(1936-2025)

For many months I have been reflecting on the task of writing this autobiography. Over and over it has come to me that the overwhelming influence in my life is that of a generous God, one who has always provided for me and for my family and has allowed me to be generous in many ways.

Sister Chris Matthews began her autobiography with these sentences, and that thread of God’s generosity was woven throughout the pages that followed.

Christine Marie Matthews was born on December 11, 1936, in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, to James and Grace (Austin) Matthews. She was the second youngest of the couple’s five surviving children – two others died at birth – coming after Mary, Grace, and Janet and before Michael.

James was born on a farm in Hastings, Michigan, to a father who insisted that his boys work hard on the farm, to the point of having their education interrupted during planting and harvest time. When the farm failed, James’ father left the family, and so the children and their mother moved to Detroit. James went on to become a foreman at Ainsworth Manufacturing.

As for Grace, she was a fourth-generation Detroiter who grew up in a family that was very poor but was able to have fun nevertheless. A highlight was when the eldest Austin girl, Annie, would come home on payday with the latest song on sheet music and the family would sing as she played the piano. Although Grace’s family was too poor to even have a Christmas tree, when the neighbors discarded their tree after the holiday the Austin children would bring it into their house and decorate it.

When James and Grace met, James thought she was “the prettiest, peppiest girl he had ever known,” Sister Chris wrote. But after their first date, Grace told Jim it was not a good idea for them to go out since he was not Catholic. He immediately told her he would become Catholic, and soon thereafter began taking instruction in the faith.

As the couple raised their family, they were considered strict on many accounts, but “there was much fun and laughter in the house,” Sister Chris wrote. Holidays were full of relatives and good food, evening homework was often followed by a spirited card game, and the family spent summers at Torch Lake with plenty of fishing and swimming.

Read more about Sister Christine (PDF)

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. 

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 Christine'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 Christine'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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(1941-2025)

We remember and cherish Jamie as an African American Christian Catholic woman, member of the Order of Preachers at Adrian, sister, aunt, theologian, scholar, friend, teacher, colleague, counselor, administrator; advocate for racial and social justice, for diversity, equity, inclusion, and unity; advocate for human dignity, freedom, and liberation; for spiritual, intellectual, and moral excellence; advocate for a Church that would be committed to living concretely the mystery of “communion” in the name of Jesus.

This powerful description of Sister Jamie Phelps came from Dr. M. Shawn Copeland, professor emerita of theology at Boston College and Sister Jamie’s longtime friend and collaborator, in the homily Dr. Copeland preached for a funeral Mass presided over by Cardinal Wilton Gregory and attended by many of those whose lives Sister Jamie had touched.

Jamie Theresa Phelps was born in Pritchard, Alabama, on October 24, 1941. She was the youngest daughter out of a total of six siblings – herself, sisters Alfreda and Marionette, and brothers William, Julius, and Alfred Jr. – born to Alfred and Emma (Brown) Phelps.

Alfred and Emma met while attending Alabama A&M College. Alfred was a Catholic and Emma a Methodist, but the two were married in the Catholic Church and the children were all raised Catholic.

Not long after Jamie’s birth, her parents decided to leave the segregated South for Chicago, and Alfred traveled there to pave the way for the move. He started a business that provided walk-in refrigerators for mom-and-pop grocery stores, and once that was well established Emma and the family’s four children at the time took a train to Chicago, where they lived in an apartment near Holy Name Cathedral.

Read more about Sister Jamie (PDF)

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. 

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 Jamie'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 Jamie'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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(1936-2025)

Sister Jeanne Marie Stickling, formerly known as Sister Louis Anthony, died on Thursday, November 13, 2025, 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 Jeanne Marie was born in Itasca, Illinois, to H. Leo and Louise (Lowe) Stickling. She graduated from St. Edward High School in Elgin, Illinois, and received a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Barry College (University) in Miami, Florida; a master’s degree in fine arts from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian; and a master’s degree in religious education from St. Mary College in Winona, Minnesota.

Sister Jeanne ministered for almost 20 years in elementary education in Detroit and Adrian, Michigan; Elgin, Loves Park, and McHenry, Illinois; Santurce and Guayama, Puerto Rico; Miami, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Miami Shores, and Fort Walton Beach, Florida; and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She also served for more than 14 years in religious education in Illinois and Minnesota. Later, she spent seven years as a ceramics instructor in Illinois. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2015.

Sister Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings Leo Stickling and Elizabeth Fay. She is survived by a sister, Maryann Snider; other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters. 

Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 19, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 20, 2025. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery. 

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

 

LEFT: Sister Jeanne Marie Stickling at Colegio Santo Domingo, 1970-1971.  MIDDLE RIGHT: At St. Matthew’s in Jackson, Florida, 1964. RIGHT: From left, Father John Mitchell and Sisters Estelle Driscoll and Sister Jeanne Stickling at a reception in the cathedral in Rockford, Illinois, June 1970.

LEFT: Sister Jeanne Marie works on pottery at College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Spring 1993. MIDDLE: Sister Jeanne Marie works on pottery at College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Spring 1993. RIGHT: Sister Jeanne Marie Stickling, OP, left, receives the Fra Angelico Award – the highest honor for a member of the Dominican Institute for the Arts – from Sister Elizabeth Slenker, OP (Sparkill), President of the DIA, during the closing liturgy of the July 2024 DIA Gathering in Adrian.

Members of the 2014 Diamond Jubilee December Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Jeanne Marie Stickling, Gail Himrod, Marilyn Francoeur, Rose Ann Schlitt, Esther Kennedy, and Clarice Moyle; middle row, from left, Sisters Norlee McDonnell, Mary Ann Letzgus, Marlene Ptaszynski, Alice Marie Schmid, and Ellen Schmitz; and front row, from left, Sisters Evelyn Piche, Joan Baustian, Marianne O’Neill, Teresita Ruíz, and Therese Reynolds. Not pictured are Sisters Rose Irene Calvert and Bernice Olszewski. 

LEFT: A sculpture created by Sister Jeanne Marie Stickling. RIGHT: “Hannun – Gracious One,” a sculpture by Sister Jeanne Marie Stickling.

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(1937-2025)

Sister Joan Leo Kehn, baptized Barbara Kehn, died on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 88 years of age and in the 69th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Joan Leo was born in Toledo, Ohio, to Leo and Mabel (King) Kehn. She graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Toledo and obtained a bachelor’s degree in English from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a master’s degree in education from DePaul University in Chicago.

Sister Joan Leo ministered more than 65 years in education in Chicago, Rockford, Maywood, and Harvey, Illinois, and in Vero Beach, West Palm Beach, and Plantation, Florida. For 32 of those years, she served at St. Gregory School in Plantation, first as an elementary teacher and later as director of religious education, assistant reading/math specialist, and co-director of religious education. She also served in the Congregation’s Finance Office for two years. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2024.

Sister Joan Leo was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her sister, Judith Ann Ouelette; other loving family members and friends; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.

Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 6, 2025. 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. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, 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 Joan Leo'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 Joan Leo's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

 

Left: Christmas Day, 1942. MIDDLE LEFT: First Holy Communion, 1945. MIDDLE RIGHT: Graduation from Notre Dame Academy, Toledo, Ohio, June 8, 1955. 

LEFT: Postulant Barbara Kehn with her parents, Mabel and Leo Kehn, on her Entrance Day, June 25, 1955. MIDDLE: Sister Joan Leo Kehn with her students at St. Gregory School, Plantation, Florida, October 1992. RIGHT: Sister Joan Leo in 1975, the early days of the Congregation’s Data Office.

LEFT: From left, Sisters Mar Ann Caulfield, Joan Leo Kehn, and Therese Margaret Roberts on the day that Sister Joan Leo receives the Lifetime Catechetical Leadership Award from the Archdiocese of Miami, 2015. RIGHT: Sisters Mary Alice Naour, left, and Joan Leo Kehn celebrate Christmas, December 28, 1999.

Members of the 2015 Diamond Jubilee (August and December) crowds are: back row, from left, Sisters Rosalie Esquerra, Norine Burns, Molly Nicholson, Sheila Delaney, and Nancyann Turner; row 5, from left, Sisters Kathleen Waters, Rose Celeste O’Connell, Rita Rose Sieg, and Marilyn Winter; row 4, from left, Sisters Frances Fitzpatrick, Leontia Cooney, Carol Coston, and Helen Therese Mayer; row 3, from left, Sisters Mary Ann Ennis, Barbara Ann Long, Margaret Manners, Mary Kastens, and Joan Leo Kehn; row 2, from left, Sisters Therese E. Allgeyer, Mary Hemmen, Anneliese Sinnott, Joan Mary, Jo Ann Lucas, and Elizabeth Gibbons; and front row, from left, Sisters Barbara Ann Stanek, Esther Ortega, Marilyn Uline, Arlene Seckel, Ann Ziemba, and Jovanna Stein.

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