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Fr. Robert J. McGlinn
Father Robert J. McGlinn, 95, died Oct. 18. He served in the Archdiocese of Chicago, in Latin America and in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Born in Chicago, Padre Roberto, as he was known, attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1955.
He served as assistant pastor of St. Francis Xavier, La Grange, and Precious Blood. He then served at San Miguelito Panama Mission. After returning to the United States in 1968, he earned a graduate degree in bilingual education at the University of Wisconsin. After obtaining the degree, he was invited to the Diocese of Comayagua in Honduras to care for priestless Catholic parishes.
When the permanent diaconate was established in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Padre Roberto was appointed to direct the formation of Hispanic candidates. In the early 1970s, he assisted in the migrant ministry in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, while also returning frequently to help the Diocese of Comayagua.
In 1991, he became administrator of Cristo Rey Parish in Racine, Wisconsin, where he served for 16 years.
In 2007, Padre Roberto was appointed administrator of St. Hyacinth and St. Vincent de Paul parishes of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Then he was offered the opportunity to gather the Hispanic people scattered across western Waukesha County into a worship community which now has a home at St. Jerome Church in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
In his 80s and 90s he remained active in priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, volunteering at the Racine Correctional Institution, at Catholic Charities Day Care and at New Perspective Senior Living Center while continuing his dedication and priestly ministry to the Hispanic people of Racine, Milwaukee and western Waukesha County at St. Jerome Parish.
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Sr. Marybeth McDermott
Sister of St. Joseph Marybeth McDermott, 93, of La Grange Park, died Oct. 18.
Sister Marybeth had been in religious life for 74 years. After earning a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University, she spent more than 40 years ministering in schools run by the Sister of St. Joseph of La Grange.
For 15 years she was the program director of School on Wheels Literacy Bus, where she was a teacher and trainer of teachers for ESL, GED, and citizenship training. According to her community, Sister Marybeth was a fierce advocate for immigrants.
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Sr. M. Elise Bocke
Springfield Dominican Sister M. Elise (Elizabeth Christine) Bocke, 108, died Oct. 24 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield.
Born in Quincy, Illinois, she joined the Dominican Sisters of Springfield in 1937 and made her first profession of vows in 1939.
She taught in the Illinois communities of Springfield, Chicago, Cary, Aurora and Chicago Heights.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. John Bosco (1964), before becoming a language arts curriculum consultant for the archdiocesan Office of Catholic Education. (1964-1973)St. Edward (1985-2010), where she was a reading specialist and taught English language learners. She taught English and reading at Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights (1973-1983), and concluded her teaching years at St. Edward (1985-2010), where she was a reading specialist and taught English language learners.
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Fr. James W. Schulz
Jesuit Father James W. Schulz, 80, died Oct. 20 in Clarkston, Michigan.
Born in Cincinnati, he entered the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus in 1964. He was ordained in 1977 and made his final vows in 1983.
Father Schultz earned bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and classical languages from Saint Louis University and a master’s degree in economics from Fordham University. He also earned master’s degrees in theology and pastoral studies from Loyola University Chicago.
He taught psychology, history and English at Colegio del José in Arequipa, Peru (1971-1972). After ordination, he moved to Chicago where he worked with immigrants and undocumented people at the Eighth Day Center for Justice (1978-1980) and was an associate pastor at Holy Family Church (1980-1981).
After serving in Jesuit ministries on the East Coast, Father Schultz returned to Chicago. He was associate pastor of St. Mary (1988-1990) and the pastor of St. Procopius Parish (1990-1992). He then served in Northwest Indiana before becoming associate pastor of St. Turibius (2010-2011) and pastor of Mary, Queen of Heaven, Cicero (2011-2014). He also spent seven years as a chaplain at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital (2014-2021).
He is survived by his sister, Diane McCullough.
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Fr. Bradford C. Schoeberle
Paulist Father Bradford C. Schoeberle, 69, died Oct. 21 in Texas. He was a former pastor of Old St. Mary’s Parish.
Born in Wisconsin, he studied at St. Francis de Sales College Seminary and earned a bachelor’s degree in theology before earning master’s degrees in religious studies from Edgewood College and pastoral studies from Washington Theological Union.
He worked as a parish director of religious education before entering the Paulist novitiate in 1995. He made his first promises the following year and his final promises in 1999, before being ordained a priest in 2000.
