Sr. Mary McDevitt, IHM, died Dec. 22, 2020, at ProMedica Monroe Hospital, after a brief illness. She was 85 years old. She was a resident of the IHM Senior Living Community on the IHM Motherhouse campus. 

Sister Mary was born to Canadian-born parents, John and Florene (Dumonchelle) McDevitt on April 1, 1935 in Detroit. Baptized “Nancy Ann” at Precious Blood parish, she attended Gesu Grade School and Immaculata High School. Both schools were staffed by IHM Sisters. After graduation in 1953 and a summer of learning in Europe, she entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe, and received the religious name Sister Mary Immaculate. 

Her lifetime of ministries was as varied as her gifts. She began teaching young students at St. Mary of Redford and Queen of Hope, Detroit; high school students at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Westchester, Ill., and young adults at Marygrove College in the early 1960s. She served in congregational leadership more than 15 years as novice mistress/directress for young religious sisters; as a provincial in the Northeast Province; as spiritual director of Visitation House of Prayer, Monroe; and even coordinating human resources services for the Monroe Campus. In the greater Michigan community, Sister Mary served as Delegate for Religious of the Archdiocese of Detroit and on staff at Columbiere Center, Clarkston. 

In 1983, her service to others moved yet to a wider circle as she ministered in spiritual direction and pastoral consultation for many years at Southdown Institute, Aurora, Ontario, and Catholic Children’s Aid society, Toronto. In 2001, she joined the faculty of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, Orchard Lake, and directed all field education. Sister Mary was a popular faculty member at Orchard Lake Seminary in Pastoral and Spiritual Theology. After leaving academia, Sister Mary served in the administration of the newly established Visitation Spirituality Center, Bloomfield Hills. Today, the center continues to serve those seeking spiritual growth.      

Sister Mary earned a bachelor’s degree from Marygrove College; a Master of Divinity degree from Marquette University, Milwaukee; and Doctor of Ministry degree from the Toronto School of Theology at Regis College, Toronto. 

Sister Mary was a dedicated community member and renewed many friendships when she retired to the Motherhouse in 2015. Up until her recent illness, she continued to offer spiritual direction consultations and was involved in community history projects, assisted in other’s projects and contributed to liturgy services. She was a founding board member of the Margaret Brennan Institute, which was established to continue the spiritual legacy of Sister Margaret Brennan, IHM, Mary’s contemporary and good friend. 

Sister Mary is survived by sister, Elizabeth “Betsy” Boss, nieces, nephews and her sisters in community. She was preceded in death by brothers, Eugene “John,” Francis and Richard, and sister, Mary Reid. 

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, services will be private at the IHM Motherhouse Chapel on Monday, Dec. 28. The services will be Livestreamed beginning at 10 a.m. at https://bit.ly/38x6jUV and may be viewed until Jan. 18, 2020. Arrangements were under the direction of the Rupp Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Ave., Monroe, MI 48162-7909.