Dear friends and classmates, it is with a heavy heart that I must share this news.  

From Marcy Callahan - 

"Sister John Norton passed away about 9:00 AM this morning. She just turned 98 in December and recently started hospice care. Sister will be missed by so many, including me. She influenced many alum and was one of a kind."

The official St. Thomas Aquinas High School Facebook page posted this notice - 

"It is with the utmost sadness that we share that Sr. John Norton passed away this morning. May her legacy be recognized and celebrated by all who have entered the halls of St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

"I had the privilege of working with her...in building up the expanding program at St. Thomas as she challenged our students, affirmed our faculty and nurtured the relationship with parents. Sister John was a woman of faith, intelligence, energy, discipline, prayerfulness and witness to our Patron, St. Thomas Aquinas." - Monsignor Vincent T. Kelly

"Her faith fueled her service to St. Thomas Aquinas High School in undefinable and indescribable ways. Her strength, her determination, her loyalty, integrity and vision have opened the doors of opportunity for thousands of young people." - Dr. Denise Aloma"

The St. Thomas Aquinas High School Alumni Facebook page also had several notices. 

Our classmate Deacon Joe Dietz informed me of service and funeral arrangments to be held in Adrian, MI on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.

Funeral Arrangements for

Sister John Norton Barrett, OP

Tuesday, February 14, 2023, 7:00 PM

Vigil Service

St. Catherine Chapel

Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 10:30 AM

Funeral Liturgy

St. Catherine Chapel

Prayers of Committal

In Congregation Cemetery

Following the Liturgy

All are welcome to participate in Sister’s Vigil and Word Service via livestream at

https://adriandominicans.org/Live-Stream

Afterwards, recordings will be posted on Sister’s In Memoriam page for 6-8 weeks at

https://adriandominicans.org/Meet-Dominicans/In-Memoriam

Services will be held in the St. Catherine Chapel on the Adrian Dominican Sisters Campus (see map here), 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan 49221

If I receive any additional information, I will share that as well. 

Here is a interview with Sister John Norton on her life and experiences, conducted in November 2016. 

Thank you.