He ministered in California and Michigan before serving as pastor of Old St. Mary’s from 2018 to 2024, when he was assigned to St. Paul the Apostle in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.
He is survived by his sisters Pam Hinz, Jeanne Butcher and Marisa Schoeberle; and his brother, Gary Schoeberle.
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Sr. Richelle Schmitz
Born in Chicago, she Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Richelle (Marirose) Schmitz, 95 died Oct. 25 in Muskego, Wisconsin.
Sister Richelle professed vows with Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1951. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin, and a master’s degree in education from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Her ministry was dedicated to teaching and educational administration. Sister Richelle taught in New York, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught and served as principal at St. Giles, Oak Park; and was principal at St. Mary of the Woods.
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Sr. Ellen Mary Schwaiger
School Sister of St. Francis Ellen Mary Schwaiger, 94, died Sept. 25 at Sacred Heart in Milwaukee.
Born in Milwaukee, Sister Mary Ellen was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1952; made her first profession of vows in 1954; and made her final vows in 1960.
Beginning in 1955, Sister Ellen Mary ministered in Illinois and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a musician at Alvernia High School (1955-1963) and St. Benedict High School (1963- 1979). In retirement, she ministered through her prayer and presence in Milwaukee from 2019 until her death.
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Fr. John Price
Father John R. Price, 85, died Sept. 11. He was the former pastor of Mary, Queen of Heaven Parish, Cicero.
Born in Chicago, Father Price attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1966.
He served as assistant pastor of St. Celestine, Elmwood Park, and St. Peter, Skokie, before serving as associate pastor of St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates; St. Eulalia (now part of Sacred Heart and St. Eulalia Parish), Maywood; and St. Ann. He served for 12 years as pastor of Mary, Queen of Heaven, and as chaplain at Northeastern Illinois University for six years.
Father Leroy A. Wickowski, retired archdiocesan priest, remembers Father Price as a “good friend, strong in his beliefs and convictions.”
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Fr. David B. Krolczyk
Father David B. Krolczyk, 78, died Sept. 16. He was the former pastor of St. James Parish, Sauk Village, now part of All Souls Parish.
Born in Chicago, Father Krolczyk attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1972.
He was assistant pastor of Our Lady of the Mount, Cicero, and associate pastor of Sacred Heart, Melrose Park; St. Mary of Czestochowa, Cicero; and St. Jude the Apostle, South Holland. He was pastor of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr, Posen, from 1988 to 2002, and then served as pastor of St. James Parish until he retired in 2021.
After his retirement, he celebrated Masses at St. Joseph Church in Dyer, Indiana, and St. Liborius Parish in Steger.
“He was a very good priest,” said Father John W. Clemens, retired archdiocesan priest. Clemens remembered his classmate as “very faithful, dedicated and very loyal to his people.”
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Deacon John Smith
Deacon John “Jack” Smith, 83, of Mount Prospect, died Sept. 15. He was ordained in 1997 and served at St. Zachary Parish, Des Plaines.
Born in Chicago, Deacon Smith attended St. Viator School and St. Patrick High School. He worked in Jewel food stores for nearly 20 years before opening independent grocery stores in Chicago starting in 1975.
In addition to his parish ministry, he offered pastoral care and comfort to patients and residents at area hospitals and nursing homes.
Deacon Smith is survived by his wife of 59 years, Linda; their children Kelley Dettloff, Jeanine Stantesly, Kristine Wise and Thomas Smith; six grandchildren; and his brothers William Smith and Robert Smith.
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Deacon Terrance Norton
Deacon Terrance Norton, 80, died Oct. 1. He was ordained Oct. 1 and served at St. Luke Parish in River Forest, now part of St. Luke and St. Bernardine Parish.
Deacon Norton grew up in Westchester and attended Fenwick High School, the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and DePaul University College of Law.
He married his wife, Renee, in 1970, and the couple adopted three daughters.
He worked as a federal prosecutor in the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Racketeering section. He later worked at the Better Government Association, taught and worked in the clinical law practice at IIT’s Chicago Kent College of Law and was the national pro bono partner at Sonnenschein Nath and Rosenthal, now Dentons, before returning to IIT Kent to help open and run the Center for Open Government.
