Sr. Shirley Thielk, OP, formerly known as Sister Joyce Edward, died on Sunday, September 11, 2022, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 93 years of age and in the 74th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Shirley was born in Highland Park, Michigan, to Edward and Hilda (Wellnitz) Thielk. She graduated from St. Ambrose High School in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling, both from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, a Master of Arts degree in Mathematics from the University of Detroit (Detroit Mercy) in Detroit, Michigan, and a Master of Computer Science degree from the University of Dayton, in Ohio.
Sister spent 24 years ministering in education in Chicago, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio; Utica, Michigan; and Malawi, East Africa. This includes 11 years at Hoban Dominican High School in Cleveland, an institution of the Congregation. Sister was also an administrative assistant for two years at St. Theresa Home for the Aged in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was provincial administrator for four years for St. Catherine of Siena Province in Detroit, and ministered for twelve years in the Finance Office of the Dominican Motherhouse in Adrian. Sister spent 14 years in the Computer Services Department and Medical Staff offices at Dominican Santa Cruz Hospital in Santa Cruz, California. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan, in 2009.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Thomas and David Thielk; and five sisters, Elizabeth Mitchell, Geraldine Jordan, Joyce Opromalla, Joanne Mackris and Jacqueline Kunysz. She is survived by seven siblings: Kathryn Warras (Bryan) of West Bloomfield, John Thielk (Mouy) of Fair Haven, and Sister Dorothy Thielk—also an Adrian Dominican Sister—all in Michigan; Edward Thielk of San Fernando, California; Margaret Zukowski (Daniel) of Amherst, Virginia; Rose Marie Popowitz of Porter, Texas; and Donald Thielk of Kula, Hawaii; other loving family 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 services via livestream at https://adriandominicans.org/L...
The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 pm Wednesday, September 14, 2022, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 am Thursday, September 15, 2022. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.
Sister ministered in Michigan over 18 years:
- St. Lawrence High School, Utica (1968-70): High School Teacher
- Central Service/Information, Adrian (1973-74): Data Processing
- Central Service/Financial, Adrian (1982-93): Office Worker
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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