SINSINAWA, WI — Sr. Alban Hermes, OP, died January 18, 2026, at the age of 99 at Siena on the Lake retirement community, Racine, Wisconsin.
She was born on September 13, 1927, to John and Frances (Ridder) Hermes in Jacksonville, Illinois, and given the name Marjorie Elizabeth. She made profession with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1947 and received the religious name Sr. Alban.
Sr. Alban earned her bachelor of science in education from Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin; her master of education in administration from DePaul University, Chicago; and her master in pastoral ministry from Loyola University of Chicago.
Sr. Alban’s ministry was dedicated to teaching and pastoral ministry, including service to the marginalized. In Illinois, she taught at St. Brendan School, St. Sabina School, Visitation School, and St. Thomas More School, Chicago; St. Patrick School, Lemont; St. Michael School, Galena; and St. Mary School, Evanston. She served as pastoral minister at St. Mary Parish, Evanston.
Sr. Alban spent the last 28 years of ministry at Our Lady of Knock Parish, Calumet City, where she taught RCIA, led Bible study, and ran a food pantry as well as a meal site. In Minnesota, Sr. Alban ministered at St. Lawrence School, Faribault, as teacher and later as principal. In Wisconsin, she taught at St. Peter School, Oshkosh, and was pastoral associate at St. Clement Parish, Sheboygan.
In Alabama, she ministered as principal and teacher at St. Joseph School, Tuskegee. Sr. Alban was a gentle, humble woman with a spacious, loving servant’s heart and a perpetual twinkle in her eye.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Robert Hermes; and sisters Mary (Nicholas) Krutke, Amalia (Jesse) Bautista, and Regina (Owen) McGarvey. She is survived by her sister, Ursula (Henry) Zerbe; beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins; many friends; and her Dominican Sisters.
A remembering service will take place at 9:30 a.m. Monday, February 16, in Siena Chapel at the Racine Dominican Motherhouse, and her funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will take place in St. Clara Cemetery, Sinsinawa. Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home is handling local arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, Wisconsin, or given online at sinsinawa.org/donate.