Sr. Mary Catharina Bereiter, OP, baptized Mary Bereiter, died on Monday, 5/23/22, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 100 years of age and in the 77th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Mary Catharina was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Edward and Mary (Orzali) Bereiter. She graduated from Amundsen High School in Chicago, Illinois, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, a Master of Arts degree in mathematics from University of Detroit (Detroit Mercy), and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in mathematics from Wayne State University, both in Detroit.
Sister spent 29 years ministering in education in Detroit and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and Oakland, California. This includes six years at Dominican High School in Detroit and ten years as a professor at Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, both sponsored institutions of the Congregation. She served two years as a religious education coordinator for the Holy Family Center in Adrian, four years as a pastoral minister at St. Leo Parish in Detroit, and four years as the program administrative assistant at F.O.C.U.S., Inc. in Detroit. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2013.
Sister Mary Catharina was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters: Barbara Harrell, Virginia Bereiter and Catherine Speirs; and a brother, Edward Bereiter. She is survived by other loving family members and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Due to COVID-19 mitigation protocols, the Dominican Life Center is closed to all guests or visitors until further notice. All are welcome to participate in Sister’s wake and funeral via live stream at http://www.adriandominicans.or...
Rite of Committal (burial) for Sister Mary Catharina was held on Tuesday, 5/24/22, in the Congregation Cemetery. A Memorial Mass will be on Friday, 5/27/22, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Catherine Chapel. The Ritual of Remembering will be held on Friday, 5/27/22, at 1:30 p.m. in the Rose Room at the Dominican Life Center. 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 over 49 years:
- Our Lady of Sorrows, Detroit (1945-48): Elementary Teacher
- Holy Name, Detroit (1948-52): Elementary Teacher
- St. Joseph, Sault Ste Marie (1952-54): Elementary Teacher
- St. Theresa High School, Detroit (1955-58): High School Teacher
- Dominican High School, Detroit (1958-64): High School Teacher
- Siena Heights College, Adrian (1964-74): College Teacher
- Holy Family Center, Adrian (1974-76): Religious Education Coordinator
- St. Leo, Detroit (1976-82): Parish Worker
- Focus Life, Inc., Detroit (1983-87): Program & Administrative Assistant
- Focus Life, Inc., Detroit (1987-96): Volunteer
Obituaries for clergy and religious who have lived or served in the Archdiocese of Detroit may be emailed to [email protected]. Obituaries are printed as they are submitted, but may be edited for grammar and style. Detroit Catholic reserves the right to refuse or edit any submissions.
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