(1930-2024)

Being a Dominican Sister ran in the family for Sister Shirley Boettcher. First, there was Sister Adalbert Wagner, who came to New York from Germany to join the Dominicans at the Second Street convent, later to become the Newburgh Dominicans. Sister Adalbert made profession in 1887, was eventually missioned to Michigan, and became a Grand Rapids Dominican when that group was separated from the New York congregation.

Sister Adalbert’s brother Peter followed his sister to Bay City, Michigan, where he married and raised six children, including Theresa, who at the age of sixteen joined the Grand Rapids congregation and became Sister DeLellis. Two of Shirley’s cousins also entered religious life, including second cousin Mary Louise Hall, who became an Adrian Dominican Sister.

Another of Peter’s children, Edna, went on to marry Edward Boettcher. Edward was born in Bay City but at an early age, after the death of both his father and his only brother, he was placed at the St. Francis Home for Boys in Detroit. He grew up to become an inspector for the city’s gas company, and he and Edna had four daughters: Donna, Phyllis, Shirley (born August 16, 1930), and Elaine.

The family lived on Detroit’s east side in St. Matthew Parish. Shirley’s early education came from the IHM Sisters who staffed the parish school, and by her own admission she disliked school and was a poor student. She was, however, very athletic and played the trumpet.

“The only thing that helped my survival in grade school was daily Mass, ringing the bell for change of classes and blowing my bugle at lunch time to line up for classes,” she wrote in her autobiography.

Read more about Sister Shirley (PDF)

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

Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)

 

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