In Remembrance: Sister Anne's Legacy of Life, Love, and Healing

Throughout her 45 years of dedicated service to the patients and families at Trinity Health Ann Arbor, Sister Anne Marilyn Tyler was known for her gentle smile, quiet strength, and a talented eye behind the camera, where she was able to beautifully illustrate the power of life, love, and healing. 

Sister Anne, 83, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2025, leaving behind a profound and lasting legacy at Trinity Health Ann Arbor. She spent her final days surrounded by love, prayer, and the comforting presence of longtime friends, including Sister Yvonne Gellise and Sister Judy VanderVeen, with whom she had shared a home for more than 45 years. She will be laid to rest at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield, Michigan.

Born Mary Anne Tyler on May 1, 1942, in St. John, Michigan, to Gladys Mae Woodbury and Bernard Francis Tyler, Sister Anne’s story began in the small town of Laingsburg, Michigan where she attended elementary and high school. In 1963, she entered the Sisters of Mercy on the campus of Mercy College in Detroit, professing her final vows on August 8, 1970. This marked the beginning of a lifelong ministry dedicated to serving others.

Sister Anne's early years in health care included service as a Nurse Aid at Mount Carmel Hospital in Detroit, and later a similar role in the Emergency Department at Leila Y. Post-Montgomery Hospital in Battle Creek. It was at Mercy Hospital in Port Huron, where she served as a Patient Advocate from 1971 to 1979, that she developed her talents for photography.

Her journey soon led her to Trinity Health Ann Arbor in 1980, then known as Catherine McAuley Health Center and later St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, a move she initially thought would be “just for a little while to learn some new things.” She even admitted, “I don’t think I’d ever want to work in such a big hospital.” Yet, once there, she found her calling. Sister Maureen Mulcrone, then manager of Audiovisual Services, fondly recalled, “Hiring Sister Anne Marilyn as a photographer was one of the best things I ever did for St. Joe’s. She came to St. Joe’s in 1980 and stayed for the rest of her life.”

Through her lens, Sister Anne helped others see acts of love, compassion, and clinical excellence taking place in units throughout the hospital. She created slides for doctors' presentations, captured images for hospital publications, and even photographed complex surgeries, directly contributing to the education of future physicians. Her artistic eye and technical command of the camera were indispensable in sharing the visual stories of healing and mercy. Her photographs, highlighting physicians, patients, and state-of-the-art care, graced award-winning ad campaigns, print materials, websites, and even billboards.

Yet, beyond her duties as a staff photographer, Sister Anne’s greatest impact was often made after hours, on her own time. Several weekends each year, she would offer to take free professional portraits of hospital colleagues' children and their families. She also volunteered her time to take free portraits of children attending the Readiness Center in Benton Harbor each year, ensuring families who might not otherwise be able to afford them had these cherished memories. She even sold her prints to help fund vital initiatives like cancer care at Trinity Health Ann Arbor and the Sister Yvonne Gellise Fund for Permanent Supportive Housing. 

Sister Anne’s photographs of nature, displayed outside patient rooms at Trinity Health Ann Arbor, continue to offer peace and reflection to this day, beautifully reflecting God's love and creating a welcoming, healing environment for patients and their families. A plaque in the hospital lobby commemorates her artistry and legacy, with a quote that reflects her ministry: "As a Sister of Mercy, I see life through the lens of who I am and the life that I live.”

Sister Anne Marilyn Tyler was preceded in death by her parents, Gladys and Bernard, and her brother, Barry. She is survived by her sister-in-law Connie Egbert; nephews Todd (Cathy) Tyler and their son Troy (Brianna) Tyler; and Randy (Michelle) Tyler and their children Madison, Olivia, and Whitney.

A beautiful photo display in the Trinity Health Ann Arbor lobby, featuring a montage of portraits alongside the powerful words “The face of God is before me always,” serves as a lasting testament to her life and legacy.

Sister Anne will be deeply missed and always remembered for her incredible talents, unwavering compassion, and profound legacy of service. Her life was defined by the countless ways she served God and His children, leaving an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing her.