(1934-2026)

Sister Barbara Gentry died on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 91 years of age and in the 72nd year of her religious profession. 

In 1955 Sister Barbara made profession as a Benedictine Sister of Bristow, Virginia, and was known as Sister Mary John Gentry. She transferred to the Adrian Dominican Congregation in 1983 and was in her 44th year of profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Barbara was born in Richmond, Virginia, to James and Catherine (Nash) Gentry. She graduated from St. Gertrude High School in Richmond and received a bachelor’s degree in theology from La Roche College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a master’s degree in religious education from Fordham University in New York. She was also certified as a massage therapist by the Carolina School of Massage Therapy in Carrboro, North Carolina.

Sister ministered six years in secondary education in Richmond. She was a pastoral minister for 22 years in Richmond and Ashland, Virginia, and Myrtle Beach and Conway, South Carolina, and a massage therapist for two years at the Institute of Higher Learning in Richmond. Sister Barbara also served the Congregation as a pastoral minister for six years at Maria Health Care Center in Adrian. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2014.

Sister Barbara was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by loving family members and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.

Prayers of Committal were held on Thursday, August 6, 2026, in the Congregation Cemetery. The Vigil Prayer and the Memorial Mass will be in St. Catherine Chapel at a later date. 

Those not attending the upcoming services in person are welcome to participate via livestream 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 Services, Adrian.

 

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(1934-2026)

Sister Frances “Fran” Madigan, baptized Laverne Frances Madigan and formerly known as Sister Frances Dennine, died on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 91 years of age and in the 73rd year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
 
Sister Fran was born in Chicago to Dennis and Josephine (Desmedt) Madigan. She graduated from Loretto Academy in Chicago and received a bachelor’s degree in English from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a master’s degree in reading from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb.  
 
She ministered for more than 30 years in education in Detroit, Michigan; Aiken, South Carolina; Melbourne and Boynton Beach, Florida; and Mundelein, Elgin, and Chicago, Illinois. This includes one year as principal at St. Laurence in Chicago, five years as principal at Our Lady of Lourdes in Melbourne, and one year as director of education at the Sylvan Learning Center in Boynton Beach.
 
Sister Fran served the Congregation for four years as the complex administrator in Adrian. She ministered for eight years as director of social ministry at St. Joan of Arc Parish, Boca Raton, Florida, and spent seven years in parish ministry at St. Jude Parish, also in Boca Raton. She served as a health clinic administrator for the Migrant Association South Florida (now the Caridad Center) in Boynton Beach. From 2006 on she held several volunteer positions in Boca Raton, New Orleans, and Adrian.  Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2018.
 
Sister Fran was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Frances Madigan; and two brothers, Lawrence Madigan and Dennis Madigan, Jr. She is survived by two brothers, Terrence Madigan (Marleen) and Thomas Madigan; one sister, Karen Wimer; other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
 
Visitation will be held from 6:30  to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 6, 2026. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery. 

Those who are not attending services in person are welcome to participate via livestream 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 Services, Adrian.

Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)

LEFT: Laverne, circa 1940. MIDDLE LEFT: Graduation photo of Laverne, the future Sister Frances Madigan, 1947. MIDDLE: Laverne, the future Sister Francis, age 9, with her baby sister Franny. MIDDLE RIGHT: Sister Frances Dennine, 1958.

LEFT: Sisters Carmen Rose Álvarez, OP, seated, and Sister Frances Madigan. MIDDLE: From left, Sisters Elizabeth Ross, Linda Bevilacqua, Luisa Campos, Lorraine Sinn, and Frances Madigan, 2012. RIGHT: From left, Sisters Carmen Álvarez, Eileen Sullivan, and Frances Madigan.

LEFT: Taking part in the Diocese of Palm Beach Jubilee celebration on May 13, 2017, are, from left, Sisters Mary Therese Napolitan (60 years), Donna Baker (50 years), Imelda Marie Eckhoff (70 years), and Frances Madigan (65 years). RIGHT: From left, Sisters Jeanne Lefebvre, Carol Denise Koenig, and Frances Madigan in the Dominican Life Center lobby.

Members of the Diamond Jubilarian Crowd of 2012 are: back row, from left, Sisters Dorothy Booms, Lorraine Pepin, Carolyn Nelson, Reta Drexler, Arlene Marie Kosmatka, Frances Madigan, and Attracta Kelly (Prioress); middle row, from left, Sisters Kathryn Hartnett, Marguerite Renuart, Maureen Keeler, Lorraine Sinn, and Cora Marie Campbell; and front row, from left, Sisters Anne Cenci, Ann Kelly, Joann Weigang, and Magdalena Ezoe.  

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(1939-2026)

Sister Martha Napior, formerly known as Sister John Estelle, died on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 87 years of age and in the 70th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
 
Sister was born in Detroit to Dominic and Stella (Popielarski) Napior. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Adrian and received a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in reading, both from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian. 
 
Sister Martha ministered 35 years in education in Chicago and in Sault Ste. Marie, Lansing, and Detroit in Michigan. She served for10 years as a pastoral minister in Harris, Michigan; Phoenix and Tolleson, Arizona; and Windom, Minnesota. Sister also ministered one year as a bookkeeper/secretary and cashier for businesses in Lansing and Williamston, Michigan. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2015.
 
Sister Martha was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Edward and Arthur, and her sisters Marcella Napiorkowski (Napior) and Loretta Jasniak. She is survived by loving family and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
 
 Prayers of Committal were held on Sunday, August 2, 2026, in the Congregation Cemetery. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Memorial Mass will be in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

Those who are not attending services in person are welcome to participate via livestream 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 Services, Adrian.

Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)

LEFT: Martha as a student at St. Joseph Academy, Adrian. MIDDLE RIGHT: From left, Sisters William Rose (Sally) Fergus and John Estelle (Martha) Napior, 1961. RIGHT: The St. Dominic’s Profession Crowd gathered in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the late 1960s are: back row, from left, Sisters Sharon Marie (Sheila Delaney), John Estelle (Martha Napior), Ann Romana (Ann Ziemba), and Rose Maureen (Mary Hemmen), and front row, from left, Sisters Clarita Therese (Marleen Genord), Vincent Denise (Beatrice Messing), and Robert Anthony (Arlene Seckel).

MIDDLE: Sister Martha with her beloved puppy. RIGHT: Sister Martha Napior, left, with her sister-in-law Pat Napior, 2016.

Members of the 2005 Golden Jubilee August Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Rosalie Esquerra, Ann Mrugala, Kathleen Waters, and Norine Burns; third row, from left, Sisters Sheila Delaney, Margaret Manners, Barbara Ann Long, Molly Nicholson, Mary Kastens, and Nancyann Turner; second row, from left, Sisters Joan Leo Kehn, Elizabeth Gibbons, Mary Hemmen, Esther Ortega, Leontia Cooney, Leona Bruck, and Ann Ziemba; and front row, from left, Sisters Arlene Seckel, Marilyn Uline, Mary Lequier, Jovanna Stein, Anneliese Sinnott, Joan Mary, and Martha Napior.

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(1941-2026)

Sister Kathleen Voss, formerly known as Sister William Lorraine, died on Friday, July 24, 2026, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 85 years of age and in the 65th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Kathleen was born in Detroit to Henry and Shirley (Mallis) Voss. She graduated from Girls’ Catholic Central High School in Detroit and received a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a master’s degree in marriage counseling from the University of Detroit (University of Detroit Mercy). She was also certified in bereavement assistance by the Diocese of Orlando, Florida, and was licensed as a social worker and professional counselor by the State of Michigan.

Sister ministered for more than 23 years in education in Miami Beach, Florida; Aiken, South Carolina; Toledo, Assumption, Van Wert, and Medina, Ohio; Sturgis, Warren, and Detroit, Michigan; and Wilmette, Illinois. Later, she served five years as a mental health therapist in Wayne, Michigan; two years as a parish pastoral minister at Resurrection Parish in Lakeland, Florida; and part-time for three years as a computer graphics teacher at St. Martin de Porres High School in Detroit. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2013 and continued her creative endeavors in her retirement.

Sister Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Diane Kaiser and Sally Maxwell; and her brothers, Timothy and Daniel Voss. She is survived by a brother, Paul Voss (Sue); other loving family members; friends; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.

Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.

Those who are not attending services in person are welcome to participate via livestream 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 Services, Adrian.

Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)

 

Vigil and Funeral Recordings

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 Kathleen's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

Recording of Sister Kathleen's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

 

LEFT: Baby Kathleen, 1941. MIDDLE LEFT: First Holy Communion, 1952. MIDDLE RIGHT: 1959 graduate of Catholic Central High School, Detroit. RIGHT: With her parents, Henry and Shirley Voss.

LEFT: Members of the 1975 community at Washtenaw in Chicago are: standing, from left, Sisters Elizabeth Kreiner and Deborah Marie Oliveri, and seated, from left, Sisters Muriel Benz, Kathleen Voss, and Lila Watt. MIDDLE: From left, Sisters Marie Solanus Reilly and Kathleen Voss. RIGHT: From left, Sisters Kathleen Voss and Maureen Therese Masuga.

Members of the 2010 Golden Jubilee “Holy Angels” Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Kathleen Walli, Kathleen Voss, Mary Katherine Drouin, Molly Giller, Helene Kloss, and Monica Charles Stankus, and front row, from left, Sisters Marie Carleen Maly, Annice Mordenski, Jamie Phelps, Mary Ann Dixon, Maurine Barzantni, Mary Carr, and Donna Markham (Prioress). 

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