Sr. Carolyn Nelson, OP, formerly known as Sister Angelita Nelson, died on Monday, April 13, 2020, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 87 years of age and in the 67th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Carolyn was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Edward and Virginia (Schuster) Nelson. She graduated from St. Ambrose High School in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, a Master of Arts degree in History from DePaul University in Chicago, and a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Counseling from Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan.
Sister Carolyn spent 21½ years ministering in education in Chicago and St. Charles, Illinois; Des Moines, Iowa; and Owosso, Michigan. She was principal at St. Patrick School in St. Charles, from 1965 to 1975; and religious education director there from 1979 to 1985. She was Provincial Administrator from 1975 to 1979 for the Adrian Dominican Sisters in St. Dominic Province in Hometown, Illinois. Sister also was pastoral associate for 23 years at St. Owen Parish in Birmingham, Michigan. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan in 2012.
Sister Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents and a cousin, Sister Marie Bernadette Kreiner, OP, an Adrian Dominican Sister. She is survived by a sister, Mrs. Judith Verhaeghe of St. Clair Shores, Michigan, a loving nephew, 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 livestream at http://www.adriandominicans.org/LiveStream.aspx
The Vigil Prayer was held on Wednesday, April 15, 2020, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered in St. Catherine Chapel on Thursday, April 16, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be 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 23 years:
- St. Paul, Owosso (1954-1958): Elementary Teacher
- St. Owen Parish, Birmingham (1988-2011): Pastoral Associate
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.
