Rev. Dr. Adele Decker Jones died on April 22, 2015. She was instrumental in planning her own Memorial liturgy which was held on Saturday May 9th in Villa San Antonio Chapel, San Antonio, Texas. As a retirement home resident in San Antonio, Texas since 2009, Adele was friend, counselor and prayer companion to many even before she was ordained.
Her experience as wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother prepared her in her journey to priesthood. This journey began formally in 2008 when she connected with Bridget Mary Meehan, the ARCWP Bishop. She was already a Third Order Franciscan and had developed a private counseling practice and taught workshops, seminars, and retreats.
Adele completed her AA and her BA then later earned a Masters in Theological Studies earned in 1988 at the Oblate School of Theology in Texas and in 1991 she was the fourth woman to graduate from the Oblate School of Theology in 90 years with a MDiv degree. In 1997 she graduated from Garret Theological School of Northwestern University with a Doctor of Ministry Degree.
In the words of fellow priest Dr. Judith Lee, “It is one who seeks joy where there is disappointment and grief that has the courage to choose to become a woman priest . . . [We] went to San Antonio to minister to Adele . . . Instead she ministered to us and we came away immeasurably enriched, knowing that we had been in the holy presence of a woman of great wisdom, and joy.”
Adele was ordained a Roman Catholic Woman Priest with the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests on September 10, 2011 in Falls Church, Virginia.
Her Funeral Liturgy closed with this blessing:
May God bless us as we go forth.
May the angels lead you into paradise, Adele,
May the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the holy city,
The new and eternal Jerusalem. May choirs of angels welcome you and lead you into
the heart of God.