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(1936-2025)
Sister Marilyn Francoeur, formerly known as Sister Therese Noel Francoeur, died on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 88 years of age and in the 70th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister was born in Adrian to Noel and Ruth (McKie) Francoeur. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Adrian and received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a master’s degree in teaching mathematics from the University of Detroit (Detroit Mercy).
Sister Marilyn spent 30 years ministering in education, both in the classroom and/or as treasurer in Detroit, Jackson, Ypsilanti, Southgate, and Adrian, Michigan; Tampa, Florida; Wilmette, Illinois; and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. This includes ministering at three Legacy Adrian Dominican institutions: St. Joseph Academy in Adrian; Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette; and Colegio Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
From 1984 to 1989, she worked in the Finance Office of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. She was the administrator of the Parable Conference in River Forest, Illinois, from 1992 to 2002. She returned to Adrian to minister in the Office of Information in 2002, and from 2003 to 2013 was the Congregation archivist. She then retired and continued to live at the Dominican Life Center.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Lawrence; and an aunt, Sister Petronilla Francoeur, also an Adrian Dominican Sister. She is survived by a sister, Herline Harm; two brothers, Douglas and John Francoeur; sister-in-law Judy Francoeur, an Adrian Dominican Associate; other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 26, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, February 27, 2025. Prayers of Committal will follow 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)
Recording of Sister Marilyn'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 Marilyn's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
LEFT: Marilyn, 1937. MIDDLE LEFT: First Holy Communion, 1944. MIDDLE RIGHT: Graduation from St. Joseph Academy, 1954.
LEFT: Sister Marilyn with her parents, Noel and Ruth Francoeur, 1954. MIDDLE: Sister Marilyn Francoeur, left, with her aunt, Sister Mary Petronilla Francoeur, 1985. RIGHT: Sister Marilyn Francoeur greets Archbishop Joseph Bernardin of Chicago during the silver anniversary of Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette, Illinois, September 8, 1982.
LEFT: Sister Marilyn at the Archive office, September 2012. MIDDLE: The Francoeur siblings, from left, John, Marilyn, Doug, Herline, and Larry, at their mother’s 80th birthday celebration, 1995. RIGHT: Sister Marilyn points to her garden at the Motherhouse, September 2012.
LEFT: Attending the Lenawee County Historical Society Dinner are, standing, from left, Sister Marilyn Francoeur, Associate Arlene Bachanov, and Sister Jean Tobin, and seated, from left, Sisters Else Britt Nielsen, visiting from Norway; Nadine Foley; and Beverly Bobola. RIGHT: Members of the 2014 Diamond Jubilee 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.
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(1938-2025)
Sister Mary Plunkett, formerly known as Sister John Clare, died on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 86 years of age and in the 68th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Mary was born in Detroit to John and Hazel (Cutler) Plunkett. She graduated from Dominican High School in Detroit and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a master’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in social work, both from Wayne State University in Detroit.
Sister Mary ministered for 30 years in education in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, Florida and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, including two years as principal at the Colegio Santo Domingo; and East Detroit and Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. She later served 21 years as a psychiatric social worker at Macomb County Community Mental Health in Mount Clemens, Michigan.
Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2019.She was preceded in death by her parents and a cousin, Sister John Dominic Hatfield, an Adrian Dominican Sister. She is survived by her sister, Jane Emanoil (Ronald); other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 17, 2025, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Monday, February 17, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 18, 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.
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 Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
LEFT: First Holy Communion. MIDDLE LEFT: 1956 graduate of Dominican High School, Detroit. MIDDLE RIGHT: Sister Mary Plunkett’s parents, John and Hazel. RIGHT: Sisters John Clare Plunkett, left, and Michael Eilese Doherty, Colegio Santo Domingo.
LEFT: From left, Sisters Mary Plunkett and Mary Catherine Daly in Mount Clemens, Michigan, 1990-2011. RIGHT: Sister Mary Plunkett, front and center, at the 1990 Great Lakes Mission Chapter Assembly.
Sister Mary Plunkett, far right, wearing a corsage, celebrates her Silver Jubilee with her family.
Members of the 2016 Diamond Jubilee June Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Margaret O’Flynn, Catherine Camille DeClercq, Jean Crane, Grace Dougherty, and Grace Henneberry; fourth row, from left, Sisters Mary Margaret Mannard, Mary Plunkett, Marian Castelluccio, Attracta Kelly (Prioress) and Donna Joan Mehney; third row, from left, Sisters Jeanne Lefebvre, Patricia Downey, Maureen Gallagher, and Mary Kathryn Cliatt; second row, from left, Sisters Marie Luisa Vasquez, Mary Catherine Gagliano, Jean Tobin, and Rosario Martin; and front row, seated, from left, Sisters Pauline Opliger and Sally Ann Fergus.
(1937-2025)
Sister Kathleen Walli, formerly known as Sister Charles Miriam, died on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 87 years of age and in the 64th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Kathleen was born in Stephenson, Michigan, to Henry and Marian (Bomberry) Walli. She graduated from Stephenson High School and received a bachelor’s degree in home economics from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti and a master’s degree in clothing from Michigan State University in East Lansing.
Sister Kathleen ministered for 19 years in elementary and secondary education in Chicago and St. Charles, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit and Utica, Michigan; and West Palm Beach, Florida. This included four years at Hoban Dominican High School in Cleveland and Mt. St. Mary Academy in St. Charles, both sponsored institutions of the Congregation.
