Sr. Marie Therese Emery, OP, formerly known as Sr. Thomas More, died on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 97 years of age and in the 74th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Marie Therese McGuire was born in St. Louis, Missouri. When she was three years old, she was adopted by Blanche Emery. Sister graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Adrian and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian; a Master of Arts degree in History from the University of Detroit (Detroit Mercy) in Detroit; a Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education Administration/Curriculum, both from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan; and an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration from Lansing Community College in Lansing, Michigan. Sister was a licensed radio operator and pilot.
Sister spent 24 years ministering in education in Detroit, Lansing and Dearborn, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; and Cincinnati and Cleveland, Ohio. She was Principal at Presentation in Detroit, St. Henry in Cleveland, and St. Vincent Ferrer in Cincinnati. Sister later worked for the State of Michigan, where she was a Fleet Safety Project Supervisor, and at Michigan State University, where she was a traffic safety specialist for two years, a traffic safety program administrator for 11 years, and a technology lab director for 10 years. She was also an engineering/automotive consultant for AAA for a year in Washington, DC. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2012.
Sister Marie Therese was preceded in death by her mother and an adopted sister, Sister Katharine E. Emery, also an Adrian Dominican Sister. She is survived by her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Due to COVID-19 mitigation protocols, the Dominican Life Center is closed until further notice to all guests or visitors. All are welcome to participate in Sister’s wake and funeral via live stream at http://www.adriandominicans.org/LiveStream.aspx
Rite of Committal (burial) for Sister Marie Therese was held on Saturday, February 6, 2021, at 1:30 p.m.in the Congregation Cemetery. A Memorial Word Service will be held on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Catherine Chapel, and the Ritual of Remembering will be held Wednesday, February 10, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. in the Rose Room. Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221.
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 47 years:
- St. Brigid, Detroit (1948-52): Elementary Teacher
- Presentation, Detroit (1953-55): Elementary Principal
- St. Alphonsus High School, Dearborn (1956-57): High School Teacher
- Dominican High School, Detroit (1957-61): High School Teacher
- Msgr. Gabriel/Lansing Catholic Central H.S., Lansing (1965-72): H.S. Teacher/Dept. Head
- State of Michigan Civil Service, Lansing (1972-73): Fleet Safety Project Supervisor
- Michigan State University, East Lansing (1974-76): Traffic Safety Specialist
- Michigan State University, East Lansing (1976-87): Administrator of the Traffic Safety Program
- Michigan State University, East Lansing (1987-97): Director-Technology Lab/Computer Teacher
- Volunteer Ministries, East Lansing (1997-2000): Volunteer Work
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