(1982-2026)

Sister Meliza Arquillano, known affectionately as Sister Izai, died on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Adrian Dominican House of Remedies in Mining, Angeles City, Philippines.  She was 43 years of age and in the ninth year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation. She entered the Congregation on October 27, 2013; was received into the novitiate on March 22, 2015; made her First Profession of Vows on March 4, 2017; and made Final Profession of Vows on March 17, 2023.

Sister Izai was born in Cavite City, Philippines, to German Dominguez and Leonilla Arquillano. She graduated from high school in Cavite City and received a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship from the City College of Angeles, Pampanga, Philippines. 

Sister ministered for one year as a canteen assistant and community secretary and one year as an assistant to special needs children, while continuing her education. She served five years as a local community treasurer and one year as the assistant vocation directress for the Remedies Mission Chapter in the Philippines.

Sister was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Roger Dominguez and German Dominguez Jr. She is survived by her brother Roland and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.

Funeral Mass and Rite of Committal (burial) will be held on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at the Holy Mary Memorial Park Cemetery in Angeles City, Philippines. A Memorial Mass will be held in Adrian, Michigan, at a later date.

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. 

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(1935-2026)

Sister Joan Schroeder, formerly known as Sister Francis Maureen, died on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 90 years of age and in the 72nd year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Joan was born in Chicago to Clement and Genevieve (Coleman) Schroeder. She graduated from St. Gregory High School in Chicago and received a bachelor’s degree in English from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a master’s degree in English from DePaul University in Chicago. She was also certified as a parish social worker by the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Sister ministered for 19 years as an elementary teacher in Dearborn and Clawson, Michigan; Harvey and Chicago, Illinois; Des Moines, Iowa; and Albuquerque, New Mexico. She also served in secretarial services for more than nine years in Detroit and in De Kalb, Chicago, Maywood, Kenilworth, and Evergreen Park, Illinois. This includes one year as secretary for the SEAC Mission Chapter Office in Detroit. Sister Joan also served in Transportation Services at Maria Health Care Center (Dominican Life Center) for nine years. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 1998.

Sister Joan was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers: Clement Francis, Edward, Lawrence, and Richard. She is survived by other loving family members and her Adrian Dominican Sisters

Prayers of Committal will be held at 1:30 pm on Thursday, January 22, 2026, in the back of St. Catherine Chapel. A Memorial Mass will be in St. Catherine Chapel at a later date (posted here when determined). Those not attending the Memorial Mass are welcome to participate via livestream at https://adriandominicans.org/Live-Stream

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.

LEFT: Joan at the age of 4, 1939. MIDDLE LEFT: 1953 graduate of St. Gregory High School, Chicago. 

LEFT: Sisters Patricia McKee, left, and Joan Schroeder, summer of 2000.

Members of the 2013 Diamond Jubilee Crowd are: back row from left, Sisters Joan Schroeder, Margaret Ann Roggenbuck, Marie Rose Bauer, Attracta Kelly (Prioress), Dorothy Guettler, Janet Wright, and Carol Fleming; middle row, from left, Sisters Margaret Marie Ringel, Frances Wetzel, Janice Scholl, Patricia Ann McKee, Patricia Sporer, Pauline Richter, and Barbara Chenicek; and front row, from left, Sisters Joan Mary Dwyer, Josephine Gaugier, Margarita Rúíz, Mary Vianne Bayus, Lorraine Brennan, Mary E. Waldron, and Mary Cullen.

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(1934-2026)

Sister Mary Ward, formerly known as Sister Michael Bridget, died on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 91 years of age and in the 68th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister was born in Chicago to Michael and Bridget (Ryan) Ward. She graduated from St. Gregory High School in Chicago and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a master’s degree in guidance from DePaul University in Chicago.

Sister Mary ministered for 13 years in elementary education in Elgin, Elmhurst, Chicago, and Elmwood Park, Illinois. She served the Adrian Dominican Congregation for about 17 years in various positions: secretary to the formation team, executive secretary and Secretary of the Congregation; coordinator of fund data for the Development Office in Detroit; and executive assistant for the Great Lakes Dominican Chapter Office, also in Detroit.

She also ministered for three years as a secretary at Siena Heights College (University), a sponsored institution of the Congregation; for more than two years as administrator for the Detroit Center for Religious Development; and for more than eight years as registrar for Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2017.

Sister Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Vincent, James, John, and Michael; and two sisters, Jane Ward-Lutterman and Theresa Ward. She is survived by two sisters, Susan Barnett and Margaret “Peg” Kloiber; other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.

Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 26, 2026, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 26, 2026, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.

Those not attending services in person are welcome to participate via livestream at https://adriandominicans.org/Live-Stream.

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.

MIDDLE: Sister Michael Bridget with her family on Reception Day. RIGHT: Sister Mary Ward as Secretary of the Congregation. 

LEFT: Members of the 1982-1986 General Council are: back row, from left, Sisters Carol Johannes (Prioress), Rose Ann Schlitt, Mary Ward (Secretary), and Catherine DeClercq, and front row, from left, Sisters Loretta May (Treasurer), Helen Sohn, and Miriam Mullins. RIGHT: The current and former Secretaries of the Congregation gathered during the Congregation’s 2002 Gathering. They are, from left: Sisters Rose Celeste O’Connell, 1990-2016; Grace Flowers, 1974-1980; Marie Wiedner, 1970-1974; Kathleen Walli, 1988-1990; Mary Ward, 1982-1988; and Helen Sohn, 1980-1982.

LEFT: The community of Burg Road, Warren, Michigan, gathers in 2013. They are, from left, Sisters Joan Hinz, Patricia Johnson, Alice Riegel, Noreen O’Connell, Frances Nadolny, Ann Marie Petri, Mary Jo Sieg, and Mary Ward. MIDDLE: Bridget Ward, mother of Sister Mary Ward. RIGHT: Michael Ward, father of Sister Mary Ward.

LEFT: Members of the 1986-1992 General Council honoring Sister Mary Ward for her service as Congregation Secretary. Pictured are, from left: Sisters Nadine Foley (Prioress), Sharon Weber, Stacey Munson (secretary), Carol Bollin, Donna Markham, Linda Bevilacqua, and Loretta May (Treasurer). Sister Mary is seated in front. (Photo by Sister Beverly Bobola) RIGHT: Members of the 2017 Diamond Jubilee August Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Noella McLeod, Patricia Reno, Mary Ward, and Patricia Siemen (Prioress), and front row, from left, Sisters Geneal Kramer, Loretta Glanz, and Victoria Dalesandro.

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(1935-2026)

Sister Rosita G. Bernardo, known affectionately as Sister RB, died on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at the Adrian Dominican House of Remedies in Mining, Angeles City, Philippines. She was 90 years of age and in the 52nd year of her religious profession: 37 years in the Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of Remedies Congregation and in her 15th year in the Adrian Dominican Congregation after the two congregations merged in 2011. 

Sister Rosita entered the Our Lady of Remedies Congregation on June 1, 1971, and was received into the novitiate on June 1, 1972. She made her First Profession of Vows on January 25, 1974, and her Final Profession on October 15, 1983.

Sister Rosita was born in Guagua, Pampanga, Philippines, to Pedro and Maria (Garcia) Bernardo. She graduated from St. Augustine High School in Floridablanca, Philippines, and received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of the Assumption in the Philippines.

Sister Rosita ministered at the University of the Assumption for 21 years: two years as religious coordinator/teacher, two years as liaison officer, and 17 years as university treasurer. She served for six years in volunteer pastoral work and one year as an adult catechist, all in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines. She ministered for the congregation as a formator/bible study coordinator for three years. In addition, she served as spiritual director for three years in Bulacan, Philippines, and as an overseas Filipino worker for six years in Kaohsiung and Kaihsiung, Taiwan.

Sister Rosita was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Nicolas Mendoza. She is survived by other loving family members and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.

Funeral Mass and Rite of Committal (burial) will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Holy Mary Memorial Park Cemetery in Angeles City, Philippines. A Memorial Mass will be held in Adrian, Michigan, at a later date.

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. 

LEFT: Sister Rosita as a novice, 1973. MIDDLE: Participating in a 1972 small group prayer session are, from left, Sisters Rosita Bernardo, Zenaida Nacpil, Vicki Sangutu, and Rina. RIGHT: Sister Rosita Bernardo during the dedication of the Central House, March 2023.

LEFT: From left, Sisters Maria Socorro Garcia, Evangelina Fernandez, Estrellita David, Mary Philip Ryan, Arsenia Mary Puno, Remedios Pangan, and Rosita Bernardo. 

LEFT: Sister Rosita Bernardo, left, dances with Sister Patricia Siemen, Prioress, during a 2016 gathering in the Philippines. RIGHT: From left, Sisters Rosita Bernardo, Lourdes Pamintuan, and Romina Bautista sit with Dominican Missioneras during a small group discussion at the 2019 Dominican Sisters International gathering in the Philippines. 

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