Sr. Antonetta Martinka, OP, died April 13, 2025, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. Her Remembering Service and Memorial Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 6, at St. Dominic Villa. Casey-McNett Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
She was born Aug. 14, 1938, to Rudolph and Josephine (Baron) Martinka in Chicago, Ill., and named Philomena. She professed vows with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1960 and received the religious name Sister Antonetta. She earned a BS in elementary education from Edgewood College, Madison, Wis., and an MSEd in secondary education from the University of Indiana, Bloomington.
Sister Antonetta’s ministry was dedicated to teaching. In Wisconsin, she taught at Annunciation School, Green Bay; St. Bernard School, Wauwatosa; and St. Patrick School and Blessed Sacrament School, Madison. In Illinois, she 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. Sister Antonetta served as business officer at Divine Providence Convent, Des Plaines, and was a parish volunteer and tutor at St. Mary Parish, Ottawa. When she retired to the Motherhouse at Sinsinawa Mound, she volunteered at St. Joseph Preschool, Sinsinawa, reading books and performing puppetry for students. Sister Antonetta moved to the Villa in December 2021. In these final years, she filled the Villa with love and laughter.
Sister Antonetta was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Joseph. She is survived by her sister, Marie Gibbs; her brother, Rudy Martinka; nieces and nephews; and her Dominican Sisters. Memorials may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, Wis., 53824, or given online at www.sinsinawa.org/donate