Sr. Estelle Strohmeyer
Sr. Martha Theresa “Sr. Estelle” Strohmeyer of Saginaw, Michigan entered into eternal life on Monday, February 22, 2021, at St. Francis Home at the age of 96. On July 27, 1924, twins Martha Theresa and Paul were born to Edward John and Anna Barbara (Schirf) Strohmeyer in Niles, Ohio.
Martha entered the Mission Sisters of the Holy Spirit on September 8, 1945, in Cleveland, Ohio. She performed census work in Arizona, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Ohio. In 1951, she joined several of our sisters ministering at the Guadalupe Clinic in Saginaw and took the census in several parishes. She was involved at St. Joseph Parish in Saginaw teaching Religion to the migrant children. In the area of Religious Education, she ministered at St. Matthew’s Parish in Zilwaukee, St. John the Baptist in Carrollton, St. George’s and Holy Family in Saginaw. In her retirement in 1994, she directed her ministry and energy to caring for retired priests at St. Francis Home including Bishop Francis Reh.
Martha served as part-time bookkeeper at Missiondell. Martha was a member of the League of Catholic Women. She enjoyed playing the keyboard, cards (especially pinnacle), tennis, and working on puzzles.
One of 16 children, she is the last to pass away. Martha leaves many nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She is survived by Mission Sisters, Elaine Raymond, Mary Lou Owczarzak and Margo Tafoya. She was preceded in death by Mission Sisters, Sisters Jeanne Gutman, Francis Brill, Pauline Boyd, Marie Collaghan, Agnes Kucsara, Lucia Medina, Anne Ragan and her sister, Loretta Strohmeyer.
We thank the entire staff of St. Francis Home and Southern Care Hospice for their loving care they gave to our Sr. Martha. We thank her special friends, Tobi Hernandez (roommate at St. Francis Home) for her kindness and care, Kathy Newsted (befriender) and Irene Romero, both from Holy Spirit Parish for their visits, cards, love and concern for our Martha.
Funeral Liturgy will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1035 North River Road, Saginaw, MI 48609 on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Friends may call at the church from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. to pay their respects. A private interment will take place at St. Andrew Catholic Cemetery following Mass. In accordance with current state mandated restrictions, safe distancing and limitations on number gathered within the building will be observed. Attendees are also kindly asked to wear a mask or other facial covering, per state requirements.
Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to St. Francis Home in lieu of flowers.