Sister Estelle Santarpia (St. Pierre), (8/18/1931), beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died on October 23, 2023 at Bethany Health Care Center, Framingham, Mass. Born in Fall River, Mass., she was the daughter of Francisco and Mary (Brazoa) Santarpia.
Sister Estelle entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of LePuy, in Fall River, Mass. from St. Elizabeth Parish, Fall River in 1946 and became a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield when the congregations merged in 1974. Sister graduated from St. Therese Novitiate High School, Fall River. She earned a B.A. degree from Salve Regina College, Newport, RI and an M.A. from Providence College, Providence, RI.
Sister taught in the of the Diocese of Fall River at St. Jean Baptiste and Blessed Sacrament Schools, Fall River; St. Michael’s, Ocean Grove; and St. Louis School, Swansea. She also served at St. Joseph School, Vinton, LA. Sister was mistress of novices before becoming Provincial in 1974 and seeing her Congregation through the 1974 merger with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield. She worked in parish ministry at Sacred Heart Parish, Milford and retreat ministry at the LaSalette Conference Center, Enfield, NH. She also served as a computer instructor for the Milford Council on Aging.
Sister Estelle was predeceased by her siblings, Grace Costa, Ann Mello, Frank Santarpia, George Santarpia, Susan Parao, Louise Gragnani, Alice Soares, Paul Santarpia and Sr. Dorothy Santarpia, SSJ. In addition to her Sisters in Community, Sister is survived by several nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
All services for Sr. Estelle will take place in Blessed Sacrament Church, Northampton St. Holyoke, MA. She will be waked from 9:00 AM with a prayer service at 9:30 AM. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00 AM. Burial will be in Mont Marie Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.