Sr. Mary Nugent, OP, formerly known as Sister Clare Patrick, died on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 92 years of age and in the 69th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Mary was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Patrick and Margaret (McKeigue) Nugent. She graduated from St. Albans Girls High School in St. Albans Herts, England, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech from Siena Heights (College) University in Adrian, and a Master of Arts degree in English from DePaul University in Chicago.
Sister spent 39 years ministering in education in Adrian, Ruth, Utica and Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan; Swanton, Ohio; Wilmette, Oak Park and Hinsdale, Illinois, and West Palm Beach, Florida. Sister ministered in several Congregational institutions; she taught for nine years at Regina High School in Wilmette, Illinois; she was principal for eight years at Rosarian Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida; she was teacher and secretary for two years at St. Joseph Academy and served one year on the faculty at Siena Heights College (University), both in Adrian. She ministered for three years as academic dean at Marymount International School in Surrey, England. Sister also served for eleven years in secretarial work in Chicago, Brookfield, Oak Park, Riverside and Downers Grove, Illinois. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan, in 2004.
Sister Mary was preceded in death by her parents and four sisters: Margaret Nugent, Eleanor Siedmon, Betty Page and Patricia Digenan. She is survived by a sister, Clare Halpin, loving nieces and nephews 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 mass via live stream at http://www.adriandominicans.org/LiveStream.aspx
Rite of Committal (burial) for Sister Mary was held Sunday, 8/22/21, in the Congregation Cemetery. A Memorial Mass will be Friday, Aug. 27, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Catherine’s Chapel. The Ritual of Remembering will be held Friday, 8/27/21, 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 8 years:
- St. Joseph Academy, Adrian (1953-55): Kindergarten Teacher/Secretary
- Saints Peter & Paul High School, Ruth (1961-62): High School Teacher
- St. Lawrence High School, Utica (1962-65): High School Teacher
- St. Paul High School, Grosse Pointe Farms (1965-66): High School Teacher
- Siena Heights College (University), Adrian (1969-70): College Teacher
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