(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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