Sr. Florence Marie Viaches, formerly known as Sr. John Francis Viaches, died Sept. 20 at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 81 and in the 61st year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sr. Viaches was born in Lansing to Napoleon and Kathleen (Donald) Viaches. She graduated from Resurrection High School in Lansing and received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, and a Masters of Education degree in administration/school supervision, both from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian.

Sr. Viaches spent nearly 30 years ministering in education in Michigan, Illinois, New Mexico and Florida. In the Archdiocese of Detroit, she taught at St. Dominic School in Detroit in 1950, St. Scholastica in Detroit from 1963 until 1968, and at St. Pius X in Southgate from 1968 until 1972. She also was a telephone receptionist for 13 years at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2010.

She is survived by a brother, Donald Biaches.

Her funeral Mass was Sept. 22 at the Dominican Life Center.

Memorials to the Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, 49221.