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Sr. A. Barbara O'Donohue, CSJ

March 26, 2016
Nazareth, MI

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Visitation

Monday, March 28, 2016
4:00 PM EDT
Holy Family Chapel
3427 Gull Road
Nazareth, MI 49074
(269) 381-6290

7 PM Vigil Service

Service

Tuesday, March 29, 2016
10:30 AM EDT
Holy Family Chapel
3427 Gull Road
Nazareth, MI 49074
(269) 381-6290

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Sisters of St. Joseph
P.O. Box 29
Nazareth, MI 49074
(269) 381-6290

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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A Barbara O’Donohue was born in Detroit, Michigan on February 18, 1928, the daughter of John and Agnes (Lietzan) O’Donohue. She was a member of St. Clare of Montefalco Parish in Detroit, Michigan at the time of her entrance into the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth on July 1, 1953. She received the name Sister Justine Marie at her reception on January 3, 1954, but later returned to her baptismal name. She pronounced first vows on January 3, 1956 and final vows on January 2, 1959.

Sister A. Barbara graduated from Dominican High School and received her college degree from the University of Detroit with a major in Music Theory and a minor in English/History. In 1953 she began teaching at Barbour Hall Military Academy in Nazareth, Michigan. Sister also taught at several other schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit including St. Mark, St. Joan of Arc, St. Michael and St. Scholastica. In the Diocese of Lansing she taught at St. John Vianney and St. Joseph’s. In 1972 Sister A. Barbara was a student at the University of Hawaii and eventually moved to Japan where she taught advanced studies in media through a grant from the United States Government. She was then invited to teach English to graduate students at the Bunkyo Women’s College in Hiroshima and Iwakuni Junior College. She also taught US Marines at the Marine Air Corps Base in Japan. After a short return to Michigan, Sister A. Barbara again left for Japan where for the next four years she taught at the Immaculata College in Kagoshima.

In 1994 Sister A. Barbara returned permanently to Kalamazoo, Michigan and became a Video Coordinator at Nazareth Center and the Volunteer Coordinator at Dillon Hall in Kalamazoo where she started a singing group called the “Dillonites” and several other programs for seniors. For eight years she also served as the AARP District Representative bringing awareness of senior needs in Kalamazoo.

As her health failed, she moved to Nazareth’s assisted living in Fontbonne. Always outgoing and friendly, she had difficulty adjusting to the limitations of her condition, but made efforts to remain as active as possible. Freed now from those limits, may she rejoice with all the saints.

Visit her personal website at www.lifestorynet.com, share a favorite memory or photo of her and sign her online guestbook. Arrangements by Life Story Funeral Homes, Betzler - Kalamazoo; 6080 Stadium Drive (269-375-2900).