In Memoriam

Dominican Sister of Peace Mary Rose Garcia, (94), a native of Cienfuegos, Cuba, died on her birthday, April 13, at the Mohun Health Care Center, Columbus, OH.

Dominican Sister of Peace Joseph Leo Pietrowski, age 93, died April 11, 2026, at Sansbury Care Center. She was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and entered the Dominican Sisters Community in 1952.

Maryknoll Sisters – Sister Mary Vertucci, M.M., a Maryknoll Sister of 62 years who empowered countless women as a mentor and visionary leader, died on April 30, 2026. She was 80.

The Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa – Sister Marie Anna Stelmach, OP, died April 8, 2026, at the Racine Dominican Motherhouse, Racine, Wis. Her Funeral Mass will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 17 at Stair Crest Senior Living Community’s Faith and Fellowship Hall, Muskego, Wis. Casey-McNett Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Sister Jeanne Drea, OP, died April 28, 2026, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. Her Funeral Mass will take place Monday, May 4 at 10 a.m. at the Villa followed by burial in St. Clara Cemetery, Sinsinawa, Wis. Casey-McNett Funeral Home is handling arrangements. 

Racine Dominican Associate – Consuelo “Connie” Roybal was called home by God on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Connie spent many years as a Catholic elementary principal and educator. She was deeply impacted by countless students and faculty throughout her time in education. Connie was also a Racine Dominican Associate for more than ten years. She had many and varied ministries – she was a lector, RCIA team member, Eucharistic minister and religious education teacher, she studied Greek formally and informally with area religious and clergy and was a frequent volunteer at Siena Retreat Center. We thank God for the life of Connie.

Dominican Sisters of Houston – Sr. Barbara Ann Collins, O.P. (Thomas Marie) entered eternal life on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Sr. Barbara Ann was born in Port Neches, TX, October 13, 1937, to the late Robert and Mamie Abshire Collins. She was preceded in death by her brother Garland “Butch” Collins and niece Julie Collins. She is survived by nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and other extended family members.

Sr. Joseph Mary Mahoney, OP (formerly Sr. Joan Mahoney), a beloved member of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Blauvelt, New York, for 71 years, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2026, in the St. Martin de Porres Community. She was 88 years of age.

Dominican Sister of Peace Mary (Sister Mary Eugene) Meenan, OP, died on April 4, 2026, at Mohun Health Care Center, Columbus, OH.

Sister Virginia Burgardt, 97, died March 24 at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse in Great Bend, Kansas. She was born in 1928, in Holcomb, Kansas and entered the Dominican Sisters Community in 1946. 2026 marked 76 years of consecrated religious life for Sister Virginia.

Sister Joan McCann, OP, died April 9, 2026, at the Racine Dominican Motherhouse, Siena Center, Racine, Wis. Her wake and remembering service will be held Saturday, May 16 at 9:15 a.m. in Siena Chapel at the Siena Center followed by her Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home of Racine is handling arrangements.

Springfield Dominican Sister M. Emmeric Emerick was a dedicated educator who gave a remarkable 59 years of ministry as a teacher and elementary school administrator. Throughout her life she retained the value of simplicity she learned as a child on her family farm. She taught throughout Illinois and at times served as principal. For 23 years she served at St. Edward School, Chicago, where she was beloved by students, parents, and parish alike. When she returned to Springfield in 2012, it wasn’t for retirement, but for another 12 years of service to her sisters as a driver and travelling companion for medical appointments.

Sister Margaret Theresa Oettinger, OP, of the Dominican Sisters, Sparkill, New York, died at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, New York City, on April 6, 2026. She was 82 years old.

Sister Maureen Healy, OP, died April 8, 2026, at Hospice of Spokane House, Spokane, Wash. Her wake will be held at 7 p.m. April 13 at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church, Spokane, and her Funeral Mass will take place there at 10 a.m. April 14. Holy Cross Funeral and Cemetery Services is handling arrangements.  

Sister Maureen Gallagher, formerly known as Sister Marie Helen, died on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 87 years of age and in the 69th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.