Dominican Sister Mary Colette Philips had special love for St. Michael’s School

    Dominican Sister of Peace Mary Colette Philips died July 26 at Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center in New Orleans. She was 82 and in her 55th year as a woman religious.
    Born Ruth Mary Philips in New Orleans on June 28, 1929, Sister Mary Colette entered the novitiate of the former St. Mary’s Dominican Sisters in New Orleans and made her profession of vows in 1957. She earned a bachelor of arts in psychology from Louisiana State University, a bachelor of science in education from St. Mary’s Dominican College, and a master’s degree in special education from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee.
    Sister Mary Colette taught at various Dominican schools in Louisiana, including St. Michael Special in New Orleans. Over the years she also served in a number of administrative and consultative roles for her former congregation and ministries.
    Sister Mary Colette thanked God often for her Dominican vocation and for the many blessings of her ministries, particularly her “Camelot” years serving at St. Michael Special and St. Coletta in Jefferson, Wis., one of the country’s oldest Catholic service organizations supporting adults with developmental difficulties and other challenges.
    A funeral Mass was celebrated July 29 at the Dominican Sisters of Peace motherhouse chapel in New Orleans. Interment followed in the Dominican Sisters of Peace cemetery in Rosaryville.
    Sister Mary Colette, one of a family of nine children of the late Dudley A. Philips Sr. and Jeanne Guerineau Philips, is survived by her nieces and nephews.
    In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift in Sister Mary Colette’s name may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, 2320 Airport Drive, Columbus, Ohio, 43219-2098 or submitted securely online at www.oppeace.org.