Sr. Marilyn Francoeur, OP, formerly known as Sister Therese Noel Francoeur, died on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 88 years of age and in the 70th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister was born in Adrian to Noel and Ruth (McKie) Francoeur. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Adrian and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a Master of Arts degree in Teaching Mathematics from the University of Detroit (Detroit Mercy) in Detroit, Michigan. Sister Marilyn was a proud member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and is listed on the Tribal Rolls.
Sister Marilyn spent 30 years ministering in education, both in the classroom and/or as treasurer in Detroit, Jackson, Ypsilanti, Southgate and Adrian, Michigan; Tampa, Florida; Wilmette, Illinois; and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. This includes ministering at three Adrian Dominican Legacy institutions: St. Joseph Academy in Adrian; Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette; and Colegio Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. From 1984-89, she worked in the Finance Office of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. She was administrator of the Parable Conference in River Forest, Illinois, from 1992-2002. She returned to Adrian to minister in the Office of Information in 2002 and from 2003-2013 was the Congregation archivist. She then retired and continued to live at the Dominican Life Center.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Lawrence, and an aunt, Sister Petronilla Francoeur, also an Adrian Dominican Sister. She is survived by a sister, Herline Harm, and two brothers, Douglas, and John Francoeur; sister-in-law Judy Francoeur, an Adrian Dominican Associate; other loving family and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
A Funeral Mass was offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 4 p.m. Thursday, February 27, 2025. Funeral arrangements were handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.
Sister ministered in Michigan over 32 years:
- Our Lady Gate of Heaven, Detroit (1954): Elementary Teacher
- Precious Blood, Detroit (1956-60): Elementary Teacher
- Queen of the Miraculous Medal, Jackson (1960-62): Elementary Teacher
- St. John High School, Ypsilanti (1962-65): High School Teacher
- St. John High School, Ypsilanti (1965-68): Bookkeeper/HS Teacher
- Aquinas High School, Southgate (1968-69): High School Teacher
- St. Joseph Academy, Adrian Dominican Sisters (1969-70): High School Teacher
- Adrian Dominican Congregation, Adrian (1984-89): Finance Staff
- St. Joseph Academy, Adrian (1989-91): Treasurer
- Adrian Dominican Congregation, Adrian (2002-03): Office of Information/Archives
- Adrian Dominican Congregation, Adrian (2003-13): Archivist
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