Sr. Margaret Mary Heinz, OP, formerly known as Sister Richard Mary, died on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 97 years of age and in the 78th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Marg was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Anthony and Margaret (McBride) Heinz. Sister graduated from Aquinas High School in Chicago, Illinois, and received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in English from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Detroit (Detroit-Mercy) in Detroit, Michigan. She was also licensed in Clinical Pastoral Education at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago.
Sister spent 22 years ministering in education in Grosse Pointe Farms and Iron Mountain, Michigan, and Wilmette and Chicago, Illinois, including serving 6 years as principal at SS. Mary and Joseph in Iron Mountain. She taught at two Congregation schools: Regina Dominican in Wilmette for five years, and Aquinas High School in Chicago for three years. She then served on the formation team in Adrian as pre-admissions director from 1969 to 1974. Sister was director of pastoral care for 21 years at Ravenswood Hospital in Chicago. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 1999.
Sister Margaret was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Richard Heinz. She is survived by a sister, Rita Heinz, other loving family and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
A Funeral Mass was offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024. 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.
Sister ministered in Michigan 19 years:
- St. Paul, Grosse Pointe (1947-54): Elementary Teacher
- St. Mary and St. Joseph, Iron Mountain (1954-55): Elementary Principal
- Adrian Dominican Formation, Adrian (1969-74): Pre-admissions Director
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