Sr. Adrienne Schaffer, OP, formerly known as Sr. Leo Anthony, died on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, at the Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. She was 79 years of age and in the 60th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Adrienne was born in Detroit to Leo and Hildegarde (Ettinger) Schaffer. She graduated from St. Ambrose High School in Detroit, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a Master of Education degree in Special Education from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Sister Adrienne spent 31 years ministering in education in Tallahassee, Florida; Adrian and Detroit, Michigan; Toledo, Ohio; and Fairbanks, Alaska. This includes four years as elementary principal at St. Gerard School in Detroit, one year as junior high school research coordinator and four years as administrative supervisor for the Congregation-sponsored Dominican High School in Detroit, and seven years as an elementary teacher at the Congregation-sponsored St. Joseph Academy in Adrian. She served the Congregation for 16 years in the Development Office and for three years as the director of the Dominican Center for Religious Development in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
Sister was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers: Keith L. Schaffer and Kenneth R. Schaffer. She is survived by her sister-in-law, loving nieces and nephews and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Due to COVID-19 mitigation protocols, the Dominican Life Center is closed to all guests or visitors until further notice. All are welcome to participate in Sister’s wake and funeral via live stream at http://www.adriandominicans.org/LiveStream.aspx
The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 pm Tuesday, November 23, 2021, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 am Wednesday, November 24, 2021. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery. 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 ministered in Michigan 36 years:
- St. Joseph Academy, Adrian (1965-72): Elementary Teacher
- St. Francis Home/Emmanuel House, Detroit (1975-77): Special Education Teacher/Staff
- Dominican High School, Detroit (1989-90): Research Coordinator-Jr. High School
- Dominican Academy, Detroit (1990-93): Administration-Supervisor
- St. Gerard, Detroit (1993-97): Elementary Principal
- ADS Development Office, Detroit (1998-2008): Director/Administration
- ADS Development Office, Eastpointe (2008-14): Director of Development
- Dominican Center for Religious Development, Farmington Hills (2016-19): Director
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.
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