In the 1980s, the Nortons joined other St. Luke parishioners to help found the Learning Center in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood to teach literacy to adults whose educations have been cut short. The couple tutored, raised money, and served on the Board.
He is survived by his wife; daughters Bridget, Cara and Elizabeth; four grandchildren; and his brother, Mike.
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Fr. Joseph McDermott
Divine Word Father Joseph McDermott, 99, died Sept. 5 in Techny.
Born in Iowa, he aspired to be a Major League Baseball player as a boy. He entered the Society of the Divine Word in 1939 at 13, and professed vows in 1945.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1952 and served as a missionary in the Archdiocese of Mount Hagen in Papua New Guinea from 1953 to 1976. He provided pastoral care in the Catholic mission in Ambullua, a highlands region of the world’s second largest island.
In 1976, Father McDermott returned to the United States to work as assistant business manager at Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa. He assisted the business office for 20 years.
In 1977, he filled in for Divine Word Father William Hegarty at St. Anselm Parish in Chicago when Father Hegarty retired due to health reasons.
He moved to Techny in 2024.
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Sr. Henrietta Hibbs
Sister of St. Joseph Henrietta Hibbs, 99, died Sept. 17.
She had been in religious life for 82 years.
Sister Henrietta earned a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University and a master’s degree from Loyola University Chicago, and she ministered in many schools operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph, including St. Margaret Mary, Mount Carmel, St. Anthony, Alexine Learning Center and St. John Fisher.
She also volunteered at homeless shelters, organized food and clothing drives, and visited the sick and homebound, and she volunteered to work with several parishes in Mississippi. Her parish work included regular visits to the Parchman Prison, where she helped plan retreat experiences for the women who were incarcerated.
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Sr. Maria Elisabeth Klodt
Holy Spirit Missionary Sister Maria Elisabeth Klodt, 100, died Sept. 18.
Born in Germany, she began her formation in religious life in West Germany in1948, professing first vows in 1950 and final vows in 1956.
She received a mission appointment to the United States and arrived in Techny, Illinois, in 1952. After completing English studies and some classes at DePaul University, she moved to Washington, D.C., where, in 1962, she earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacology at George Washington University. She worked as a hospital pharmacist at St. Therese Hospital in Waukegan, for the next 20 years, and worked for many years at the Medical Park Pharmacy in the St. Therese Professional Building.
Sister Maria Elisabeth earned a certificate from the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University, which prepared her for service in pastoral ministry and as local leader for her religious sisters in Melrose Park and Waukegan, and as directress of Maria Hall in the Convent of the Holy Spirit in Northfield.
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Sr. Joan Schumacher
School Sister of St. Francis Joan Schumacher, 91, died Aug. 28 in Milwaukee.
Born in Wisconsin, Sister Joan was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1952, made her first profession of vows in 1954 and made her final vows in 1960.
Beginning in 1954, Sister Joan ministered in the Archdioceses of Chicago, Milwaukee and Omaha. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Joan taught at Our Lady of Victory (1955-1960); St. Anne, Barrington (1961-1965); Our Lady of Charity, Cicero (1965-1967); and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glenview (1968-2014).
In retirement, Sister Joan ministered through her prayer and presence at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish (2014-2024) and at Sacred Heart in Milwaukee from 2024 until her death.
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Fr. Joseph Bisson
Divine Word Father Joseph Bisson, 89, died Aug. 30.
Father Bisson, who returned to the United States in 2017, was the last American Divine Word Missionary to leave Papua New Guinea and was the longest serving Catholic missionary in the Archdiocese of Mount Hagen. Decades earlier, the Society of the Divine Word foresaw the benefits of forming priests and brothers who were born and raised on the island and eventually passed leadership roles to them.
“Joe was a man with a true commitment as a religious, as a priest and as a missionary. He certainly was a man with a clear calling,” said retired Divine Word Father Thomas Krosnicki.
Born in Boston, Father Bisson began his studies with the Society of the Divine Word in 1949 and professed vows in 1955.
Ordained in 1963, Father Bisson lived 70 years in religious vows and devoted 53 years to the Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea. He held a master’s degree in education from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and he was proficient in seven languages: English, Latin, Greek, German, French, Pidgin and a Papua New Guinean tribal language.
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Sr. Colleen Nolan
Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Colleen (Lillian) Nolan, 79, died Sept. 3 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, she professed vows with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1966.
