Sr. Rosalie Esquerra, OP, formerly known as Sr. Maria Antonia Esquerra, died on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 86 years of age and in the 69th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Rosalie was born in Kingman, Arizona, to Raymond and Eva (Torres) Esquerra. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Adrian, Michigan, and obtained a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in Spanish from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a Master of Education degree in Elementary Education from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona.
Sister Rosalie ministered 17 years in education in Detroit, Michigan; Douglas and Winslow, Arizona; and Las Vegas, Nevada. This included one year as principal at Our Lady of Las Vegas and two years as education specialist at the Latin American Pastoral Center in Detroit. She then served for 12 years as associate director for Focus Life, Inc. in Detroit. Sister Rosalie began her many ministerial roles for Life Directions in 1988: three years as associate director, one year as formation director, four years as the CEO, and nine years as the director of training, all in Detroit. She also served Life Directions in Chicago for over two years as project director and in Tucson, Arizona, for 10 years as director and one year as an administrator. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2021.
Sister was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Roger, Raymond, Donald, Richard, Mary Louise, and Regina Lozoya. She is survived by siblings Robert, Roland, Rebecca, Randolph and Ronald Esquerra and Rachel Stapleton, other loving family and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30-7:00 pm on Monday, August 18, 2025, in the Gathering Space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 pm Monday, August 18, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 am Tuesday, August 19, 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.
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