(1939 - 2015)
Sister Barbara Ann Stanek was born in Chicago on April 4, 1939, the only child of Walter and Julia (Wiktor) Stanek. She grew up in Schiller Park, Illiois, and, in addition to the loving care of her parents, she enjoyed the love and affection of her extended family who gathered at her maternal grandparents’ home for periodic celebrations. All who knew Barbara were aware of her affection for her cousins, especially Vivian.

Barbara met the Adrian Dominicans when she attended St. Celestine School and, after graduating from eighth grade, she enrolled in the Congregation’s Preparatory Program at the age of fourteen and attended St. Joseph Academy.
 

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(1925 - 2015)
I will be confident and unafraid, for my strength and my song is the Lord.

Sister Patricia McGrath, known to her friends as Pat, was born on November 16, 1924, in Royal Oak, Michigan, to John and Genevieve (Kuntz) McGrath. She was the fifth of their nine children. Both parents were born and raised in Pennsylvania, and lived one hundred miles apart. In her biography, Sister Pat wrote, “We have not figured out how mom and dad met being that they lived one hundred miles apart. Someone suggested they met at a roller skating party.”   

Her parents lived in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, her mother’s birthplace, until after their fourth son was born and then they moved to Royal Oak, Michigan. In her biography, Sister Pat described this transition and the impact of the Depression on her family.

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(1933 - 2015)
Sister Judith Ann Lieder was born on May 26, 1933, in Detroit. She was the second of four children born to Leonard and Clara (Polakowski) Lieder: Rosemary, the first born who lived only a few hours, then Gerald and Marlene.  

Her father was a native of Detroit and her mother was from Everson, Pennsylvania. They met when her mother came to Detroit to find a job.   They married, made their home in Detroit and were members of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish. Sister Judy and her siblings attended the parish elementary school with the Sylvania Franciscans. 

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(1927 - 2015)
Sister Bernadette Mary Syron, born on April 1, 1927, in Detroit, was the third of six children born to Hugh and Elizabeth (Phillips) Syron. Her mother was born in Cashel, Ireland, and her father was born in Chicago. In her autobiography, Sister Bernadette Mary described where her parents first met.

My mother worked for the Army as a switchboard operator. Her name was Elizabeth and she did not want to be called Lizzie. When she was introduced to my father at a church affair he said, “It is a privilege to meet you, Miss Elizabeth.”   

They were married at St. Benedict Church in Highland Park, Michigan. My father, who was a professional golfer, took a job at a golf course in Detroit that was very close to Gesu [Parish]. In the off-season he sold real estate. My mother was a stay-at-home mom.

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