SINSINAWA — Sister Mary Niemeyer, OP (Irenaea), died May 11, 2011, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. The funeral Mass was held in Queen of the Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa May 16, 2011, followed by burial in the Motherhouse Cemetery.
Sister Mary made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Aug. 7, 1941, and her final profession Aug. 7, 1944. She was a classroom teacher for three years, music and piano teacher for 42 years, and private piano teacher for three years. Sister Mary served the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation at the Motherhouse as liturgist and vicaress of the Province II Sisters living at the Motherhouse for four years. She was a parish liturgist for six years and pastoral minister for six years. Sister Mary served in Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Illinois, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Florida, Arizona and Alabama.
In the Diocese of Madison, Sister Mary served the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation at the Motherhouse, Sinsinawa, as the vicaress of the Province II Sisters living at the Motherhouse and liturgist 1986-1990; as a family caregiver, 2002-2003; and as a volunteer music instructor, 2003-2006.
Sister Mary was born Jan. 27, 1921, in Chicago, the daughter of Frederick and Irene (Rowan) Niemeyer. Her parents; a sister, Sister Margaret Niemeyer, OP; and two brothers, John Niemeyer and the Reverend Fred Niemeyer, preceded her in death. She is survived by nieces, nephews and her Dominican Sisters with whom she shared life for 69 years.
Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9701 or online at www.sinsinawa.org by clicking on “Donate to Us,” then “Honors and Memorials.”
Repeat broadcasts of the wake and funeral for Sister Mary are available online at www.ustream.tv/user/Sinsinawa