Sr. Rose Carmel Burgess, IHM, 87, died March 15 at the IHM Health Care Center.

Sr. Burgess was born Feb. 8, 1928, in East Grand Rapids and grew up in Mount Clemens. At 4 months old, she was adopted by James and Mary “Violet” (Bauman) Burgess and was baptized Mary Josephine. She entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Monroe in 1946.

She earned degrees from Marygrove College and Wayne State University. Her teaching ministry focused on music — piano, voice, organ, chorale and studio music — at St. Mary Academy in Monroe; Gesu, Immaculata, St. Rose and Marygrove College in Detroit; St. Phillip, Battle Creek; Our Lady of Lake Huron, Harbor Beach; St. Mary, Mount Clemens; and St. Mary, Akron, Ohio.

She ministered as organist and director of liturgy for the IHM Motherhouse, and joined the faculty of Marygrove College in 1977.

In 1982, Sr. Burgess completed a calligraphy masterclass and shared her skills at Marygrove and in the community.

Sr. Burgess is survived by her fellow sisters and many friends.

A memorial Mass was March 19 at the IHM Motherhouse. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery.