Rose Mary (Louise) Ala, IHM

Sister Rose Mary Ala, IHM, 80, died Wednesday, April 18, in the IHM Senior Living Community, Monroe.

Rose Mary Ala was born in Detroit on April 6, 1938 to parents, Luciano and Mary (Nardi) Ala. Rose Mary first attended St. Charles Grade School and completed the elementary years at Annunciation (Detroit). After graduating from Annunciation High School in 1955, she entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe, and received the religious name, Sister Louise.

After earning a bachelor’s degree at Marygrove College, Sister Rose Mary entered teaching ministry in the Detroit area at Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. Charles, St. George, Holy Trinity; and at St. Hugo, Bloomfield Hills; St. Regis, Birmingham; St. Angela, Roseville; and St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Taylor; as well as several years at St. Mary, Akron, Ohio, and Nativity in Hollywood, Fla. In the mid-1980s she served in adult education with the Detroit Public Schools.

Beginning in 1990, Sister Rose Mary moved into ministries of pastoral care, spiritual direction and retreat programming and gained the necessary credentials. This work took her to St. Athanasius, Roseville, and Our Lady of the Woods, Woodhaven, and continued as she resided in Woodhaven and St. Clair Shores.

In 2000, Sister Rose Mary and Sister Evelyn Booms, IHM, established the Heart of Jesus Prayer Center in St. Clair Shores. Over the next 15 years, the center offered individual spiritual direction, book study and a variety of retreat programs for religious and lay communities. Sister Rose Mary continued to work with those seeking spiritual direction until her recent illness.

Sister Rose Mary transitioned to retirement in 2012 and later that year moved to the IHM Motherhouse. She was a constant volunteer, visiting and praying with those in the Health Care Center, offering words of care and comfort to those affected by memory loss.

Sister Rose Mary is survived by her brother, Michael, and sisters, Mary Tominac and Jo Ann Galasso; many nieces and nephews; along with her sisters in community.

Memorials may be made to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Ave., Monroe, MI 48162-7909.

Read her Remembering.