Sister Marie Houle
1931-2009
On All Hallows Eve, better known as Halloween, October 31, 2009, Sister Marie Houle died at Beaumont Hospital in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. She was seventy-seven years of age, and had been an Adrian Dominican for fifty-nine years. Her wake and funeral were held in the beautiful Holy Rosary Chapel at the Motherhouse in Adrian. The chapel was filled with relatives and friends for both ceremonies.
The daughter of Oswald and Catherine (Bretz) Houle, Marie Therese was born on December 1, 1931, in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. She grew up with two brothers and a sister—James, Thomas, and Phyllis—and came from German and French ancestry. Both parents were dedicated Catholics. Oswald Houle was a native of Detroit. After his marriage, he worked for the Briggs Manufacturing Company, and provided well for his family. Catherine Bretz was from Pentwater, Michigan, and had been a teacher.
The Houle children spent their elementary years at St. John Berchmans School in Detroit. Marie, however, attended St. Joseph Academy in Adrian, for seventh grade. She then returned to St. John Berchmans, and graduated from eighth grade in 1945. Her secondary education was obtained at Dominican High School, and she finished in June 1949. During these years, she took lessons and became a talented pianist. She also felt an attraction to religious life. Her interest in religious life is not surprising. In addition to her religious teachers, she had a great aunt and two cousins in the Grand Rapids Dominicans, and two cousins in the Adrian Dominicans.
Shortly after graduation, on June 26, she was on her way to Adrian, where she accepted the postulant’s veil. On December 27 she received the habit and her religious name, Sister Phyllis Ann, taken for her sister, and began the novitiate year of preparation for profession. She started her college years, and majored in music. With her group, she professed her first vows on December 28, 1950.
Within a short time she was in Saint Clair, Michigan, where she served as musician at St. Mary School. In August 1951 she was again assigned as musician, but this time at St. Edward School in Detroit. In most of her ministry from that time on, she also taught music or served as musician. This involved directing the children’s choir, playing the organ, and giving piano lessons.
In 1952 she returned to Adrian, and taught on the primary level for three years at St. Joseph Parish School. She then spent two years at Sacred Heart School in Hudson, Michigan. During the summers she studied at Siena Heights College (now University) in Adrian, and received a bachelor’s degree in August 1957 with a major in music and minors in English and German.
In 1957 she traveled across the country to Pensacola, Florida, where she taught at another school named Sacred Heart. There she taught primary children, but only until December of that school year. At that time, she was transferred to Assumption in Jacksonville, Florida, where she taught kindergarten. She returned to the Midwest in 1960, and served at St. Augustin School in Des Moines, Iowa, for four years. Again she studied during the summers, and in August 1962 Florida State University in Tallahassee awarded her a master’s degree in music education.
In 1964 she was assigned as a seventh grade teacher at Queen of Angels in Chicago, where she taught until February 1968, and finished that school year at St. Bridget in Loves Park, Illinois. The next year she taught seventh grade at St. Clare of Montefalco in Chicago. Sister Frances Nadolny spoke of Sister’s Marie’s ministry to elementary children as “teaching them to love and value music and its ability to move one to new levels.”
In 1969 Sister Marie left the classroom and became Religious Education Coordinator at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Windom, Minnesota, also serving as musician. Four years later, she transferred to St. Margaret in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan, for a year, then returned to Minnesota and served the Diocese of New Ulm as Associate Director of Religious Education for a year. During the summers, when her degree studies were finished, she did parish visiting, took theology classes at Siena Heights College and at Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island, and became certified in religious education.
From 1975 on, all of her ministry was in Michigan in the field of religious education. She served for two years at St. Agatha in Detroit, two years at St. John in Fenton, two years at St. Michael in Monroe, two years at St. Anne in Monroe, and eighteen years at St. Joan of Arc in Saint Clair Shores. About this ministry she wrote in her 1992-93 yearly annals:
I am blessed to be working with seven Section Heads, a secretary, four volunteers, many religious education teachers and assistants, plus a school and parish staff. The giving of time, the caring of others, the sincere sharing of Faith which I witness from these people is gratifying and humbling. This, plus the commitment to Adrians/Church/World, and the vast energy and spirit of giving that I see, constantly revitalize.
It was during these years that she and her siblings lost both parents. Her father died in 1981 and her mother, in 1993.
In 1995 she moved to an apartment in Warren, Michigan. That year, also, she, with the members of her Mission Group, went to Lansing, Michigan, to protest the State budget cuts to the poor. Other groups also went, groups with whom she met and socialized—SERF Vicariate DREs, SOLO (eleven sisters living alone who met regularly). She also spent time at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, serving meals and packing lunches. In her 2000-2001 annals, she wrote that she had decided to retire because of the need for knee replacement surgery. Her knee problem was aggravated by the fact that her office was on the second floor. She, however, was offered a position that would not require climbing stairs.
In 2001, she became Director of Faith Formation at St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Sterling Heights. About this ministry she wrote:
The staff, including Father Gerry LeBoeuf, has been very affirming of me and my ministry. In December I was asked to give a presentation at the parish weekend liturgies for the Retirement for Religious Fund project.
The needed knee replacement surgery took place in early 2002. She wrote:
I spent several months recuperating from total knee replacement—both knees. While I returned to work in late July, I was surprised at the lack of energy I experienced. This experience helped me realize how much my life is in God’s hands. I am blessed in having a very supportive pastor and staff.
