Sr. Mary Louise Theisen, IHM, 86, died Jan. 24 at the IHM Motherhouse in Monroe.

Born May 27, 1929, in Detroit, Mary Louise Theisen was one of 13 children of Edward and Agnes (Kreucher) Theisen. She attended St. Boniface and St. Cecilia Elementary Schools and graduated from St. Cecilia High School. She entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe in 1947. As an undergraduate, she attended Catholic University of Puerto Rico and earned degrees from Marygrove College in Detroit and Laval University, Quebec City.

Sr. Theisen taught at the Michigan schools of St. Mary, Marshall; Immaculata and St. Catherine, Detroit, where she taught French and Latin; as well as schools in Puerto Rico, Ohio and Illinois.

In 1970, Sr. Theisen began retreat work and spiritual direction over 20 years at Visitation House of Prayer, Monroe. She served her community as a northwest provincial team member and as assistant to the provincial. She ministered as a nurse’s aide at the Monroe Care Center and as house manager for mentally and physically disabled adults with H.O.M.E. Inc. in Monroe and Temperance.

Sr. Theisen also ministered in counseling in Illinois and Mississipi, and as a retreat coordinator in Ontario.

She is survived by her sisters, Elizabeth Theisen, Rita McNulty and Leona Tobias; brother, Edward; nieces and nephews; friends; and sisters in community. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Eugene, Donald, Gerald, Leo, Harold, Vincent and Robert, and sister, Patricia.

Green burial has taken place. A memorial Mass was celebrated Jan. 29 the IHM Motherhouse Chapel in Monroe.