Sister Oda Marie DeGroot O.P.

Sister Oda Marie DeGroot, O.P., 100, passed away at Lakeshore Manor, Racine on Wednesday, May 24, 2017.

Lambertha Mary was born October 27, 1916 to Henry and Wilhelmina (nee: Hurkmans) DeGroot in Northland, MI. On August 30, 1937 she joined the Racine Dominicans and at her reception in 1938 she was given the religious name Sister Oda Marie. She professed her first vows in 1940 and her final vows in 1946.

Sister Oda Marie spent many years in service to others in housekeeping and food service. She began her ministry in 1940 at St. Norbert’s, Roxbury, WI. Other places in Wisconsin where she served were SS. Peter & Paul, Green Bay; St. Benedict, Milwaukee; St. Catherine Convent, St. Catherine High School, Aquin Hall and Siena Center, Racine; and Holy Cross, Kaukauna. She also served in Illinois at St. Pius, Chicago and The House of Studies, River Forest. From 1979-2003 she ministered at the Salvatorian Mission Warehouse, New Holstein, WI packing mission supplies. She became a resident at Siena Center in 2004. In January 2012 she moved to Lakeshore Manor, Racine.

Sister Oda Marie is survived by the Racine Dominican Sisters and Associates; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; and her brothers Joseph (Mary) DeGroot and Reverend John DeGroot, SDS; and her sister, Sister Alma DeGroot, O.P.

Visitation will be in the Siena Center Chapel on Tuesday May 30, beginning at 9:00 a.m. with a Remembering Service at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Interment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery Hwy 32. Memorials to the Racine Dominican Mission Fund have been suggested.

The Racine Dominicans would like to extend their thanks to the staff that

cared for Sister Oda Marie at Lakeshore Manor.