Sr. Mary Burke, OP, formerly known as Catherine Josephine Burke, died Jan. 18 at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 98 and in the 81st year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sr. Mary was born in Chicago to Thomas James and Mary Loretta (Murphy) Burke. She graduated from Oak Park High School in Oak Park, Ill., and received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in history from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a Master of Arts degree in English from De Paul University in Chicago.

Sister spent 52 years ministering in education, including at Holy Name School (1930-31), St. Theresa School (1945-48), St. Scholastica (1952-53) and Visitation High School (1959-62) in Detroit; St. Paul School (1944-45) in Owosso; St. Alphonsus School (1948-49) in Dearborn; St. Joseph Academy (1953-55) in Adrian; and Resurrection High School (1955-59) in Lansing. She also taught in Joliet, Chicago, and Blue Island, Ill.; West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami, Fla.; Des Moines, Iowa; Niagara Falls, N.Y.; and Leesburg, N.J.

Her education ministry included Congregation institutions: one year at St. Joseph Academy in Adrian, four years at Aquinas High School in Chicago, and one year as tutor for Spanish sisters in Adrian. She volunteered her services at Rocky Creek Village in Tampa, Fla., for five years. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2001.

Sr. Mary is survived by a cousin, Bernice Howells of Chicago.

The funeral liturgy was Jan. 23. Burial will be in the Congregation cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221.