Sr. Shirley Ann Cushing, OP, formerly known as Sister Blanche Marie, died on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 97 years of age and in the 78th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Shirley was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Frank and Blanche (Réaume) Cushing. She graduated from St. Theresa High School in Detroit and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Siena Heights College (University), Adrian, a Master of Arts degree in English from DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, and a Master of Religious Education degree in Religious Education and a Doctor of Law degree in Law, both from the University of Detroit (now University of Detroit Mercy).
Sister Shirley ministered in education for 20 years in Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Shaker Heights, Ohio; and Tokyo, Japan. Sister Shirley served three years as Postulant Mistress and three years as Juniorate Director for the Congregation. She ministered one year as pastoral minister at St. Lawrence in Utica, Michigan, and seven years as the Adult Education Resource Director at St. Edmund in Warren, Michigan. Sister Shirley then served seven years as a staff attorney in the senior unit for Lakeshore Legal Service, Inc. in Mount Clemens, Michigan, and seven years as the attorney manager for the legal program at Macomb County Department of Senior Services in Mount Clemens. Sister moved to the Dominican Life Center in 2021.
Sister Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, William Cushing and Father Frank Cushing; and her sisters, Dorothy Cushing, Mary Blanche Trudeau and Sister Virginia Cushing, also an Adrian Dominican. Sister is survived by other loving family and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30-7:00 pm on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in the Gathering Space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 pm Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 am Thursday, July 24, 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.
Sister ministered in Michigan 42 years:
- St. Gabriel HS, Detroit (1957-58): High School Teacher
- St. Ambrose HS, Detroit (1964-65): High School Teacher
- ADS Motherhouse, Adrian (1965-68): Postulant Mistress
- ADS Motherhouse, Adrian (1968-71): Juniorate Director
- St. Lawrence, Utica (1973-74): Pastoral Minister
- St. Edmund, Warren (1974-81): Resource Dir – Adult Educ
- Lakeshore Legal Service, Inc, Mount Clemens (1984-91): Staff Attorney
- Macomb Co. Department of Senior Services, Mt. Clemens (1991-2010): Attorney Mgr: Legal Program
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