Sr. Elisa Joan Doherty, OP, formerly known as Sr. Michael Eilese Doherty, died Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 86 years of age and in the 68th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Elisa was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Frank and Melita (Dederich) Doherty. She graduated from Dominican High School in Detroit, Michigan, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano from Barry College (University) in Miami Shores, Florida, and a Master of Music degree in Music Education from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.
Sister spent 24 years ministering in education in Cheektowaga, New York; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; and Guayama, Puerto Rico. She was a high school music teacher for seven years at Colegio Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, an institution of the Congregation. Sister was a pastoral minister for ten years in Guayama, twelve years in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and 7½ years in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She was also the director of the Community Outreach Center in San Juan for six years. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2013.
Sister Elisa was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Eleanor Trombley. She is survived by a sister, Eileen Scheich of Shelby Township, and a brother, Richard Doherty of Troy, Michigan, nieces and nephews and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Welcome of Sister Elisa will be on Monday, October 21, 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 Mass of Christian Burial will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. The Rite of Committal 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.
