Sr. Marie Rebecca Vonderhaar, IHM, age 84, died Monday, March 23, at Promedica Monroe Hospital.
Sister Rebecca was born and baptized Elizabeth Ann Vonderhaar in Detroit, Michigan. She was the firstborn child of Aloysius and Reba Mae (Downing) Vonderhaar, later joined by sisters Marjorie, Mary Jane and Dorothy. She attended schools in Lincoln Park, graduated from Lincoln Park High School and began studies at Marygrove College, Detroit. In 1960, she entered Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe and received the religious name, Sister Marie Rebecca. She celebrated 65 years as an IHM Sister in 2025.
Most recently, Sister Rebecca served as Director of Religious Education and Director of Faith Formation at Christ the Good Shepard parish in Lincoln Park, where she spent over 25 years. In 1976, she was missioned to Ghana, West Africa. In a period of nearly 20 years, she taught English language and religion at Navrongo Notre Dame Seminary, served as faculty of the Gbewash Teacher Training College and was school chaplain at Navrongo Secondary School. Her earliest educational ministry spanned 10 years at Holy Redeemer, Detroit, St. Cyprian, Riverview and St. Charles, Newport. Throughout her many ministries, Sister Rebecca sought to use her gifts in service to the poorest and most abandoned.
Her own education included a bachelor’s degree from Marygrove College and a master’s degree in education from Wayne State University.
Sister Rebecca transitioned to volunteer responsibilities in 2021 and continued her lifelong ministries for prayer, healing racism, and advocating for social justice through her involvement in civic groups and within her religious community.
Sister Rebecca is survived by sisters Dorothy Keller and Mary Jane Bousamra, nieces and nephews, and her IHM Sisters in community. She was preceded in death by her sister, Marjorie Hayes.
Services will be held at the IHM Motherhouse Chapel, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Streaming begins at 10 a.m. with a Remembering and Mass of Christian Burial. Arrangements in care of Rupp Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, MI 48162-7909.
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.
