(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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