Her ministry was dedicated to education. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Barnabas and St. Basil. She also taught in Rockford and in Maryland, Oklahoma and Florida.
She served as codirector and director of the Apostolic Volunteers program for the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation; as mission educator for the Missionary Society of St. Columban in Forest Park; and as director of religious education at St. Luke Parish, River Forest.
She is survived by her brother, Thomas Nolan, and sisters Elizabeth Charrat, Mary Cippera, and her twin, Kathleen Shrauger.
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Fr. Peter P. Paurazas
Peter P. Paurazas, died Aug. 18 at the age of 96. He was pastor emeritus of the former St. Rene Goupil Parish, now part of Two Holy Martyrs Parish.
Born on in Chicago, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.
Father Paurazas served as assistant pastor of St. Joseph Parish (South Saginaw Street), Immaculate Conception Parish (44th Street) and St. Adrian Parish (Washtenaw Avenue). He became pastor of St. Adrian Parish in 1980 and became pastor of St. Rene Goupil Parish in 1992. He served as pastor of that parish until he retired in 2000.
Father Marcel J. Pasciak, pastor emeritus of St. Patricia Parish, remembered his friend of 30 years as a kind priest, very well loved at the parishes he served and an avid traveler. “His parishes were all on the South Side; he was a big White Sox and Bears fan,” said Pasciak.
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Sr. Joyce Brophy
Providence Sister Joyce (Robert Ellen) Brophy, 96, died Aug. 27 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana
Born in Joliet, Sister Joyce entered the Sisters of Providence in 1947 and professed final vows in 1955.
She taught and was a principal in schools in Illinois, Indiana and California. Interspersed within her years of teaching, she held a number of administrative positions in the congregation. She held positions in the formation program for new members (1965-1969), served as provincial of the Motherhouse Province (1984-199) and worked in the St. Mary-of-the-Woods College Development Office (1980-1982)
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Sylvester (1950-1954), Our Lady of Mercy (1955) and St. Agnes (1969) and was principal of St. Genevieve (1969-1971).
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Sr. Duchesne Maxwell
Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Duchesne (Mary) Maxwell, 94, died Aug. 2 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, she professed vows in 1953. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in library science from Rosary College, now Dominican University, in River Forest.
Sister Duchesne’s ministry was dedicated to teaching and pastoral care. She taught at St. Thomas More School, and later served as assistant administrator at Queen of Peace High School, Burbank. She also taught, was a librarian and was an administrator at schools in Wisconsin, Iowa and other dioceses in Illinois.
She served on the leadership council of the Sinsinawa Dominican congregation, then was a chaplain at hospitals in Nebraska and director of pastoral care at a senior home in Minnesota.
She is survived by her sister, Loretta Maxwell.
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Sr. Jeannine Randolph
Sister of the Living Word Jeannine Randolph, 85, died Aug. 8.
Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Christian Charity in 1957 and professed final vows in 1966. In 1975, she transferred to the Sisters of the Living Word, who were forming a new community.
During her first years of ministry, she taught in Riverdale, Morton Grove and Chicago, as well as in Iowa and Minnesota. She later ministered as pastoral minister in Louisiana and Illinois.
She served as director of novices for the Sisters of the Living Word and ministered as a massage therapist for her last 18 years of ministry.
In retirement, she lived at Resurrection Village Life Center, Addolorata Villa, Amazing Grace and finally at Resurrection Life Center.
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Deacon Joseph P. Casey
Deacon Joseph P. Casey, 77, died July 30. He was ordained in 2013 and served at St. Patrick Church, now part of St. Brigid Parish, in Wadsworth.
In addition to his parish ministry, the Lindenhurst resident served as a hospice chaplain for more than 10 years.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Donna, sons Sean and Tim Casey and four grandchildren.
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Sr. Mary Melady
Benedictine Sister Sr. Mary (Mary Gerald) Melady, 79, died April 17 at St. Joseph Court, the infirmary of St. Scholastica Monastery.
Born in Evanston, she St. Ignatius School and St. Scholastica High School before entering the Benedictine community in 1963.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in French from Mundelein College and a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University Chicago, as well as credentials for teaching English as a Second Language from Northeastern University.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. George, Queen of All Saints, St. Joseph (Orleans Street) and St. Scholastica Academy.
