Sr. Barbara Mary Dakoske’s loving, caring life was saluted with a Mass of the Resurrection at Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on November 4, 2024, celebrated by Bishop Donald F. Hanchon along with numerous concelebrant Frs. Fr. Tyronne Robinson and other speakers delivered moving tributes.
Bishop Donald Hanchon and concelebrants
Sister Rosemarie Abate, HVM
Fr. Tyronne Robinson. “Sr Barbara is still joined with us.”
Sr Clare Emeruom
Sr. Barbara Dakoske was born 3/23/1939. She was the sixth of eight children in her family. She started her 1st grade al St David’s on Detroit’s east side. By the 8th grade, two girls from St David’s had entered the newly founded Home Visitors of Mary community. This nurtured Barbara’s interest in religious life and involvement with the sisters. During summer of junior year, she scheduled several girls from school to accompany the sisters on home calls. Even though most of them cancelled, she continued to accompany the sisters and was impressed by people’s faith and their desire for a better life for their children. She enjoyed reaching out to people in their homes and inviting them to the nearby Catholic Church.
She entered the Home Visitors of Mary (HVM) on July 2, 1957, just after graduation. She graduated from Marygrove College in 1963 and later received her master’s degree in religious education from St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, Canada. Besides doing pastoral ministry in different Detroit parishes, she worked with a team at an Intercultural Center in Fling doing evangelization with a group of City parishes. She worked the following Detroit parishes – St Jude, St John Berchmans/St. Juliana, St Raymond, Our Lady of Good Counsel and most rccc11Lly Our Lady Queen of Heaven – Good Shepherd, just mention a few.
She served the Home Visitors of Mary community as Administrator and other leadership positions over the years. As a dedicated sister of Home Visitors of Mary she evangelized in the city in a person-centered way. She always aimed to build community, enculturate the faith and collaborate with lay leadership.
In 2001, together with Sr. Elizabeth Harris, she courageously moved to Abuja, Nigeria, to sow the seed of the HVM mission there. In intervening years this little seed has grown to thirty-five Nigerian HVM sisters serving in different ministries in 6 different Catholic dioceses in Nigeria.
Sr. Barbara cherished her quiet time with the Lord and awareness of the indwelling of Trinity. She will forever be remembered for her dedication, hard work, friendliness, courage, good heart and many other qualities.
We give thanks for Sr Barbara’s loving kindness shown in her caring ways. May she rest in peace with the Lord.
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