Sr. Christine Matthews, OP, formerly known as Sister James Elizabeth, died on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center, Adrian, Michigan. She was 89 years of age and in the 69th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister was born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, to James and Grace (Austin) Matthews. She graduated from Dominican High School in Detroit, Michigan, and received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in English from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, a Master of Science degree in Reading from Barry College (University) in Miami, Florida, and a Master of Religious Education degree from Seattle University in Seattle, Washington.
Sister Christine ministered for 30 years in various levels of education in Jackson and Adrian, Michigan; Pensacola and Jacksonville, Florida; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Santurce, Puerto Rico. This includes over 10 years at Siena Heights University in Adrian as coordinator of the Theological Studies program in the Diocese of Saginaw and then as the University’s alumni relations assistant. Sister served six years as a member of the Congregation’s General Council and six years on the Congregation’s Mission Service Team. She also served for seven years as executive director of the National Association of Church Personnel Administrators (NACPA) in Cincinnati, Ohio, three years as director of leadership formation for the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, and three years in community development at the Northern Free State Institute in Kroonstad, South Africa.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Mary J. Rowley, and a brother, Michael J. Matthews. Sister is survived by two sisters, Grace Varga and Janet Anne Greene, other loving family and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30-7:00 pm on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in the Gathering Space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 pm Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 am Wednesday, December 17, 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.
Those who are not attending services in person are welcome to participate via live stream at https://adriandominicans.org/Live-Stream.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.
Obituaries for clergy and religious who have lived or served in the Archdiocese of Detroit may be emailed to [email protected]. Obituaries are printed as they are submitted, but may be edited for grammar and style. Detroit Catholic reserves the right to refuse or edit any submissions.
