Sr. Kathleen Sutherland, OP, formerly known as Sister Stella Joseph, died on Friday, January 22, 2021, 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 Kathleen was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Ariel and Helen (Holmes) Sutherland. She graduated from St. Paul High School in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian.
Sister spent 17 years ministering in education in Chicago, Joliet, and Wilmette, Illinois; Defiance, Ohio; and Detroit, Michigan. Sister was also a catechist for one year at St. Edmund Family Center in Warren, Michigan. She was a receptionist for three years at the Dominican Life Center and six years at Weber Center, both in Adrian. Sister was an income tax clerk for H & R Block in Detroit for two years, and a census taker in 1970 for the United States Census Bureau. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 1974.
Sr. Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, John Sutherland, and two sisters, Mary Lou Sutherland and Marilyn Rizzo. She is survived by three brothers: Reverend Thomas Sutherland of Shelby Township, Michigan, Daniel (Fran) Sutherland of Northville, Michigan, and Patrick (Joan) Sutherland of Mount Juliet, Tennessee; four sisters: Mary (Douglas) Hosfeld of Chatham, Ontario, Canada; Marion (Harry) Faris of Fair Oaks, California; Judy Sutherland of Naples, Florida, and Margaret Missig of Warren, Michigan; loving nieces and nephews and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Due to COVID-19 mitigation protocols, the Dominican Life Center is closed until further notice to all guests or visitors. All are welcome to participate in Sister’s wake and funeral via live stream at http://www.adriandominicans.org/LiveStream.aspx
Prayers of Committal (burial) for Sister Kathleen will be held on Monday January 25, 2021, at 11:30 a.m.in the Congregation Cemetery. A Memorial Word Service will be on Monday, February 1, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Catherine’s Chapel. The Ritual of Remembering will be held on Monday, February 1, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. in the Rose Room at the Dominican Life Center. Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221.
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 almost seven years:
- Maria Health Care Center, Adrian (1966-1967): General Assistant
- Rosary High School, Detroit (1967-1969): High School Teacher
- US Census, Grosse Pointe Farms (1970-1970): Census Staff
- St. Edmund Family Center, Warren (1970-1971): Catechist
- H & R Block, Detroit (1971-1971): Income Tax Clerk
- St. Edmund Family Center, Warren (1971-1972): Catechist
- H & R Block, Detroit (1972-1972): Income Tax Clerk
- Maria Health Care Center, Adrian (1975-1978): Receptionist
- Weber Center, Adrian (1978-1984): Receptionist
Obituaries for clergy and religious who have lived or served in the Archdiocese of Detroit may be emailed to [email protected]. Obituaries are printed as they are submitted, but may be edited for grammar and style. Detroit Catholic reserves the right to refuse or edit any submissions.
