Sister Giulii Zobelein, O.P., formerly known as Sister Michael Marie, died in Fremont, California, on December 29, 2024. She was 92 years old and in the 70th year of her religious profession.

Giulii Zobelein was born to Richard Zobelein and Virginia Giulii on July 14, 1932, in Los Angeles, California. She had a younger sister, Elisa, and a younger brother, Rick. Giulii attended Cathedral Chapel Elementary School, Los Angeles, through sixth grade. For grades seven through twelve, she was enrolled at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, La Canada Flintridge, where she met the Dominican Sisters.

In 1951, Giulii entered the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose. One year later she entered the novitiate and received the name Sister Michael Marie. On June 20, 1953, she made her first profession of vows as a Dominican Sister.

Sister Giulii’s life expresses the rich breadth of Dominican ministry. For ten years, 1956-1966,she served half a day as teacher at St. Mary of the Palms, Mission San Jose, and then half a day as printer at Mater Dei Press, the Congregation’s printing press. Continuing her work as printer, she taught at St. Joseph School, Mission San Jose, part-time from 1966-1968. In 1968, she became full-time printer at the Motherhouse. During these years she became a prize-winning photographer which enabled her to collaborate in illustrating booklets on St. Teresa of Avila, St. Catherine of Siena, and Bartolome Las Casas, the first bishop of Chiapas.

In 1985, she was assigned to the Congregation’s mission in Chiapas, Mexico, and ministered to the indigenous communities. In 1993, she returned to the United States and taught religion at Sacred Heart High School, Los Angeles, for two years. From 1995-2005, she served as director of religious education at Dolores Mission, Boyle Heights, while volunteering as a Bible study teacher with Spanish speaking inmates at Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail. After two years in parish ministry at Sagrada Familia Parish, Five Points, CA, Sister Giulii, returned to Los Angeles. In 2008, she resumed her ministry at Men’s Jail, Los Angeles; served as an interpreter for QueensCare a faith-based program the provides healthcare to needy families; and resumed volunteer work at Dolores Mission Parish. In 2018, Sister Giulii volunteered for the Partnership for Re-Entry Program (PREP), a restorative justice program in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Later that year, she moved to the Motherhouse, Fremont, where she volunteered at St. Joseph Parish and at Fremont Kaiser Hospital, as a Eucharistic minister for the sick.

Sister Giulii uplifted others with her wonderful sense of humor, inspired many by her selfless ministry to the poor—both at home and in the missions, enhanced Congregational publications with her prize-winning photography and printing skills, and promoted social justice.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Giulii will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 15, at 10:30 a.m. at the Dominican Sisters Motherhouse Chapel, 43326 Mission Circle, Fremont, CA. Burial will follow at God’s Acre, the sisters’ cemetery at the Motherhouse.