Arsulowicz Brothers Mortuaries, Inc.

BUGALA
Sister Thomasine, OP (the former Genevieve Bugala) of Grand Rapids, Michigan (born in Saginaw, MI) died May 11, 2010. She was 83 years old and a Dominican Sister for 58 years. Sister Thomasine was a first and second grade teacher at St. Alphonsus and Immaculate Heart of Mary schools in Grand Rapids, and at St. Norbert in Munger. While teaching primary grade students she completed her undergraduate studies at Aquinas College where she majored in German. After receiving her master’s degree from Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts in 1966, she did additional graduate work at Michigan State, University of Wisconsin, and University of New Hampshire. Sister Thomasine joined the language faculty of Aquinas in 1968 to teach German and to train students as teachers of English as a second language. For over twenty years, Sister Thomasine spent summers in Japan, working on the program of Maryknoll Father Graham McDonnell, the Good Shepherd Movement in Kyoto, Japan.  Here she tutored, trained teachers, and wrote texts. In 1990, Sister Thomasine retired from college teaching. She became the Catholic Telecommunications Network of America (CTNA) program coordinator, and a tutor in outreach ministries. She spent two years at the minor seminary in Papua New Guinea, teaching English, religion, and history.  She again returned to Marywood where she conducted a course to prepare others to teach English as a second language to Hispanics.  In 1996, she was invited to Novosibirsk in the Russian Federation by Bishop Joseph Werth.  Here she would again teach English and train teachers. Of all the gifts of Dominican life, Sister Thomasine had many, but she excelled in the gifts of itinerancy and study.  Sister Thomasine is survived by her sister, Sister Rosella Bugala, SFCC of Midland, nieces, nephews, friends and Sisters in her Dominican Community. Sister Thomasine will repose at Chapel of the Word, Marywood Health Center, 111 Lakeside Dr. NE in Grand Rapids with visitation on Friday, May 14 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. The Remembering Service will be on Friday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. at Dominican Chapel/Marywood, 2025 East Fulton Street. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 15, 2010 at Dominican Chapel/Marywood. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials in Sister Thomasine Bugala's name may be made to the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters Health Care Fund.

Arsulowicz Brothers Funeral Home