Sr. Sean Morley, OP, formerly known as Rita Jean Morley, died on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 85 years of age and in the 68th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Sean was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Patrick and Mary (Finnegan) Morley. Sister graduated from Aquinas High School in Chicago, and received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in English from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, Michigan, and a Master of Education degree in Education Administration from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.
Sister spent 47½ years ministering in education in Chicago, Burbank, Glenview and La Grange, Illinois; Van Wert, Ohio; and Farmington, Saginaw, Lansing, Detroit, Jackson and Escanaba, Michigan. Sister was principal at St. Matthew in Chicago for two years, St. Catherine Laboure in Glenview for nine years, and St. Cajetan in Chicago for 13 years, and assistant principal at St. Francis Xavier in La Grange for four years. She was a volunteer in the Admittance Office at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, Illinois, for four years. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2007.
Sister Sean was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Frank Morley and John Morley, and a sister, Sister Eileen Morley, also an Adrian Dominican Sister. Sister is survived by loving nieces and nephews and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Welcome of Sister Sean will be on Thursday, February 28, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. in the Dominican Life Center Lobby; the Wake will follow from 6:15 to 7:00 p.m. in the Rose Room of the Dominican Life Center. The Reception of the Body and Vigil Prayer will be at 7:00 p.m. in St. Catherine Chapel. The Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel on Friday, March 1, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. The Rite of Committal will be held on Friday, March 1, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. in the Congregation cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.
Sister ministered in Michigan for 15 years:
- Our Lady of Sorrows, Farmington (1951-1954): Elementary Teacher
- St. Stephen, Saginaw (1954-1955): Elementary Teacher
- Resurrection, Lansing (1955-1957): Elementary Teacher
- Our Lady Gate of Heaven, Detroit (1957-1959): Elementary Teacher
- Queen of the Miraculous Medal, Jackson (1959-1960): Elementary Teacher
- St. Thomas the Apostle, Escanaba (1960-1966): Elementary Teacher
