Sr. Mary Lisa Rieman, OP, baptized Elizabeth Louise Rieman, died January 22, 2021, at ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital in Adrian, Michigan. She was 79 years of age and in the 58th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister was born in Leipsic, Ohio, to Leo and Kathryn (Schroeder) Rieman. She graduated from Leipsic High School in Leipsic; received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, and earned a Master of Library Science degree from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Sr. Mary Lisa spent 6½ years ministering in elementary education in Detroit and Lansing, Michigan; and Cleveland, Ohio; and one year as a GED teacher in Dearborn, Michigan. She also was a bookseller/manager for 3½ years in St. Joseph, Grosse Pointe Woods and Detroit, Michigan; and was a librarian for 35½ years in Detroit, St. Joseph, Grosse Pointe Woods, Dearborn, Farmington, Southgate, Dearborn Heights, Wayne and Westland, Michigan, including five years at Dominican High School and two years at Rosary High School, both institutions of the Adrian Dominican Congregation and both in Detroit. Sister also ministered as postmistress for the Dominican Congregation for one year in Adrian. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2014.
Sr. Mary Lisa was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Ruen of Cloverdale, and brothers: Donald (Marsha) Rieman of Greenville, Joseph (Cynthia) Rieman of Hilliard, and Stephen (Carol) Rieman of Bryan, all in Ohio; loving nieces and nephews and 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
The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 29, 2021, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Word Service will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 30, 2021. Prayers of Committal will be held in the back of St. Catherine Chapel.
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 almost 49 years:
- St. Agatha, Detroit (1964-1965): Elementary Teacher
- Resurrection, Lansing (1965-1969): Elementary Teacher Rosary High School, Detroit (1969-1971): Librarian
- Dominican High School, Detroit (1971-1976): Librarian/Media Specialist
- Adrian Dominican Sisters, Adrian (1976-1977): Post Mistress
- Lake Michigan Catholic High School, St. Joseph (1977-1978): Librarian/Media Specialist
- Baker Book House, St. Joseph (1978-1979): Book Seller
- Maryhaven, Southgate (1979-1979): Pastoral Director
- Hedy’s Book Shop, Grosse Pointe Woods (1979-1980): Book Seller
- Catholic Information Center, Detroit (1980-1980): Bookstore Manager
- Book Alternatives/Marygrove College, Detroit (1981-1982): Bookstore Staff
- Fordson/Dearborn Public School, Dearborn (1982-1983): Substitute Teacher
- Various Libraries, Orchard Lake/Detroit (1983-1986): Librarian
- Public Library, Southgate (1986-1989): Librarian
- Caroline Kennedy Library, Dearborn Heights (1989-1993): Librarian
- Wayne-Westland Public Library, Wayne (1993-1994): Librarian
- Wayne County Library for the Blind, Wayne (1994-1998): Librarian
- Wayne County Regional Library, Detroit (1998-2010): Librarian
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.
