Sr. Marcia Andrews, IHM, age 81, died Wednesday, April 9, surrounded by her IHM family in Monroe.
Born June 7, 1943, to Albert and Ila (Thorpe) Andrews in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Marcia attended Saints Peter and Paul schools in Ionia, Michigan. One year after high school graduation, she entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe, in 1962 and received the religious name Sister Marie Jeffrey.
Sister Marie Jeffrey enrolled at Marygrove College and received her bachelor’s degree in 1967. Her ministry in education began with elementary students at Blessed Sacrament, Detroit. In 1971, she was missioned out west in Albuquerque and Socorro, New Mexico and Fairview, Montana. Sister Marcia continued in education at Our Lady of the Assumption for 10 years before moving into pastoral ministry at San Miguel and St. Catherine parishes. Throughout these years, she continued her studies during summers and in 1973 earned a Master of Education degree from Boston College.
In early 1990, she took time for transition and transformation while residing in Ionia and Richmond, Virginia. The next chapter of pastoral ministry began at St. Anthony in Culbertson, Montana, but within a few years, Sister Marcia returned to Michigan and served in pastoral positions at St. Stephen, Saginaw and St. Francis Borgia, Pigeon. Her residences included Ionia, Saginaw and St. Johns.
After leaving formal ministry, Sister Marcia especially enjoyed volunteer ministry at St. John’s Baby Pantry, Meal on Wheels and wherever needed within the local parishes. In 2023, Sister Marcia retired to the Motherhouse to be with her IHM community.
Services will be held at the IHM Motherhouse Chapel, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, Thursday, May 8, 2025. Welcoming of the body begins at 9 a.m., followed by a Remembering and Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Streaming begins at 10 a.m. Burial of cremains will follow in St. Mary Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Rupp Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, MI 48162-7909.
