By Maria Foss | On Mission
HAZEL GREEN — Sr. Antonetta Martinka, a member of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, died on April 13, 2025, at St. Dominic Villa in Hazel Green, Wis. She was 86.
Sr. Antonetta was born on Aug. 14, 1938, in Chicago, Ill., to Rudolph and Josephine (Baron) Martinka. In 1960, she professed vows with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Edgewood College in Madison, Wis., and later earned a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Indiana Bloomington.
She had a passion for teaching and served in many schools throughout Wisconsin including Annunciation School, Green Bay; St. Bernard School, Wauwatosa; and St. Patrick School and Blessed Sacrament School, Madison.
In Illinois, Sr. Antonetta taught at St. Malachy School, Geneseo; St. Luke School and Trinity High School, where she also served as business officer, River Forest; St. Zachary School, Des Plaines; and St. Giles School, Oak Park.
Sr. Antonetta also served as business officer at Divine Providence Convent, Des Plaines, Ill., and was a parish volunteer and tutor at St. Mary Parish, Ottawa, Ill.
After returning to the motherhouse at Sinsinawa Mound for her retirement, Sr. Antonetta volunteered at the St. Joseph Preschool, where she entertained the children through book-reading and puppetry performances.
In December 2021, Sr. Antonetta moved to the St. Dominic Villa and brought love and laughter to the community in the final years of her earthly life.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Joseph.
Sr. Antonetta is survived by her sister, Marie Gibbs; her brother, Rudy Martinka; nieces and nephews; and her Dominican Sisters.
A remembering service and memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6, at St. Dominic Villa.