Dear friends,
I have been meaning to share with you the obituary of Sr. Louis Mary Passeri, OP, printed below. Sr. Louis Mary preached with us for fourteen years, her final preaching coming less than a month before she died. Knowing it was close, she shared with me that she was ready to go home. She was an amazing preacher, a model Dominican, and a joy to know.
Sr. Louis Mary, pray for us
-Scott
Dominican Sister of Peace Sr. Louis Mary Passeri, OP, died at Mohun Health Care. Center, Columbus, OH on June 22, 2025. She was born in 1932 in Steubenville, Ohio. In 1952, she entered the Congregation of St. Mary of the Springs, now the Dominican Sisters of Peace, and spent most of her life serving God’s people.
She ministered as an educator in Ohio and Pennsylvania schools for more than 50 years, was a Religious Education Director in Lancaster, OH and a principal in Zanesville and Columbus. She served as a Spiritual Director for many years and authored several books. They include Gathered Fragments, Crumbs from the Table and an internal publication for the Dominican Sisters of Peace. She preached on “The Word,” a Dominican podcast that offers daily reflections on Christian scriptures.
She received the Living Faith Award from The Spirituality Network and was recognized with the Outstanding School Administrator Award from the Ohio Music Education Association.
Sr. Louis Mary earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from St. Mary of the Springs College, now Ohio Dominican University, and her Master of Arts degree in Elementary Administration from Notre Dame University.
In the reflection at her July 8 Mass of the Resurrection at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse Chapel Sr. Diane Kozlowski, OP said, “Sr. Louis Mary was a passionate preacher engaged in pulpit preaching, ‘The Word’ podcasts, and she preached through her writings. She preached through the witness of her life and through her ministries in education, religious education and spiritual direction… her life and her words were witness to the great love God has for her and each one of us.”
Sr. Louis Mary requested that her body be donated to science.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Grace Palusci Passeri, and her sisters, Caroline Rokos and Inez Ferguson.
Memorial gifts in Sr. Louis Mary’s memory may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Drive, Columbus, OH 43219, or submitted securely at oppeace.org.