(1948-2025)

Sister Donna Marie Baker died on Friday, August 22, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 76 years of age and in the 58th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Donna Marie was born in Detroit to Patrick L. and Virginia (Wyrauch) Baker. She graduated from St. Agatha High School in Detroit and obtained a bachelor’s degree in English from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a master’s degree in Reading/Consultant/Resource from Cardinal Stritch College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

Sister Donna spent 48 years ministering in education in Southgate, Michigan; Jacksonville, St. Petersburg, and West Palm Beach, Florida; and Slidell, Louisiana. This includes serving 13 years as assistant elementary principal at St. Margaret Mary School in Slidell and 15 years as junior high school teacher and two years as the middle school director at Rosarian Academy, a legacy institution of the Congregation in West Palm Beach. Sister Donna became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2023.

Sister Donna was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers William and Patrick. She is survived by her sisters Linda Anderson (James), Mary Beihl (Bernie), Sharron Valentine, and Colleen Wilson (Steve); brothers Dennis Baker and Michael Baker (Kay); other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.

Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 27, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 28, 2025. 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's Memorial Card (PDF)

Vigil and Funeral Recordings

Note: To view recordings with closed captioning, they must be viewed on our public video library rather than through the links below.

Recording of Sister Donna's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

Recording of Sister Donna's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

 

LEFT: Donna in kindergarten, at the age of 5. MIDDLE RIGHT: Sister Donna as a Postulant, 1966. RIGHT: Sister Donna Marie with her parents, Patrick and Virginia.

LEFT: Members of the Baker family in 1998 are, back row, from left, Patrick, Bill, Denny, and Michael, and front row, from left, Sherry, Colleen, Mary, Patrick (their father), Linda, and Sister Donna. RIGHT: Posing together during the Congregation’s Gathering 2002 are, from left, Sisters Donna Baker, Dorothy Dempsey, Jeanne Lefebvre, Rose Celeste O’Connell, and Mary Rita Gleason.

LEFT: Sisters Mary Ann Caulfield, left, and Donna Baker enjoy Rosarian Academy’s 80th Anniversary Breakfast, 2006. RIGHT: Members of the 2017 Golden Jubilee Crowd, August 1967 reception, are: back row, from left, Kathleen Klingen, Marie Skebe, Corinne Mary Florek, and Donna Markham; middle row, from left, Sisters Joanne Podlucky, Mary Jane Lubinski, Ellen Burkhardt, Patricia Siemen (Prioress), and Donna Marie Baker; and front row, from left, Marie Solanus Reilly, Julie Hyer, Nancy Jurecki, and Nancy Murray.

LEFT: Sister Donna at her 69th birthday celebration in Sauce Restaurant, Adrian, November 13, 2017. MIDDLE: Celebrating the 2025 Jubilee are: back row, from left, Sisters Catherine Olds, Mary Ann Caulfield, and Judith Rimbey, and seated, from left, Sisters Donna Baker and Patricia Leonard. RIGHT: From left, Sisters Donna Baker, Mary Ann Caulfield, and Kathleen Klingen.

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