Sister Kathleen also served for nine years as a professor at two other institutions of the Congregation: St. Dominic College in St. Charles, Illinois, and Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian. She served two years as Secretary of the Congregation in Adrian and 15 years as a pastoral associate/religious education director in Keshena and Merrill, Wisconsin.
Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2017. She was preceded in death by brothers Richard, Lawrence, Dennis, and Charles and a sister, Yvonne Bochenek. She is survived by sisters Suzanne Condon (Louis), Joy Brock, Maribeth Czerwonka, and Sheila Glodowski; brothers Douglas, Michael, Lance, and Henry; other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 3, 2025, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Monday, February 3, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.
Those not attending services in person are welcome to participate via livestream at https://adriandominicans.org/Live-Stream.
Recording of Sister Kathleen's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, download the recording by clicking on the three dots at the bottom right corner of the screen and choosing "Download." Worship Aid (PDF)
Recording of Sister Kathleen's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by clicking on the three dots at the bottom right corner of the screen and choosing "Download." Worship Aid (PDF)
LEFT: Graduation photo from Stephenson High School, Stephenson, Michigan,1955. MIDDLE RIGHT: Sister Kathleen Walli at Siena Heights College.
LEFT: Sister Kathleen Walli, top right, with her blood sisters, Sheila, Maribeth, Yvonne, Suzanne, and Joy. RIGHT: From left, Sisters Kathleen Walli and Thomas James Burns.
LEFT: From left, Sisters Maureen Fenlon, Nancy Murray (as St. Catherine of Siena), and Kathleen Walli. RIGHT: Members of the 1988-1992 General Council are, from left, Sisters Sharon Weber; Nadine Foley, Prioress; Kathleen Walli, Congregation Secretary; Donna Markham, Linda Bevilaqua, and Attracta Kelly.
Former Secretaries of the Congregation are, from left, Sisters Rose Celeste O’Connell, Grace Flowers, Marie Wiedner, Kathleen Walli, Mary Ward, and Helen Sohn. Not shown is Sister Mary Catherine Jordan.
Members of the 2010 Golden Jubilee Holy Angels Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Kathleen Walli, Kathleen Voss, Mary Katherine Drouin, Molly Giller, Helene Kloss, and Monica Charles Stankus and front row, from left, Sisters Marie Carleen Maly, Annice Mordenski, Jamie Phelps, Mary Ann Dixon, Maureen Barzantni, Mary Carr, and Donna Markham (Prioress).
Sister Jo Ann Lucas, formerly known as Sister Agnes Francis, died on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at her home in Troy, Michigan. She was 87 years of age and in the 69th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Jo Ann was born in Chicago to Frank and Agnes (Rohde) Lucas. She graduated from Mercy High School in Chicago and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Latin and a master’s degree in education administration, both from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian.
Sister Jo Ann spent 15 years ministering in education in Clawson and Detroit, Michigan, including six years as principal at St. Gemma in Detroit. She served 16 years as a religious education coordinator at St. Anastasia in Troy, while also serving the Congregation for six of those years as Chapter Prioress of the Nokomis Chapter. She then continued for six years as parish administrator at St. Anastasia.
Sister served one and a half years as a bookkeeper for the AIDS Interfaith Network in Detroit, then five years as parish business manager at St. Alphonsus in Dearborn. She served the Congregation for 12 years as director of the Ministry Trust.
Sister Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by two brothers, David Lucas (Laurinda) and Frank Lucas (Donna); other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Prayers of Committal will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Memorial Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 and a Ritual of Remembrance will be held in the Rose Room of the Dominican Life Center at 1:30 p.m. that same day. Those who are not attending services in person are welcome to participate via live stream at https://adriandominicans.org/Live-Stream.
Recording of Sister Jo Ann's Memorial Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
Recording of Sister Jo Ann's Ritual of Remembrance - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as."
LEFT: Josephine Ann, 1947. RIGHT: Harry Belafonte with Sister Jo Ann Lucas, April 2012.
LEFT: Sisters Rosemarie Kieffer, left, and Jo Ann Lucas, April 1993. RIGHT: Lynne Bondy and Sister Jo Ann Lucas wash dishes at an Italian dinner fund-raiser.
Members of the 1998 General Chapter Planning Steering Committee are: seated, from left, Sisters Madeline Dervin, Julie Hyer, and Christine Matthews, and standing, from left, Sisters Jo Ann Lucas, Corinne Sanders, Molly Nicholson, Teresa Disch, Marie Michael, Durstyne Farnan, and Jean Hughes.
Members of the 2015 Diamond Jubilee December Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Rosalie Esquerra, Kathleen Waters, Norine Burns, Molly Nicholson, Sheila Delaney, and Nancyann Turner; third row, from left, Sisters Leontia Cooney, Barbara Long, Margaret Manners, Mary Kastens, and Joan Leo Kehn; second row, from left, Sisters Mary Hemmen, Anneliese Sinnott, Joan Mary, Jo Ann Lucas, and Elizabeth Gibbons; and front row, from left, Sisters Esther Ortega, Marilyn Uline, Arlene Seckel, Ann Ziemba, and Jovanna Stein.
Our Adrian Dominican cemetery with its circular headstones is a beautiful place of rest for women who gave their lives in service to God — and a peaceful place for contemplation and remembrance.
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