Sr. Barilla

Barilla, OP, Sister Elizabeth of Grand Rapids (born in Grayson, Saskatchewan) formerly known as Sister John Evangelist died July 31, 2018. She was 103 years old and a Dominican Sister for 84 years. Sister Elizabeth received a Bachelor's degree from Aquinas College and a Master's degree from Aquinas Institute of Religious Education. Sister Elizabeth served as a teacher in the following places: St. John, Essexville; St. Mary, St. Joseph, and St. Casimir, Saginaw; St. Alphonsus and St. Andrew, Grand Rapids; Peñasco and Ranchos de Taos in New Mexico; Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights; and St. Alfred, Taylor. She also served in religious education and pastoral ministry at Alpine; Suttons Bay; Douglas; Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada; and Manistee. Sister Elizabeth and her sister, Sister Juliana, were fluent in the Hungarian language which was spoken in their family home. This was a great benefit when they travelled to Hungary in 1994 - 1996 under the auspices of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to assist the people in updating their understanding of the Church since Vatican II. All religion had been suppressed in this region of the world from the end of World War II until the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1991. In her retirement years, Sister Elizabeth was an active member of the Prayer and Listening Line ministry at Marywood. She was also an advisor for the Dominican Laity and spiritual advisor for the Friends of the Cross. At age 93 Sister Elizabeth began ministering to incarcerated men at the Muskegon Correctional Facility which she continued until mobility issues made it impossible to travel. Sister Elizabeth is survived by her sister, Margaret (Stan) Petracek, Esterhazy, Saskatchewan; nieces and nephews, many friends and members of her Dominican community. Sister Elizabeth will repose at Dominican Chapel/Marywood, 2025 Fulton Street East, with visitation on Wednesday, August 1 from 6:00-7:00 pm, followed by a Remembering Service at 7:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 4:00 pm on Thursday, August 2 at Dominican Chapel/Marywood. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials in Sister Elizabeth Barilla's name may be made to the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters Health Care Fund. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Sr. Elizabeth Barilla please visit our Sympathy Store.