Sr. Mary Ellen Keyes, IHM, 91, died unexpectedly following a brief illness on July 9 at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Pontiac.

She was born May 27, 1927, in Detroit to Leo and Kathleen (Flanagan) Keyes, one of four children. She entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on July 2, 1945, receiving the religious name John Elizabeth. Sr. Keyes earned degrees from Marygrove College, the University of Detroit, Wayne State University and SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, Orchard Lake. She later studied in Rome.

Sr. Keyes ministered in Michigan as an elementary and high school teacher at St. Mary, Mt. Morris; Holy Redeemer, Gesu, St. John Vianney and Marygrove College, Detroit; Bishop Gallagher High School, Harper Woods; and St. Mary Academy, Monroe. At Visitation House of Prayer, Monroe, and in the IHM provinces, she participated in contemplative prayer, ongoing formation for spiritual and retreat direction.

In 1975, she was missioned to St. Hugo of the Hills Parish and School in Bloomfield Hills. She spent the next 38 years in active ministry, living there until her recent illness. Her ministries at St. Hugo included teaching, assistant principal, retreat director, spiritual director, consulting, pastoral work, formation and prayer.

A funeral Mass was celebrated July 12 at St. Hugo of the Hills, and a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated the next day at the IHM Motherhouse, Monroe, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery on the Motherhouse campus.