In November 2003 she was part of a small parish group that made a pilgrimage to France, visiting Lisieux, Annecy, and Ars. The pilgrimage influenced her significantly, and she wrote several articles about the group’s experiences for the parish paper. During her service to St. Frances de Chantal Parish, she was involved in RCIA presentations, wake services, and baptisms. She wrote of the vocation/ministry weekends that she planned each year. During the 2003-04 year, she took a young woman from the parish to Adrian for a “Come and See” weekend.
She retired in 2005, continued living in Warren, and volunteered her services. These included serving in the office of the Neighbors Caring for Neighbors Clinic, leading pilgrimages to holy places, meeting with the SOLO group of Adrian Dominicans who live alone and with her Mission Group, and having dinners with friends and relatives. On these occasions she always had miniature candy bars for the participants.
A wake-remembrance service was held for Sister Marie in Holy Rosary Chapel on November 3. Sister Frances Nadolny, Prioress of Great Lakes Dominican Mission Chapter, opened the service and welcomed all those present. These included Sister Marie’s sister Phyllis and her husband John, her brother Jim and his wife Paula, her brother Tom and his wife Conni, numerous nieces and nephews, and her many Dominican friends. Sister Frances summarized Sister Marie’s life and ministry. She spoke of visiting Sister Marie’s house and getting to know her better, of witnessing her love for family, evidenced by the pictures displayed on her walls, as well as pictures of St. Catherine and St. Dominic. There were DVDs and CDs of music, prayer and religious books, cookbooks, and a few Grisham novels.
A week ago today Sister Marie entered the hospital with congestive heart failure. Always sure and certain, she had decided that the end of her life was going to be in her control, if possible, and she requested that no extra assistance be given to prolong her life. From Tuesday through Saturday, she was very present to people, able to talk with them, and never seeming to be fearful or troubled. . . . She told me she was ready to go and that she was looking forward to seeing some friends.
Sister Hilda Nadine Sheehan said:
It has been my privilege to call Sister Marie a friend and sister for many years, from the time we taught together in Chicago in the ‘60s to the present as members of the same Mission Group. She has been an example to me and many others in her quiet but dedicated ways, as well as her thoughtfulness.
She was always willing to help out wherever she could. After hearing me bemoan the loss of one of the volunteers who helped us with data entry in our free clinic, she offered to help out. Although she wasn’t the speediest, she worked at learning the program and continued coming each week for several years. She only stopped a month ago when her breathing became too difficult.
Sister Alice Riegel shared:
As I pondered Sister Marie’s call to eternal life on the vigil of All Saints Day, I thought how appropriate the day was. She enjoyed celebrating special days. She decorated her home and joined family and friends to share food, fun, and laughter. Now she joins the saints at the Eternal Banquet. What a celebration! Many of us have mementoes of these occasions because she shared her artistic talents and gifted [us] with homemade ornaments and decorations.
I thought of her today at Mass when we celebrated the feast of St. Martin de Porres, our Dominican brother. The psalm response was, “In You, O Lord, I have found my peace.” I felt that she was speaking to me and to all those who loved her.
Thomas Houle, Sister’s younger brother, came to the podium. He said in part:
It has been said that at the Particular Judgment God is going to ask one question, “Did you love enough?” Everyone will have to give an answer. I think that my sister could give a good answer to that. She loved music. I remember that in Chicago she played the organ one time. I was so impressed with her talent. She loved her ministry, those she taught and those she worked with, her Dominican sisters, and her family. Every Easter we gathered at her house.
Father told us a story about an elderly woman who lived in a place where parking spots were hard to find. When she was in the hospital, she was visited by a good friend, a chaplain, who anointed her. The priest challenged her with, “What are you going to be the patron saint of?” She said, “I can’t answer that.” Father said, “I’ll be back tomorrow for your answer.” When he came back the next day, she said, “I’ll be the patron saint of parking spots.”
Father challenged Marie. He asked her what she was going to be the patron saint of. She couldn’t answer that, and he said he’d come back the next day for her answer. Marie was well known for giving out candy and treats, especially miniature candy bars. When he returned the next day, she had lapsed into a coma and wasn’t able to answer his challenge. He said in her ear, “Marie, you’re the patron saint of miniature candy bars.” When we were going through her house and we opened one of her drawers, there were a lot of miniature candy bars. That was the affirmation that she’d be the patron saint of miniature candy bars. The next time you have a miniature candy bar, say a prayer to Sister Marie.
Sister Marie’s funeral liturgy took place on November 4. Father Gerard LeBoeuf, who was the pastor at St. Frances de Chantal Parish when she was there, presided at the liturgy and gave the homily. Father is now at Guardian Angels in Clawson, Michigan, and is also president of Bishop Foley Catholic High School in Madison Heights, Michigan. Among his remarks, Father spoke of God’s parental love for us, mirrored by our parents’ love, and of how much he had enjoyed working with Sister Marie.
In talking to her in the hospital, I came to the realization that she wasn’t afraid of the dying moment. . . . A couple of weeks ago she came to a funeral for a young worker. She said, “What a celebration. I hope that when my time comes, we’ll celebrate like this.” And we have. And now we give her back to God.
As Sister Frances told the gathering, Sister Marie belonged to several families—her birth family, her Dominican family, and the parish families that she served. She now has joined a new family, the communion of saints.