†Sister Margaret Thomas, OP

“Let morning announce your love, my God, for in you I trust.
Show me the right way, for I offer you myself.”
~ Psalm 143:8

At the time of her Golden Jubilee, Sister Margaret Thomas chose this scripture passage as a favorite.

Marguerite Angeline Jane Thomas, born November 14, 1928, in Lansing, Michigan, was the fourth of seven children of Walter Stanley and Margaret Jane (Chamness) Thomas. With her four brothers (one died in infancy) and one sister she grew up with an abiding sense of God and the ability to love, laugh, and pray. The family moved frequently to several rural and small-town communities. An observant child, Marguerite watched, listened, and learned about life through these many moves and interactions with a variety of people.

Marguerite’s education began in a one-room schoolhouse near Byron, Michigan, a rural area with a school population of fifteen students, five of whom were from the Thomas family. There she developed a fascination for learning. She loved to read and explore the natural world around her. From an early age, she wanted to be a teacher and make school as exciting for others as it was for her.

Among the family’s many moves, her father went into the hotel business in a small town nearby. There Marguerite witnessed more about life than she had ever imagined – the good and the bad. For two and a half years, she attended the local high school where she was the only girl in the math and science classes – two subjects she enjoyed. In November of her junior year, she visited a friend at Marywood Academy. She liked what she saw and arranged to transfer in January. At Marywood Academy, she was challenged by higher academic standards, learned much about religion, and made many friends.

Marguerite became a postulant on September 8, 1946. After six months, she received the habit and the name Sister Mary Alan of Our Lady of the Rosary. Sister Alan furthered her education at Aquinas College receiving a BS in Chemistry, and later, an MS in Physics from the University of Mississippi. She also studied Educational Administration at the University of Colorado.

Through the years, Sister Alan taught in schools in Conklin (Wright), Melvindale (Detroit), Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Chesaning, Kingsley (Hannah), and Essexville. Her high school teaching experience included chemistry, mathematics, biology, history, English, religion, physics, sociology, Latin, and glee club.

An eager and eclectic learner, she received a National Science Foundation grant at the Institute on Physics at Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, and another grant to continue in physical sciences at Central Michigan University. She studied theology in the congregation’s summer program at St. Paul Seminary, Saginaw. Later in life, she took course work in Asian Studies at the University of Hawaii.

In 1963, Sister Alan became principal at St. John High School, Essexville, and three years later was appointed the principal at SS. Peter and Paul, Saginaw. She remodeled classrooms and sponsored a variety of activities and programs. For ten years she fostered and built SS. Peter and Paul High School into an exemplary place of secondary education. She was a recognized leader known for unwavering support of faculty and students in building a curriculum with extensive offerings in the arts, and sciences. She expanded extracurricular activities and developed successful fund-raising initiatives to keep tuition costs manageable for families. Sister Alan often referred to the students and faculty as “fantastic.” For her work at SS. Peter and Paul, Sr. Alan received high commendation in a University of Michigan accreditation report.

Following her tenure at SS. Peter and Paul, Sr. Alan lived and worked many years in Colorado, which she called “God’s special place.” It was during this time that she returned to her baptismal name and became known as Sister Margaret. She was the principal at Catholic Central High School in Denver, and continued studies at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She assisted the Colorado State Education Department in assessing schools for improvement. She was devoted to religious education at the parish level, serving in parishes at St. Martin de Porres in Boulder as Director of Religious Education and Ave Maria Parish, Parker, where she also directed Religious Education and became the principal. She directed Religious Education at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Arvada, Colorado, and taught in adult confirmation classes at Holy Family Parish. Here, as in every place she lived, she was appreciated for her witness to faith, her keen sense of humor, and her generous spirit. She was known for her inability to deny anyone who asked for help.

Her years in Colorado were full and joyous with travel, mountain climbing, vacation Bible School, retreats for seniors, gardening, crafting with children and their families, and the list goes on.

In the Dominican congregation, she was chairperson of the Education Committee and an Area coordinator. She served as a member of the Aquinas College Board of Trustees and on national and archdiocesan committees. During Pope John Paul II’s visit to Denver in August 1993, she was a member of the Hospitality Committee for the papal visit, a gathering of 18,000 people. She worked with volunteers on the Youth Ministry Team and helped organize housing and transportation. One of several highlights during the congress was a vigil with a two-hour prayer service followed the next morning by a papal Mass for 400,000 people.

Sister Margaret had many hobbies and interests including hiking, cooking, photography, downhill skiing, and running, for which she won several medals and trophies.

In August of 1994 Sister Margaret took part in an immersion experience in Monteria, an area in rural Columbia. There she lived in the barrios with people experiencing extreme poverty. She returned with the recognition of the dignity and depth of the human spirit.

All her life, Sister Margaret listened each morning to hear God’s love for her. In return she trusted God who showed her the way, the God to whom she offered herself, and the God in whom she rests now in abiding peace.

Sr. Margaret is survived by her brother, Fred (Sharon) Thomas, sister-in-law, Iris Thomas, as well as many nieces, nephews, family and friends, especially Sister Sharon Ford, RSM, as well as members of her Dominican community.