Sister Beth was an amazing woman and no amount of words could ever truly describe that. She was the silver lining in both my life and my best friends lives as well. She helped us all through hard times with her lovely laugh and compassion and her empathy as well. I have so many fond memories of her and I will miss her so so much,she gave herself fully to everything she had a mind to and was just truly,a wonderful person to all,but for me she was also like my family,not just a friend. She will be missed 😢 💔

Sr. Beth Ann was a favorite teacher of mine. Her dedication, commitment and service to her community is to be admired. I valued her strength, support, humor and caring for me as a student,  and in the years after graduation. Beth Ann’s love of history was evident throughout my high school years. In high school, I thought she was a good teacher. After becoming a teacher myself, I knew she was a great teacher. I think of her every time I can answer a Jeopardy question about Hannibal or Mesopotamia or Alexander the Great… I remember because I had a great teacher. 
My sincere condolences to Beth Ann’s family and friends, and especially to her beloved sisters.
Job well done Sr. Beth Ann. Thank you and rest in peace. 
Laura Wallmeyer Dierken,  MSJA ‘81

I am very sad to learn of Sister Beth's sudden passing. 

Sister Beth was my high school history teacher at Mt. St. Joseph Academy in 1981-82 and was a great help to me in preparing for (Jesuit) college. 

I thank God for Sister Beth’s excellence as a teacher; her vocation as a religious sister and her perseverance in that vocation for more than 60 years. I am full of gratitude for her lifelong, unfailing belief in the  goodness of young people everywhere.

My sincere condolences to her family and to her sisters in religious life.  May she rest in peace.

Jim Hayes
MSJA Class of 1982

I may have not known this wonderful Lady but from the story I heard from My aunt, Carol Taraskiewicz  today She had told me how much she had loved her, Carol had told me that my other aunts knew her, and she had spent easter at my Grandparent's house with my aunt's and mom as kids, she also said that some of my aunt's had spring break with her helping people. and that they would go to Mass together. and she also made cookies; I may have not known her but hearing how much Carol and My aunt's loved her, I love her! rest well knowing how loved you are, by everyone, my aunt's and even my aunt Carol, and me, as I may have not known you God told me to love all! say hi to My grandma and Grandpa, we will miss you!

My condolences to the family and friends of Sr. Beth. I met her at freshman orientation in 1984 when she taught me the UofD fight song (which I later sang a few times on stage at the Gaelic League in my tone-deaf way). She welcomed me even when I did not feel so welcome all the time as a first-gen student with bad imposter syndrome. Sr. Beth always had time to really listen to students, all students. When I returned to the university to work in 1996, she was one of the people who welcomed me the heartiest, forgiving my behaviors as a student and seeing the caring person inside me.  She encouraged me to embrace a humanistic philosophy, and she still had time to support students and prioritized them above just about all else.  I will never forget her kindness to everyone. She was a gift from the universe to UD/UDM.

Sr. Beth with a group of students and volunteer supporters of Alternative Spring Break. This is Spring 2008 in either South Carolina or Biloxi, MS.

Sr. Beth with a group of Jesuit volunteers at Buddy's pizza in February 2007. It was a post basketball game celebration for a Titans win.

Somehow, I convinced Sr. Beth and Fr. Gary Wright, SJ (not baseball fans)  to drive down to Toledo, OH for a Mudhens minor league game. They joined a group of Jesuit Volunteers and UDM students.  Sr. Beth is expressing her confusion as to how she managed to find herself there.

Beth with a group of students and University Ministry staff for Fall retreat 2005 in Oxford, MI. She made the best meals! The house always smelled like Thanksgiving!

After Fall semester in El Salvador in 2006,  I returned to the Detroit Mercy campus for the 10pm Mass in Shipple Hall the Thursday of Finals week. I was anxious to see all my friends and it was a chance to see them before the Holiday break.  Sr. Beth spread the word and here's a bunch of us all smiles and looking pretty good for 10pm nearing the end of Finals week. Sr. Beth's good friend; Fr. John Staudenmaier, SJ is in the photo too.

My condolences to the Finster family on the passing of Sr. Beth Ann. She was a great support to me and so many other UDM students. I met her in my contact with campus ministry and in looking for help in finding my purpose on the UDM campus and in life, and Sr. Beth encouraged me to keep coming back to campus ministry and to God. I was fortunate to go on retreats in Oxford during my time at UDM, and I am so grateful for Sr. Beth's encouragement and support. Rest in peace, Beth Ann.

My UDM experience wouldn’t have been the same without you. I will always cherish our time together and the lessons you taught me. Fly high with God 🪽🪽

The Berkowski family of the University of Detroit Mercy sat next to Sr. Beth at UDM basketball games for many years. She was a wonderful person and we enjoyed being with her all those years. We were sad when she left Detroit and more sad now to learn of her passing.

