Sister Melissa Waters, OP, died Dec. 21, 2025, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. Her Funeral Mass will take place 11 a.m. Wed., Jan. 14, 2026, at St. Clara Chapel, Sinsinawa, Wis., followed by burial in St. Clara Cemetery. Casey-McNett Funeral Home and Cremation Services is handling arrangements.

She was born to Harry and Doris (Waters) McMullen and named Joanne Elizabeth Nov. 27, 1930. Due to her parents’ early deaths, she was moved as a toddler with her two baby brothers, James and Richard, from New York City, N.Y., to Washington, D.C., where they were adopted and raised by their maternal grandparents, Chester and Sarah (Curran) Waters. She professed vows with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1950 and received the religious name Sister Melissa. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Rosary College, River Forest, Ill.; Master of Arts in English from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; and Doctor of Ministry from Aquinas Institute of Theology, Dubuque, Ia.

Her ministry has been dedicated to teaching and academic administration. Her first mission was at St. Bernard School, Peoria, Ill., where she taught 50+ students in first and second grades. She then taught at Corpus Christi School, New York City, N.Y., while also attending Fordham University. She taught at Most Pure Heart of Mary School in Mobile, Ala., and at Regina High School, Minneapolis. She served in congregation leadership for the Sinsinawa Dominicans as director of ongoing formation and then as provincial until 1980, when, after having completed her doctorate, she was called to Rosary College, now known as Dominican University. She was well loved there and served in many roles for 38 years in teaching and administration, including English teacher, associate dean for advising, assistant professor, and administrator of the Rosary in London (England) program. Upon retirement in 2018, she moved to Sinsinawa Mound. Melissa lived with a grateful and loving heart focused on all who came into her presence.

Sister Melissa was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, James. She is survived by her brother, Richard, and her Dominican Sisters. Memorials may be made to the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, Wis., or online at sinsinawa.org/donate.