Sister Mary Cabrini Warpeha

1929 - 2015

(News story) Sister Mary Cabrini Warpeha, who as a dean and vice president of what is now Lourdes University guided the academic growth of the Sylvania school, died Sunday in ProMedica Flower Hospital, Sylvania. She was 86.

She had been treated for pneumonia recently, said Sister Ann Carmen Barone, director of liturgy for the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania.

Sister Cab-rini made her first profession of religious vows with the community in 1948 and her final vows in 1951.

She was Lourdes archivist from January, 2001, until July, 2015. The university named a computer lab and learning center in her honor.

As she arrived at Lourdes in 1983, the college was becoming accredited as a four-year institution. As vice president and dean for academic affairs, she helped lead reaccreditation efforts.

Sister Cabrini was credited with developing several bachelor of arts and science degree programs; the weekend college program; improving the general education curriculum, and encouraging diversity concepts in curriculum and the academic environment.

"She found bridges and was respectful," said Sister Ann Carmen, who is Lourdes vice president for mission and ministry.

"Her humanity reached out to others. She made us use every bit of talent we had and encouraged us and told us when we made mistakes and [we] laughed at things together."

Sister Cabrini's importance to Lourdes was "monumental. She was the doer," said Debbie Schwartz, a retired Lourdes English professor and administrator.

"The president maybe had the vision, but it was Cabrini who made it happen," Ms. Schwartz said. "She motivated everybody to get the work done to turn that college from a place no one had heard of - we had 600 students when I started there - to a viable institution of higher education."

Sister Cabrini had a way of helping faculty and staff see a bigger vision, Sister Ann Carmen said, and that meant "the mission and the spirit of the institution and showing them how their gifts and talents added and made a difference to the whole enterprise.

"She knew how to hold her ground, but I think most people would say she was a person of quiet strength," Sister Ann Carmen said.

Many Lourdes students had a chance to try her "magic nun cookies," as she called them - Ritz crackers and peanut butter dipped in chocolate - and she made many bagsful for students off on service projects and for orientation.

Margaret Warpeha was born Jan. 6, 1929, to Sophie and Frank Warpeha - the 10th child in a large family - and grew up in Minneapolis. An aunt, Mother Justinian Warpeha, was the first president of Lourdes.

Sister Cabrini "had a reverent, nonjudgmental presence," her niece Eileen Ripsin said. "She loved Jesus. She lived her religious life in fidelity and integrity."

She had a bachelor's degree in English and history from the College of St. Teresa, Winona, Minn.; a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Detroit, and a doctorate in higher education and educational leadership from the University of Toledo.

She taught in elementaries and high schools and colleges, including Central Catholic High School and the former Mary Manse College.

A University of Minnesota football fan in her youth, she later went to Detroit Lions and Tigers games.

Surviving are her brother, Raymond Warpeha, and sister, Mary Jane Kiner.

A welcoming service will be at 4:30 p.m. today in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel in the Sylvania Franciscans' motherhouse, with visitation until 8 p.m. Funeral services will be at noon Saturday in the chapel, with visitation after 9 a.m.

Tributes are suggested to the Sisters of St. Francis in Sylvania.

This story was written by Blade Staff Writer Mark Zaborney. Contact him at: mzaborney@theblade.com">mzaborney@theblade.com">mzaborney@theblade.com">mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.