Date : 09 Dec 2005
Location : Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, MI
Sister Mary Coralita Ellerbrock, RSM, 90, of Farmington Hills, Mich., formerly of Sioux City, a Sister of Mercy for 63 years died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at McAuley Center's Sacred Heart Chapel in Farmington Hills. Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, Mich. Arrangements are under the direction of McCabe Funeral Home in Farmington Hills.
She was born to Charles and Etna (Mattix) Ellerbrock on April 12, 1915, in Auburn, Iowa, and was baptized Maxine Lucille. She earned a certificate in primary teaching from Iowa State Teachers College and taught in Iowa schools for several years before joining the Sisters of Mercy in Detroit, Mich., in 1942. There she received the name, Sister Mary Coralita, and made perpetual vows on Aug. 16, 1948.
She earned a diploma from St. Joseph Mercy College of Nursing in Sioux City, a bachelor's degree from Mercy College of Detroit and a master's degree in nursing education from St. Louis University. Her ministries in health care included service as nursing supervisor for Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital in Detroit, director of nursing for St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Sioux City and director of nursing for St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa.
She was a member of the Sisters of Mercy Detroit Provincial Council from 1961 to 1967, where her main responsibility was preparation of young sisters for their future ministries. She developed and served in the role of provincial coordinator of nursing education and nursing service for nine years. When the Sisters of Mercy Health Corporation was formed in 1976, she developed quality assurance programs. After the system became known as Mercy Health Services, she served as senior advisor for quality assurance, as consultant for development of a potential reflection center for the health system, and in governance as a member of the divisional board of St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Pontiac, Mich.
She is survived by several nieces, nephews and by the members of her Mercy community.
Memorial donations may be made to the Mercy Ministry Fund, 29000 Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI. 48336-1405.
Sioux City Journal - Dec 7, 2005
