Sr. Cecilia Marie Brown, OP, formerly known as Barbara Jane Mary Brown, died on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 95 years of age and in the 76th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Cecilia Marie was born in Rockford, Illinois, to William and Grace (Taylor) Brown. She graduated from Bishop Muldoon High School in Rockford, Illinois, received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in History and earned a Master of Education degree in Guidance, both from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, Michigan.

Sister ministered for 18 ½ years in elementary education in Detroit, Flint, Grosse Pointe Farms, Rockwood, and Walled Lake, Michigan; 11 years in elementary education in Chicago, Elgin, Joliet, Loves Park, Oak Lawn, Oak Park, and Rolling Meadows, Illinois; and two years as elementary school principal in Jefferson and two years as elementary school principal in Darlington, both in Wisconsin. Sister also ministered for 18 years in several programs for senior citizens in Rockford, Bartlett and Sycamore, Illinois. Sister became a resident at Weber Center in Adrian, in 2009.

Sister Cecilia Marie was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters: Cecilia Fay and Marilyn Brown, OP (S. William Marie) and two brothers: Gordon and Robert. She is survived by a sister, Rosemary Naill of Winnebago, Illinois, and loving nieces and nephews.

Rite of Committal (burial) was held on Monday, January 7, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. in the Congregation cemetery. A Memorial Mass will be held on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Catherine’s Chapel. The Ritual of Remembering will be held on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. in the Rose Room of the Dominican Life Center. 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 14 years:

• St. Brigid, Detroit (1944-1948): Elementary Teacher
• St. Paul, Grosse Pointe Farms (1948-1952): Elementary Teacher
• St. Luke, Flint (1952-1953): Elementary Teacher
• St. Augustine, Detroit (1953-1955): Elementary Teacher
• St. William, Walled Lake (1956-1962): Principal/Elementary Teacher
• St. Mary, Rockwood (1962-1963): Elementary Teacher
• Dominican Life Center, Adrian (1984-1985): Driver