Sr. Mary Justine Sabourin, 101, died June 13 at McAuley Center in Farmington Hills, surrounded by her beloved Sisters of Mercy and nursing staff.

Baptized as Winifred Anne, she was born in Alpena Township (Millersburg), on Oct. 28, 1910, to Joseph and Mary E. (Sheehan) Sabourin. After she completed high school at St. Andrew’s in Saginaw, she joined the Sisters of Mercy in Grand Rapids on Aug. 28, 1927. She made perpetual vows at Mt. Mercy Motherhouse on Aug. 15, 1933.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Columbia College (1938) in Dubuque, Iowa; her master’s from University of Notre Dame (1945); and a doctor of philosophy from the University of Michigan (1964).

Sr. Sabourin’s early years of ministry were spent teaching in Michigan and Iowa high schools. Then, in August of 1940, she was assigned to live and work in Dubuque with young women joining the order. When Mercy College opened in Detroit in 1941, she was named dean of students and taught French. She held this position until 1945 when she moved to St. Jean High School in Muskegon, where she taught both French and English and was then principal.

Three years later, she was called back to Detroit to serve as supervisor of schools for the Detroit Province.

She was appointed by the General Council of the Sisters of Mercy to serve as the Mother Provincial of the Detroit Province from 1961-67. During this time, she bore the major responsibility for the design and construction of the buildings on the Farmington Hills property.

Sr. Sabourin also researched and wrote several books, including “The Amalgamation, a history of the Union of the Sisters of Mercy in the United States of America, 1870-1929.” Additional research and writing produced a history of Mercy College of Detroit (1941-66). “Risk and Hope” was published in 1999.

Mass of Resurrection was June 15 in McAuley’s Sacred Heart Chapel. Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield. McCabe Funeral Home, Farmington Hills, is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Mercy Ministry Fund, 29000 Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336.