Sending so much love and light to the family and loved ones of Sr. Beth. She touched my life profoundly while serving at the university of Detroit Mercy. She put me on my first alternative spring break, shook my spirit with a trip to Nogales Mexico to witness the pain and suffering of deported individuals. Allowed me to encounter the jesuit volunteers, and I ended up becoming one myself. Her leadership shaped who I am today.

I met “Aunt” Sister Beth my freshman year of college in 1993.  Her niece , Molly, lived on my floor in Holden (HPG!) and she became our surrogate Aunt on campus :). Over my six years on campus, I so enjoyed my interactions with her, from a quick hello to hugs if needed and encouragement in my later years (when career ideas shifted).  She is a beautiful picture of what the University of Detroit Mercy is.  My condolences to the Finster family (Molly and Peggy) and to the UDM community and friends who will also miss her presence.  Rejoicing that she is now with our Saviour!

I am so sorry to hear this. I was a student and coworker of Sister Beth at UDM. My name is Karla Aikens. My fondest memory of Sister Beth was at the beginning of the school year she would give out free cookies to the students and staff to celebrate the first week of school. it was always a treat when she would do this in front of University Ministries. I will never forget  Sister Beth.

To the family and friends of Sister Beth, I wanted to off you my condolences on the passing of one of the kindest people I have had the pleasure of meeting.  I met Sr. Beth as an employee at the University of Detroit Mercy, and I will forever remember her dedication to Alternative Spring Break, and taking students to poor and depressed areas of the country so they could provide service to the residents in those communities.  Her cookie fundraisers were my absolute favorite, as Sr. Beth made some of the best baked goods around Detroit!  She was a mentor to so many people, both students and younger employees like myself.  We are all better people for having known and worked with Sr. Beth, and her influence will live on in the spirit of the people she touched.  May God give you peace, and may you find comfort in the memories you have of Sr. Beth.

Forty-seven years ago, I was in Sr. Beth Ann’s homeroom at Mount St. Joseph Academy. She made a stern and strict first impression on us as 15-year-olds, and she had a no-nonsense approach and attitude for what behaviors would (and would not be) tolerated in her classes and in her presence.
An early memory with Sr. Beth is a group of us sitting in the English/Social Studies Resource Room for a study period. A few upper classmen decided to play “Starsky and Hutch” and were jumping like gymnasts over short bookcases and rolling on to the carpet, as if part of a stakeout. We were all laughing so hard, we could barely contain ourselves, and then the door flew open, and it was Sr. Beth Ann. Each of us audibly gasped and froze in place. She bellowed the first and last names of the offenders in a volume I’m sure they heard at Forest Lawn. Those classmates were instructed to go to Sr. Mary Ellen Fiegl’s office for discipline unknown, but most assuredly, horrible (or so the rest of us thought). We heard Sr. Beth’s loud admonishing continue down the formerly quiet hall.
Sr. Beth Ann was a force – not to be challenged or second-guessed. Behave or else. Lesson learned.
In the years that followed at MSJ, I got to know her better through her European History and AP history classes, and the school trips she coordinated and chaperoned to Boston and D.C.  We got to know the person she was, her family roots in Riverside, her love of Neil Diamond’s music, the friends she had across the globe, her desire to travel everywhere and anywhere.
As we got more comfortable and more familiar, it became a contest to get surly Sr. Beth to break a little. The supreme satisfaction of hearing her release that gregarious laugh wasn’t easily bestowed, which made it all the more special.
Years later, she would tell me it took all the strength she had not to laugh with us at MSJ’s “Starsky and Hutch.”
I will miss her animated story telling, her exaggerated responses and facial expressions to the tales of others, her always asking how I was doing and how my family was – because I know she was sincere.
In the arms of Jesus now, I thank you and wish you “Peace and Love,” Sr. Beth, which is how you signed every card you sent and my yearbooks too.
My heartfelt sympathies to her family and the Sisters of St. Joseph. God bless you and God bless Sr. Beth Ann.
Julie Krzeminski Becht, MSJA Class of 1981

My deepest condolences . Her and Sr. Mary taught us so much as at UDM including Follow the Queen and other card games 🥺. I will miss you fondly

We are very sorry about the passing of Sister Beth.  I had the great pleasure of working with her while she served on the Board of Trustees for St. Mary's School for the Deaf.  She was a strong advocate and voice on behalf of the Sisters of St. Joseph.  Sister also played a vital role in the recent search for a new Superintendent for St. Mary's.  Her wisdom and character helped make this search as successful as it was and lead to a great hire for the new Superintendent.

Sister will be greatly missed by all and especially the Board of Trustees.  Rest in peace.

