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(1939-2026)
Sister Barbara Cervenka, formerly known as Sister James Annette, died on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 86 years of age and in the 68th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Barbara was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to James and Florence (Balzer) Cervenka. She graduated from Hoban Dominican High School in Cleveland and obtained a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Sister Barbara ministered for more than 44 years in education in Maybee, Detroit, Madison Heights, Adrian, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. This includes 11 years as a member of the faculty at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and 21 years as a member of the faculty at Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, an Adrian Dominican sponsored institution. She served four years on the Congregation’s General Council.
Sister Barbara also ministered for almost 14 years as co-director at Con/Vida in Detroit. Con/Vida is a non-profit that promotes understanding of the diverse cultures, traditions, and history of the Americas through art. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2026.
Sister was preceded in death by her parents; her stepmother, Annette (Kawalac) Cervenka; and her sister, Sister Anita Marie Cervenka, SND. She is survived by other loving family members and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 4, 2026, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 5, 2026. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.
Those not attending services in person are welcome to participate via live stream at https://adriandominicans.org/Live-Stream.
Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.
LEFT: From left, Sister Mary Naomi (Anita) Cervenka, SND, and her blood sister, Sister Barbara Cervenka, OP. MIDDLE LEFT: Sister Barbara, creative art instructor at Siena Heights College, 1971-1978. MIDDLE RIGHT: 1956 graduate of Hoban Dominican High School, Cleveland, Ohio.
LEFT: Members of the 1978-1982 General Council are: standing in the back, Sisters Barbara Cervenka and Catherine DeClercq, and seated in front, from left, Sisters Carol Johannes (Prioress), Nadine Foley, and Carol Jean McDonnell. RIGHT: Sister Barbara Cervenka with her father, James Cervenka, in his garden, 1975.
LEFT: Artists posing in INAI are: standing, from left, Sister Aneesah McNamee, Sister Nancyann Turner, and Mame Jackson and, seated in front, Sister Barbara Cervenka. MIDDLE: From left, Sisters Carol Johannes and Barbara Cervenka, 2020. RIGHT: Sister Barbara relaxes at an art exhibit in INAI.
LEFT: Celebrating Sister Barbara’s 80th birthday are, back row from left, Sisters Sharon Weber, Catherine DeClercq, and Barbara Cervenka and front row from left, Kathleen Griffiths and Sisters Nancyann Turner and Carol Johannes. RIGHT: From left, Mame Jackson and Sister Barbara Cervenka, friends and co-directors of Con/Vida: Popular Arts of the Americas.
Sister Barbara Cervenka stands in front of some of the 1,000 paintings of origami cranes that she created as a fund-raiser for the Dominican Sisters of Iraq after they fled from ISIS. The paintings were exhibited during the October 2017 Homecoming Weekend at Siena Heights University.
Members of the 2017 Diamond Jubilee December Reception Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Frances Lombaer, Bernitha Glombowski, Evelyn Inez Montez, Patricia Siemen (Prioress), Mary Ann Phillip, Mary Therese Napolitan, and Joella Miller; middle row, from left, Sisters Janet Traut, Jude Van Baalen, Joan Kowalski, Barbara Cervenka, Patricia Brady, and Margaret Ann McGuiness; and front row, from left, Sisters Helen McAllister, Susan Elaine Kresse, Helen Diane McGuirt, Eunice Drazba, and Dorothea Gramlich.
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(1930-2026)
Sister Thérèse M. Haggerty died on Monday, January 26, 2026, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 95 years of age. In 1952, Sister Thérèse made profession to what is now the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd in Wheeling, West Virginia, and was known as Sister Mary of St. Michael. In 1983, she transferred to the Adrian Dominican Congregation and was in the 43rd year of her profession as an Adrian Dominican Sister.
Sister Thérèse was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Hugh and Therese Ann (Fay) Haggerty. She graduated from St. Jean Baptiste High School in New York, New York, and received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a Master of Education degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
She ministered for 18 years in education in Wheeling, West Virginia, and Traverse City, Michigan. Sister Thérèse also served three years as assistant director for Maurawood Residence in West Palm Beach, Florida, and five years as administrative director at St. Vincent Hall in Miami, Florida.
Sister served 11 years in pastoral ministry, including one year at Maria Health Care Center (Dominican Life Center) in Adrian. She also ministered for three years as assistant to the Chapter Prioress in the Motherhouse Chapter, seven years as the coordinator of transportation, and six years in Archives and Information Services, all for the Congregation in Adrian. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2007.
Sister was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Patricia Pearce, Mary Jane Westlake, and Helen Miskel; and a brother, Hugh Haggerty. She is survived by a sister, Kathryn Haggerty, other loving family members, and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 2, 2026, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 2, 2026, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.
Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)
LEFT: Hugh Haggerty holds his daughter, baby Thérèse. MIDDLE RIGHT: 1948 graduate of St. John Baptiste High School, New York, New York. RIGHT: Sister Thérèse makes reception in her former community, now known as the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of Refuge, 1950.
LEFT: Haggerty siblings are: back row, from left, Hugh Haggerty, Kathryn Haggerty, Mary Jane Westlake, and Patricia Pearce anèéèd, front row, from left, Sister Thérèse and Helen Miskel, with niece Laurea Haggerty. RIGHT: From left, Sisters Thérèse Haggerty and Marilyn Francoeur at a conference of the Archivists of Congregations of Women Religious in St. Louis, September 2024.
Members of the Norwich House community are, standing, from left, Sisters Marilyn Barnett, Lorraine Réaume, and Patricia Benson and, seated in front, Sister Thérèse Haggerty.
