Sr. Eileen Denomme

Sister Eileen Denomme, IHM, 89, of Monroe, MI died Monday, February 19, at her home, the IHM Senior Living Community, in Monroe Michigan. Sister Eileen, as she was known, was born to the family of Omer and Marie (Gagnier) Denomme. One of three daughters and two sons, she was born on August 2, 1928 in Detroit, Michigan and was baptized Marie Eileen. Her education began at St. Matthew elementary school then to Dominican High School (Detroit) where she graduated in 1946. That summer, she entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe, and received the religious name Sister Yvonne. Sister Eileen entered studies at Marygrove College and earned a bachelor's degree which focused on English, Education and Special education. Her early teaching ministry was at the elementary level at St. Joseph, Dexter; St. Felicitas, Chicago; St. Michael, Monroe, and St. Gregory, Detroit. For 10 years she served in the reading clinic of Marygrove College while pursuing her own studies for a master's degree in education at Wayne State University. Upon completing studies for a doctorate of education from Wayne State in 1967, she continued at the reading clinic and also chaired the Department of Psychology at Marygrove. Within the next five years, Sr. Eileen, a licensed psychologist, ministered as dean, in administration and as a reading consultant. In 1975, she accepted a position with the Portage Public Schools and made her home in Portage, Lawton and Mattawan. Over some 20 years, Sr. Eileen was a gifted clinician, coordinator and supervisor for special education classrooms and Assistant Director of Special Education. She continued her private practice in child psychology and psychotherapy. During these years she resided at Shadestone Farm, where she greatly enjoyed being a part of the community and continued to offer her ministry service from there. Sr. Eileen retired to the Motherhouse in Monroe in 2011. As her health declined, she moved to the Health Care Center. Sister Eileen is survived by her sisters, Bernadette Costello and Yvonne Isola, nieces and nephews and sisters in community. Her brothers, Lawrence and Robert, preceded her in death. Visitation will be held at the IHM Motherhouse, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe on Friday, February 23, beginning at 9:00 a.m. A Remembering service and Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00 a.m. Burial will take place at a later date. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Rupp Funeral Home, Monroe, MI. Memorials may be made to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Ave., Monroe, MI 48162-7909.