Sister Mary Immaculata Assenmacher, OP, formerly known as Gertrude Assenmacher, died on Saturday, October 6, 2018, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 82 years of age and in the 65th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister was born in Highland Park, Michigan, to George and Mary (Schoeb) Assenmacher. She graduated from St. Alphonsus High School in Dearborn, Michigan, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master of Teaching degree in Education, both from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, Michigan. Sister was also certified by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains for pastoral ministry.

Sister Mary spent 19 years ministering in elementary education in Defiance, Medina, and Cleveland, Ohio; Bad Axe, Michigan; Nassau, The Bahamas; and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sister also served as pastoral minister for 35 years in Henderson, Nevada; Bardstown, Kentucky; Adrian, Michigan; and The Pas, Manitoba, Canada. Her pastoral ministry includes 15½ years at St. Rose Dominican Hospital, a sponsored institution of the Adrian Dominicans, and seven years as coordinator of Maria Health Care Center in Adrian, also an institution of the Adrian Dominican Congregation. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2012.

Sister is survived by a sister, Theresa Kotyk of Dearborn, Michigan, and a brother, Robert Assenmacher of Brighton, Michigan. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, George, Leo, Alphonse and Fr. Frank Assenmacher; and cousins Sister Harold Assenmacher and Sister Irene Essenmacher, also Adrian Dominican Sisters.

The Rite of Committal (burial) will be held on Monday, October 8, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. in the Congregation cemetery. The Memorial Mass will be on Thursday, October 11, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Catherine’s Chapel and the Ritual of Remembering will be held that afternoon, at 1:30 p.m. in the Rose Room of 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 for 8 years:

• Sacred Heart, Bad Axe (1969-1970): Elementary Teacher
• Maria Health Care Center, Adrian (1973-1980): Coordinator