Members of the 2011 Diamond Jubilee are: back row, from left, Sisters Attracta Kelly (Prioress), Julianne Wolny, Jeannine Holway, Anne Liam Lees, Judith Ann Lieder, and Agnes Peplinski; middle row, from left, Sisters Elizabeth Lynch, Rita Brunett, Thérèse M. Haggerty, Mary Daria Herbella, Catherine Ahern, and Elisa Joan Doherty; and front row, from left, Sisters Dolores Marie Dolan, Dolores Slosar, Nancy Hanna, Celine Marie Regan, Marian Edward Guethlein, and Clara Ann Budenz.
(1982-2026) Sister Meliza Arquillano, known affectionately as Sister Izai, died on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Adrian Dominican House of Remedies in Mining, Angeles City, Philippines. She was 43 years of age and in the ninth year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation. She entered the Congregation on October 27, 2013; was received into the novitiate on March 22, 2015; made her First Profession of Vows on March 4, 2017; and made Final Profession of Vows on March 17, 2023.
Sister Izai was born in Cavite City, Philippines, to German Dominguez and Leonilla Arquillano. She graduated from high school in Cavite City and received a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship from the City College of Angeles, Pampanga, Philippines.
Sister ministered for one year as a canteen assistant and community secretary and one year as an assistant to special needs children, while continuing her education. She served five years as a local community treasurer and one year as the assistant vocation directress for the Remedies Mission Chapter in the Philippines.
Sister was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Roger Dominguez and German Dominguez Jr. She is survived by her brother Roland and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Funeral Mass and Rite of Committal (burial) will be held on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at the Holy Mary Memorial Park Cemetery in Angeles City, Philippines. A Memorial Mass will be held in Adrian, Michigan, at a later date.
Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221.
MIDDLE LEFT: From left, postulants Rowena Ruiz, Marifi Lugtu, and Meliza Arquillano. RIGHT: Sister Meliza speaks during her Final Profession in 2023.
LEFT: Sister Meliza Arquillano with her immediate family at her Final Profession. RIGHT: Sister Meliza Arquillano, center, professes her First Vows to Sister Patricia Siemen, OP, Prioress, as her Chapter Prioress, Sister Zenaida Nacpil, OP, looks on.
LEFT: Sister Meliza Arquillano prepares for her First Profession on March 4, 2017. Helping her are, left, Sister Patricia Siemen, OP, Prioress of the Congregation, and right, Sister Zenaida Nacpil, Chapter Prioress of the Our Lady of Remedies Mission Chapter. RIGHT: Back row, from left, Sisters Gudelia Kabigting, Victoria Changcoco, Meliza Arquillano, and Michelle Salalila, former Sister; and front row, from left, Sisters Corazon Quiambao, Zenaida Nacpil, General Councilors Mary Margaret Pachucki and Patricia Harvat, and Arsenia Marie Puno.
(1935-2026)
Sister Joan Schroeder, formerly known as Sister Francis Maureen, died on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 90 years of age and in the 72nd year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Joan was born in Chicago to Clement and Genevieve (Coleman) Schroeder. She graduated from St. Gregory High School in Chicago and received a bachelor’s degree in English from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a master’s degree in English from DePaul University in Chicago. She was also certified as a parish social worker by the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Sister ministered for 19 years as an elementary teacher in Dearborn and Clawson, Michigan; Harvey and Chicago, Illinois; Des Moines, Iowa; and Albuquerque, New Mexico. She also served in secretarial services for more than nine years in Detroit and in De Kalb, Chicago, Maywood, Kenilworth, and Evergreen Park, Illinois. This includes one year as secretary for the SEAC Mission Chapter Office in Detroit. Sister Joan also served in Transportation Services at Maria Health Care Center (Dominican Life Center) for nine years. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 1998.
Sister Joan was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers: Clement Francis, Edward, Lawrence, and Richard. She is survived by other loving family members and her Adrian Dominican Sisters
Prayers of Committal will be held at 1:30 pm on Thursday, January 22, 2026, in the back of St. Catherine Chapel. A Memorial Mass will be held in St. Catherine Chapel 10:30 a.m. ET Thursday, January 29, 2026, and a Ritual of Remembrance will be held in the Rose Room of the Dominican Life Center the same day at 1:30 p.m. ET. Those not attending the Memorial Mass or Ritual of Remembrance in person are welcome to participate via livestream at https://adriandominicans.org/Live-Stream.
Note: To view recordings with closed captioning, they must be viewed on our public video library rather than through the links below.
Recording of Sister Joan's Memorial Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)
Recording of Sister Joan's Ritual of Remembrance - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as."
LEFT: Joan at the age of 4, 1939. MIDDLE LEFT: 1953 graduate of St. Gregory High School, Chicago.
LEFT: Sisters Patricia McKee, left, and Joan Schroeder, summer of 2000.
Members of the 2013 Diamond Jubilee Crowd are: back row from left, Sisters Joan Schroeder, Margaret Ann Roggenbuck, Marie Rose Bauer, Attracta Kelly (Prioress), Dorothy Guettler, Janet Wright, and Carol Fleming; middle row, from left, Sisters Margaret Marie Ringel, Frances Wetzel, Janice Scholl, Patricia Ann McKee, Patricia Sporer, Pauline Richter, and Barbara Chenicek; and front row, from left, Sisters Joan Mary Dwyer, Josephine Gaugier, Margarita Rúíz, Mary Vianne Bayus, Lorraine Brennan, Mary E. Waldron, and Mary Cullen.
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