Sr. Julianne Wolny, OP, formerly known as Sister Mary de Lourdes, died on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 90 years of age and in the 72nd year of her religious profession: 21 years as a Felician Sister from Livonia, Michigan, and in her 51st year in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Julianne was born in Saginaw, Michigan, to Frank and Martha (Sobkowiak) Wolny. She graduated from Felician Academy in Detroit, Michigan, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Madonna College in Livonia and a Master of Arts degree in Sacred Doctrine from St. Mary College in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Sister Julianne ministered 17 years in education in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Livonia, Clare and Alpena, Michigan. She served 13 years as a religious education coordinator in Saginaw, Michigan, and as a CCD coordinator in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. Sister also ministered 11 years as executive secretary for the Vicar of Religious’ Office in Detroit, three years as the executive secretary for the Conference of Major Superiors of Men in Silver Spring, Maryland, and 10 years as assistant director of the Archbishop’s Fund in Los Angeles and administrative assistant of Catholic Charities in San Diego, both in California. She was Minister of Presence at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego for five years before returning to Michigan. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2020.
Sister was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by a brother, Bernard, of Saginaw, Michigan, and a sister, Marianne Nowak, of Hemlock, Michigan, other loving family and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
A Funeral Mass was offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. 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 were handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.
Sister ministered in Michigan 31 years:
- St. Stanislaus, Detroit (1952-54): Elementary Teacher
- St. Andrew, Detroit (1954-56): Elementary Teacher
- St. Stanislaus, Detroit (1956-58): Jr. High Teacher
- St. Jude, Grand Rapids (1958-59): Elementary Teacher
- St. Michael, Livonia (1959-64): Jr. High Teacher
- St. Cecilia, Clare (1964-65): Jr. High Teacher
- St. Mary, Alpena (1965-66): Jr. High Teacher
- St. Christopher, Saginaw (1968-70): Religious Education Coordinator
- Resurrection, Detroit (1970-71): Jr. High Teacher
- St. Hubert, Mount Clemens (1971-72): CCD Coordinator
- Vicar For Religious Office, Detroit (1972-83): Executive Secretary
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.
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