) Sharkey. She graduated from John Carroll High School in Birmingham, Alabama, and received a bachelor’s degree in English from Barry College (University) in Miami, Florida; a master’s degree in Theology-Scripture from Union Theological Seminary in New York, New York; and a doctorate Biblical Studies from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Sister ministered in elementary education for nine years in Aiken, South Carolina, and in Fort Walton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Vero Beach, Florida. She also served as novice director for the Adrian Dominican Sisters for four years and as religious education coordinator for one year in Brighton, Michigan.
After completing her graduate studies, she was a professor at St. Mary Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland, for 13 years, and an associate professor at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas, for almost 20 years.
Sister Sarah Ann became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2015. She was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by a cousin, Susan Gilliam from San Antonio, Texas, and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30-7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 25, 2024, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Monday, November 25, 2024, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 26, 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.
Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)
Recording of Sister Sarah'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 Sarah's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
LEFT: Sarah Ann, circa 1959. MIDDLE: Sister Sarah Ann Sharkey at the 1978 General Chapter. RIGHT: From left, Sisters Virginia King, Rosemarie Kieffer, and Sarah Ann Sharkey.
RIGHT: Sister Sarah Ann Sharkey conducts a Scripture workshop in West Palm Beach, Florida, May 1996
LEFT: From left, Sisters Margaret Mary Heinz, Kathleen McGrail, Peg Albert, Mary Ellen Leciejewski, Rosemary Ferguson, Melba Beine, and Sarah Sharkey, November 1973. RIGHT: Adrian Dominican theologians: back row, from left, Sisters Donna Kustusch, Maribeth Howell, Sarah Sharkey, Mary Louise Putrow, Nadine Foley, and Patricia Benson, and front row, from left, Sisters Mary Tardiff, Joanne “Jodie” Screes, Patricia Walter, Jamie Phelps, and Anele Heiges.
Members of the 2009 Golden Jubilee June Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Rosemarie Kieffer, Peter Anthony Schulte, Christa Marsik, Sean Eileen Allgeyer, Sarah Ann Sharkey, Jo Ann Jauquet, and Helen Wilson; middle row, from left, Sisters Mary Diane McMeekin, Susan Van Baalen, Beverly Bobola, Jean Keeley, Rosemary Zuccaro, and Joan Marie Weithman; and front row, from left, Sisters Joan Krajewski, Mary Emidio Singer, Mary Jean Clemenger, Patricia Janowicz, Delores DeBets, Joan Christine Meerschaert, and Donna Markham (Prioress).
Leave your comments and remembrances – if you don't see the comment box below, click on the "Read More" link.
Sincere sympathy and prayers to her community on the passing to eternal life of Sr. Sarah. I am particularly gratefully for being able to attend so many of her Scripture Presentations and Reflections each year at Oblate in San Antonio. The full hall at OST each year for her Advent and Lenten Scripture Presentations was a wonderful testimony to her knowledge, insights and the inspiration she could convey to us. We were blessed to have her here in San Antonio for so long! May she now be at peace in God's loving embrace. We remembered her with great affection in thought and prayer.
When I entered the Dominican order in 1974, Rosemary Ferguson was Prioress of the Congregation. While Sarah Sharkey was the director of formation, she was joined by Katie McGrail. During my novitiate these outstanding women instilled in me the prophetic voice of living the Dominican charism through the profession of vows. They touched that voice in me like no one else could at the time. When I felt overwhelmed by the implementation of all that this beckoning voice was calling me to live, it was Sarah who helped me. She enabled me to see that addressing one piece of this mosaic at a time was all that our merciful God was asking. Throughout the years, I remained vulnerable to this very gracious woman who had instilled so much in me during my early formation days. She often shared with me many aspects of the days when she was director of formation that I never knew. When we talked about Rosemary she told me a great deal about her leadership. She said that she saw many of the same traits and faithfulness to the vows in me. Once again, she encouraged me not to feel overburdened by its responsibilities. I was also one of many people who attended her marvelous presentations on scripture at Weber Center. Ron Rolheiser use to say that whenever she gave a presentation at the Oblate School in San Antonio he always had to schedule more than one because so many people wanted to hear her. During her years at the Dominican Life we visited with one another on numerous occasions. She always remembered my name and enjoyed going down memory lane. While I was surprised by her death and will miss her immensely, I already feel a deepening of what she shared with me from 1974 to the present day. This heartfelt feeling is a movement of the Spirit to continue living that initial prophetic voice in a dynamic way.
God Bless Sister. I';m sure she has her Wings and was greeted at the Gates by God with the words "Enter my humble and faithful Servant".I hope she gives all the other Religious who God has already called upstairs our Love and Appreciation from Alumni at St Joseph Academy. Enjoy your time with God and St Dominic.
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