Sister OP

Brown, Sister Phyllis, OP the former Sister Norma Brown of Grand Rapids died on September 20, 2016. She was 91 years old and a Dominican Sister for 70 years. Sister Phyllis taught in parish schools throughout Michigan. Her missions were at St. Francis, Traverse City; St. Andrew and St. Thomas, Grand Rapids; St. Joseph, Pewamo; St. Mary, Saginaw; Sacred Heart, Muskegon Heights. For twenty-seven of those years she also taught religious education classes on Saturdays and after school for Catholic children attending the public schools. Sister Phyllis earned her B.A. from Aquinas College. She also attended the Theological Institute at St. Norbert's College, DePere, Wisconsin and took workshops at Mt. St. Joseph College, Cincinnati, Ohio and Viterbo College, LaCrosse, Wisconsin. At the time of her Golden Jubilee, Sister Phyllis reflected on her favorite passage from Scripture. She wrote: "Fifty years of dedication to the Lord is hardly a speck of time compared with eternity. My Shepherd, however, has led me thus far, and for this I am grateful. For all the events of my life, the happy ones and the crosses; for restoring my health at a young age and leading me on, I say, ‘Thank you, Lord.'" Sister Phyllis is survived by her sisters, Sister Donna Brown, OP of Grand Rapids; Carolyn (Joseph) Szagesh of Birch Run, MI; her brother Vernon (Millie) Brown of Comstock Park, MI; nieces, nephews; many friends and members of her Dominican Community. Sister Phyllis will repose at Dominican Chapel/Marywood, 2025 Fulton Street East, with visitation on Thursday, September 22 from 4:00-7:00 pm and a Remembering Service at 7:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, September 23 at 4:00 pm at Dominican Chapel/Marywood. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials in Sister Phyllis Brown's name may be made to the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters Health Care Fund. Stegenga Funeral Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Sister Phyllis Brown OP please visit our Sympathy Store.