Sr. Marie Roy, CSJ, entered into eternal life on Jan. 19, 2021.  

Marie Jeanne Roy was born in Detroit on Nov. 17, 1940, the daughter of Adalbert and Cecile (Leduc) Roy. She was a member of St. Rita’s Parish in Detroit at the time of her entrance into the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth on Sept. 1, 1960. Marie Jeanne received the name Sister Marie Lisieux at her reception on July 2, 1961, but later returned to her baptismal name. She pronounced first vows on Aug. 17, 1963, and final vows on Aug. 17, 1966. 

Sister Marie received a Bachelor Degree from Nazareth College with a major in French. She also attended LaSalle in Philadelphia as a student in Religious Studies. Sister Marie taught at many schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit such as St. Henry, St. David, St. Brigid and Immaculate Heart in the Diocese of Lansing. Sister Marie also worked as the secretary in the parish office at St. Mary’s. Sister Marie served as Pastoral Minister at St. Brigid, St. Valentine, and in 1996 at St. Luke’s Parish in Detroit. 

Over the past six years, Marie was involved in a project which she called one of the most significant of her life. She worked in the formation program for the Congregation of St. Joseph’s associates from Detroit and formed deep relationships with all of them. As with everything Marie did in her life, she participated 100% not just with her head but most importantly with her heart to begin to change the culture and complexion of the Congregation of St. Joseph. In Marie’s own words, the best gift she could give was — her passion for the Church, the Congregation and her City of Detroit.

A live-streamed Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Charles Borromeo Church, Detroit, on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 5 p.m. Burial will follow on Thursday, Jan. 28, at 9 a.m. in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Nazareth Center, Kalamazoo.