Sr. Mary Copperstone, IHM, 73, died Jan. 31 at the IHM Health Care Center.

She was born May 24, 1940, in Detroit, one of four daughters and two sons born to John and Mary (Sammut) Copperstone. She attended St. Gregory Grade School and Immaculata High School in Detroit before entering the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe in 1958 and receiving the name Sr. Mary Carmel.

She earned a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Arts in Education from Marygrove College. In her early teaching career, she taught at St. Regis, Birmingham; St. John, Fenton; and St. Mary of Redford, Detroit. She also taught religious education at St. Ives, Southfield. In 1979, her teaching focus changed to providing education for mentally challenged persons as a job analyst and work placement specialist for Monroe County programs for the mentally retarded, Christian Services for Refugees, Detroit and the Blanche Barber Institute, Oak Park.

For five years, she worked at Mazda Motors, Flat Rock, as a tutor for English as a Second Language with many Japanese-speaking workers and their families. As an entrepreneur, her ministry of tutoring and language and educational therapy continued for more than 10 years in southeast Michigan. She later volunteered at the IHM Motherhouse in eldercare before becoming a resident in 2010.

Sr. Copperstone is survived by her sisters, Eleanor Connolly and Linda Thomas; and many nieces and nephews. Her siblings, Theresa, John and Joseph, preceded her in death.

Mass of the Resurrection was Feb. 4. Burial is in St. Mary Cemetery on the Motherhouse Campus. Memorials to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Ave., Monroe, MI 48162-7909.