Sister Vera Ann Tilmann, OP

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever!”

~ Psalm 136:1

Jubilarian 2017 – 60 Years a Sister

Diamond Jubilee – sixty years! The power of GRATITUDE and acknowledgment of the many blessings in my life have been the source of much JOY throughout these sixty years. My deepest thanks to my Dominican Community, family, and friends.

I was taught by the Grand Rapids Dominicans during my grade school years. Since my family lived but a short distance from the convent, it was easy to be influenced by the Sisters. I entered Marywood in 1956, and soon realized that being “Dominican” meant study, study! I completed BA and MA Degrees at Aquinas College, and further studies included an MA Degree from Central Michigan University.

My life has been dedicated to Education – teaching or administration in schools in Grand Rapids, Byron Center, Lowell, Bay City, and Coopersville. During twenty of those years, I sang with the Mellow D’s. After retiring from full time teaching, I spent thirteen years developing and directing The WORD Project After-School Program for at-risk children.

Presently, I tutor/mentor at schools in Grand Rapids and at The Creative Youth Center. I feel so blessed to be able to continue doing what I love and I surely continue to “rejoice in every good thing God has given to me!” (Deut. 26:11)

Favorite leisure activities include reflection/ solitude/prayer time, reading, traveling, playing cards with Sisters and lay friends, spending time in nature, knitting, listening to music, and biking.

Vera Ann Tilmann was a school teacher and administrator for nearly 40 years. As she considered her ministry after retirement from teaching she said, I became determined to spend my retirement years trying to arrange for free tutoring for children who could not afford it. Today, she spends time one-on-one tutoring and mentoring children and youth in reading and writing.