Sr. Mary Bertha, Mabel Angela Stamm, of Hillman, age 91, religious for 72 years, entered eternal life April 17 at St. Joseph Care Center in Livonia.

Sr. Stamm was born in Hillman to Louis and Margaret Ann (Streasick), on March 2, 1922, the fourth in a family of nine children. She was baptized at home the same day with the Church service at St. Augustine Parish in Hillman on April 30, 1922. The family moved to Detroit, and Sister was confirmed at St. Albertus Church by the late Edward Cardinal Mooney.

Sr. Stamm attended Bates Public School in Hillman during her elementary years. She entered the Seminary of the Felician Sisters in Detroit in 1936 and was accepted into the Felician Congregation on June 23, 1940. She received the name Sr. Mary Bertha at investiture and pronounced final vows in 1948.

Her professional attainments include a B.S. degree in secretarial science from Madonna College in Livonia and an M.A. degree in business education from the University of Detroit. She taught grade school at St. Michael School, Livonia, and Sacred Heart, Detroit. From then on, Sister taught business and commercial subjects at St. Stanislaus, St. Casimir and St. Josephat in Detroit; St. Florian, Hamtramck; Ladywood High School and Madonna College in Livonia; Manistee Catholic Central, Manistee; St. Stanislaus and All Saints, Bay City.

Sr. Stamm accepted an assignment in Brazil and was stationed in Rio de Janiero and Sao Paulo from 1974-77. Her ministry carried her to Maryville Center in Holly, St. Francis Home in Shields, the care center of the Felician Central Convent in Livonia, and St. Joseph Home, Jackson.

Sister retired to the central convent in Livonia in 2011. She suffered a massive stroke from which she never fully recovered. She was a very spiritual and giving person and sought the strength of the Lord for the work and cares of the day. Well organized and a detailed accountant, her professional and academic qualities and dedication to work were visible to students, fellow teachers and parents alike.

Sister was placed in hospice care a few days before her death. At 7:20 p.m. in the evening of April 17, she slipped peacefully into God’s eternal embrace. Sr. Stamm is survived by her younger sister, Teresa, a Felician Sister, known in religious life as Sr. Marie Ann Stamm.

Funeral services were conducted April 22 by Fr. Timothy Babcock, chaplain. Burial was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.