Detroit Mercy Law celebrates the life of Sister Colleen Hickey

October 09, 2023

Sister Colleen Hickey passed away on October 2 at the age of 88. She dedicated her life to her faith and her community. She undoubtedly had a positive impact on anyone who passed through Detroit Mercy Law during her service.

Sister Colleen joined Detroit Mercy Law in 1970 as the associate director of the law library. She served the law school and students for 41 years before retiring in 2011. She was dedicated to helping students in any way that she could, from helping them with their legal research to writing letters of recommendation. She continued to volunteer at the law school after her retirement. She also raised money for the Warming Center at the Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, adjacent to Detroit Mercy Law.

While Sister Colleen worked in the library, her niece, Denise Hickey '95, who previously served as assistant dean for alumni relations at Detroit Mercy Law, enrolled at the law school. She worried about perceived favoritism from her aunt, but soon realized Sister Colleen treated everyone like her niece or nephew.

The funeral mass will be held on Friday, October 13 at 10 am at St. Joan of Arc (22412 Overlake Street, St. Clair Shores, MI 48080).

To learn more, visit https://www.freep.com/obituaries/det126107.