Brian and Kathleen Knauth

When I was considering attending UDM in the Spring of 1993, the students hosting me from 4-West took me to the Gaelic League to watch a band play and that's where I met Sr. Beth for the first time. She was a fellow Buffalonian! 

Eventually, Sr. Beth would become a mentor to me as I worked in the Volunteer Center, helping our student team to plan events like the annual adopt-a-family program and alternative spring break trips. She had a no-nonsense way about her and worked tirelessly to make sure we always knew she had our backs. 

Each year, when I would get her ASB "begging" letter, I would read about how much the program had expanded since I'd graduated and it warmed me to think of all the many students' lives she touched since my time at UDM. When I learned of her retirement a little while back, I remember thinking how UDM could never be the same without her. 

Rest in peace, Sr. Beth. Thank you for all you did to make me a better person and make our world a better place. ♡

Oh Sr. Beth, where do I start. 

When I toured UDM it just spoke to me. For our orientation program I carefully chose something that wasn’t very physical, and ended up on the spiritual retreat. This was lead by the Ministry Office. 

Anyone who knows me I am more spiritual than religious but I had to chose something to participate in. That is where I met the folks of the Ministry team Fr. Gary, Sr. Beth, Sr. Katherine and Drew. 

From that retreat, I learned that there were work study positions. I asked to join the team, and was a dutiful employee for 4 years. Through those four years Sr. Beth and I bonded more than I expected. By the end of my time at UDM I often joked with her that there were only two people who could get me to Mass, her and my grandma. This rang true when she was surprised to see me at her jubilee service for her time with the Sisters of St. Joseph. 

As I graduated, and headed off to law school (she cheered when I told her I would be at UDM again and not somewhere else) she sent me off with a plate of my favorite brownies of hers which were filled with cherries/cherry juice, raspberries and blueberries. I also shared with her that my grandma loved fruit cake and so she would often bake a few for me to take to gram until she retired from the university and went back to Buffalo.

She truly was always there when you needed her as a student and I will never forget her kindness and friendship.

May her memory be a blessing  💜

Sister Beth was one of the first people I met when we moved to the university of Detroit Mercy in 2000.   She made our small family at the time feel welcomed.   My first summer there our son Hayden who was a very active 3 year old invited us to help her plant some flowers in the courtyard of Lansing Reilly where the Jesuits live.   Our 3 year old was reverent and calm.    

She saw our family grow from 3 to 5.   As I got to know her, I found out that she shared my birthday.    

She was such a fixture at the University of Detroit Mercy.    She was the men's and women's basketball chaplain.      There was a homeless alum of the University that she made arrangements with public safety to house at the McGovern center.    

She lived for baking her cookies and apple cakes for the students who were participating in alternative spring break.   She. Only used a small convection oven to make all those delicious treats.   

She would also make cookies at the beginning and end of the semester.   When students would be buying their books the cookies would be free.   At the end of the semester she would charge for the cookies because she said, when they have money I charge and when they don't they are free.   

She will be greatly missed.  She was a person who could have a connection with anyone.

She was a great disciple of Christ.   
My thoughts and prayers for all who she touched.

I always remember the fun that she brought to the workplace. She made the most amazing baked goods for worthy causes. Most of all I will remember her friendliness and open spirit to comfort in a time you need it the most.

I was blessed to work at UDM and see Sr. Beth almost every day. She was the real deal. She lived with the students. She baked cookies constantly, for every fundraiser possible. Her Alternative Spring Break program changed lives. She limped badly, putting off hip surgery until she could heal while “her girls” were gone for the summer. There will be Buffalo wings in heaven, and the Bills will win every game. God bless you, Sister Beth!

Sr. Beth with Isaiah (Ike) McKinnon, former Chief of the Detroit Police Department and Detroit Mercy professor.

Many of us at the University of Detroit Mercy have never stopped missing you!

Ruth E. Fichter

I was a friend and colleague of Sr. Beth at the University of Detroit Mercy for many years.  She was passionate about the well-being of students and spent much time and effort for students and colleagues.  God bless all those who grieve for her.

Sr. Beth (aka Aunt Sr. Beth, I went to school with Molly) was a presence when I was a student (93-97) and still kicking when I returned in 2002 as faculty. I loved her sense of humor and warm smile. She will be missed dearly.

It was such a pleasure to work with Sr. Beth during her time at Detroit Mercy.  I think of her often when I see the dedicated space they have for her on campus.

This is such sad news. I worked with Sister Beth at University of Detroit Mercy for almost 20 years. 

I admired her drive and passion for the students she served. Always baking treats to sell to help raise money for Alternative Spring  Break. Helping young people understand the value of being in service to others.

Always a smile and I kind word for anyone’s path she crossed.

Rest with God my friend.

OBITUARY

Sr. Beth Ann Finster, SSJ

October 20, 1947 – July 1, 2025

Dengler, Roberts, Perna Funeral Home

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