Sr. Marian Mertz, RSM, of Farmington Hills, died peacefully Nov. 12 at McAuley Life Center. She was 92.

Sr. Mertz was born to Louis and Katherine (Kasubowski) Mertz on Aug. 22, 1923, in Rogers City. She and her sisters were taught by the Sisters of Mercy at St. Ignatius School.

On Sept. 7, 1942, she joined the Sisters of Mercy in Detroit. During her novitiate and early years in the community, she spent considerable time in spiritual and professional preparation for her lifetime of ministry. On Aug. 16, 1948, she pronounced perpetual vows as a Sister of Mercy.

Sr. Mertz’s 25-year ministry in elementary education in Michigan (1945-70) began in Cheboygan and concluded in Pinconning. Her former students would remember her as Sr. Mary Kenneth. In between those assignments, she served other schools and in several capacities, most often as principal as well as teacher, in Midland, Bay City, Saginaw, Temperance, Muskegon, Cadillac, Hazel Park, Holland and Posen.

In 1971, she returned to her baptismal name and changed to a new ministry on the administrative staff at Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital as supervisor of admissions, ombudsman and head of the department for patient representatives. She later served at Mercy Hospital in Muskegon and Mercy Hospital in Cadillac. Her final years of active ministry were working in outreach programs with Presque Isle County and the Parish of St. Paul in Onaway.

Sr. Mertz is survived by two sisters, Katie Shaedig of Rogers City and Bea Skoggs of Cheboygan, as well as nieces, nephews, colleagues and the Sisters of Mercy.

Mass of Resurrection was celebrated Nov. 17 at McAuley Life Center. Burial was to be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield.