Sr. Kathleen Walli, OP, formerly known as Sister Charles Miriam, died on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 87 years of age and in the 64th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Kathleen was born in Stephenson, Michigan, to Henry and Marian (Bomberry) Walli. She graduated from Stephenson High School in Stephenson and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti and a Master of Arts degree in Clothing from Michigan State University in East Lansing.
Sister Kathleen ministered 19 years in elementary and secondary education in Chicago and St. Charles, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit and Utica, Michigan; and West Palm Beach, Florida. This included four years at Hoban Dominican High School in Cleveland and Mt. St. Mary Academy in St. Charles, both sponsored institutions of the Congregation. She also served nine years as a professor at two other institutions of the Congregation: St. Dominic College in St. Charles, Illinois, and Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian. She served two years as Secretary of the Congregation in Adrian and 15 years as a pastoral associate/religious education director in Keshena and Merrill, Wisconsin. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2017.
Sister Kathleen was preceded in death by brothers Richard, Lawrence, Dennis, and Charles; and a sister, Yvonne Bochenek. She is survived by sisters Suzanne Condon (Louis), Joy Brock, Maribeth Czerwonka, and Sheila Glodowski; brothers Douglas, Michael, Lance, and Henry; other loving family and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation was held from 6:30-7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in the Gathering Space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer was held at 7 pm Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. 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 12 years:
- St. Ambrose, Detroit (1961-62): High School Teacher
- St. Lawrence High School, Utica (1962-64): High School Teacher
- Siena Heights College (Univ.), Adrian (1970-72): College Teacher
- Siena Heights College (Univ.), Adrian (1972-77): Chairman Hom Ec. Dept.
- ADS Congregation, Adrian (1988-90): Secretary of the Congregation
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