Sister Mary Emmeric Emerick, OP

Sister M. Emmeric was born in 1933 in LaSalle, IL and raised on a farm in Peterstown by her parents, Lloyd and Marcella (Sondgeroth) Emerick who baptized her Marilee Teresa. She joined the Dominican Sisters in 1951 and made her first profession of vows in 1953.

Sister M. Emmeric was a dedicated educator who gave a remarkable 59 years of ministry as a teacher and elementary school administrator. For 36 years, she was peripatetic, teaching at St. Thomas, Crystal Lake, 1953-1955; St. Charles Borromeo, Hampshire, 1955-1957, and St. Frances Cabrini, Springfield, where she taught 1957-1963 and was principal 1970-1971. She taught at Sacred Heart, Pana, 1963-1964 and returned there as principal, 1980-1986. She then served as principal and junior high teacher at Holy Rosary School, Denver, CO, where she and one other sister had what she called “the sad task” of closing the school. She taught at St. Mary School, Assumption, 1969-1970. For three years, she taught 8th grade at St. Lawrence O’Toole, Matteson, which had adopted an innovative teaching model called Individually Guided Education.

It was while she was principal at St. Joseph School, Bradley, 1974-1980, that Sister M. Emmeric’s profile appeared in a local paper in a feature called “The Women in Your Life.” The wisdom she shared then typified the way she lived for the entirety of her consecrated life. “Keeping your life simple is important,” she told the reporter. When asked about her happy, even-tempered attitude, Sister M. Emmeric, who had just celebrated 25 years of religious profession, said “Growth is hard. We love people because they are who they are.”

After leaving Bradley, she taught at St. Agnes in Springfield, 1986-1989. There her whirlwind travels through elementary schools ceased. She moved a final time to St. Edward School, Chicago, where she remained for 23 years, teaching 8th grade math and serving as assistant principal 1997-2008.

When she returned to Springfield in 2012, she kept busy, driving sisters to appointments and making hospital visits, “retiring” from that role in 2023.

Sister M. Emmeric was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Kenneth Emerick; and her sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Charles Scott. She is survived by her niece, Deborah Danner, Elgin, IL; her grandnephew and godson, Logan; her grandniece, Victoria; several cousins; many loving friends; and her Dominican Sisters.

Visitation: 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at Aquinas Center, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704. The Mass of Christian Burial follows at 6:30 p.m. in Sacred Heart Convent Chapel.

Both services will be streamed live at springfieldop.org/livestream/

Burial will be held at Calvary Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

To honor the memory of Sister M. Emmeric gifts may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL, 62704.

The Dominican Sisters and family of Sister M. Emmeric are served by Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield.

For complete obit and to offer your condolences, please visit butlerspringfield.com.

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