She then studied at and worked at the Institute for Spiritual Leadership in Hyde Park, eventually becoming its co-director and earning a doctorate in ministry from the Graduate Theological Foundation.
She began directing her community’s initial formation program in 1999 and returned to to teaching ESL, first part-time at Oakton Community College, and then full-time at Taft High School. She maintained that ministry after retiring from teaching. She also volunteered in various capacities at Holy Spirit Life Learning Center.
She was appointed subprioress in 2015 and continued in that role until the summer of 2023.
She is survived by her brother, Patrick.
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Sr. Shirley Ann Cushing
Adrian Dominican Sister Shirley Ann (Blanche Marie) Cushing, 97, died July 18 in Adrian, Michigan.
Born in Detroit, she was in the 78th year of her religious life. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Siena Heights College, Adrian; a master’s degree in English from DePaul University; and a master’s degree in religious education degree and a law degree from the University of Detroit (now University of Detroit Mercy).
Sister Shirley ministered in education, as a community leader, in religious education and as an attorney in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio; and Tokyo, Japan.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1947-1951) and St. Edmund, Oak Park (1951-1957).
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Sr. Brigid Ann Bonner
Providence Sister Brigid Ann (Margaret Rose) Bonner, 85, died July 23, in Indiana.
Born in Whiting, Indiana, Sister Brigid Ann entered the the Sisters of Providence in 1958 and professed final vows in 1965.
Of her 67 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered in education and social work in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mark School.
She is survived by a sister, Providence Sister Eileen Rose Bonner, and a brother, Neil Bonner -
Fr. Gary Riebe-Estrella
Divine Word Father Gary Riebe-Estrella, 79, died June 2 in Techny. He was Catholic Theological Union’s first Latino vice president and academic dean.
Born in Los Angeles, he entered Divine Word Seminary in Riverside, California, in 1959. He professed vows in 1968 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1971.
In Chicago, he studied at DePaul University and Catholic Theological Union. He received his master’s degree in theology from DePaul.
He served in pastoral ministry and leadership roles in the society’s Western Province before earning a doctorate in practical theology from Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca in Salamanca, Spain, in 1992. The following year, he returned to the Chicago Province to serve as a professor at CTU.
In 1996, he became one of the first Latinos in the United States to hold a major leadership position in a premiere theological school. He served as the vice president and academic dean of CTU for 12 years and is credited with cultivating a racially, ethnically and culturally diverse faculty.
A longtime member of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States, he served as president of the organization from 1996 to 1997 and again from 2009 to 2010.
Father Riebe-Estrella’s pastoral work with Hispanic communities and decades of scholarship and leadership in theological education led to opportunities throughout his ministry to work with religious orders, organizations and higher education as a consultant in areas of diversity, formation and theological education.
He founded and served as director of the formation house Casa Guadalupe in East Los Angeles and was appointed by the generalate to positions in the PANAM Zone, which encompasses North and South America.
In 2014, he was transferred back to the Western Province.
Father Riebe-Estrella returned to live in Techny in 2025.
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Fr. William Seifert
Divine Word Father William Seifert, 85, died June 21 in Techny. He was an anthropologist and missionary in Papua New Guinea for more than 30 years.
Born in Pittsburgh, he entered the Society of the Divine Word in 1957, professed vows in 1962 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1967.
Father Seifert earned a doctorate in anthropology from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., before being assigned to the Anthropos Institute, headquartered near Bonn, Germany, and sent to Papua New Guinea as one of the Melanesian Pastoral Institute’s first staff members.
Father Seifert specialized in urbanization and urban pastoral practice. For eight years, he contributed to the institute through his writings, research, courses and workshops. He then founded a parish in Goroko, Papua New Guinea, managed the Goroka Diocese’s finance office and the conference and pastoral center, served as liaison with the Papua New Guinea immigration and labor departments for entry permits and represented the diocese in dealings with the Papua New Guinea Lands Department.
He then served as vicar general, diocesan administrator and episcopal vicar.
He also served as director of the Overseas Training Program (also known as Cross-Cultural Training Program) for seminarians from other countries for 15 years and as a hospital and prison chaplain.
Father Seifert had been living in the Divine Word Residence in Techny since 2006. In semi-retirement, he served as assistant novice director from 2009 to 2018.
He is survived by his brother, Daniel Seifert.
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Sr. Grace Sbrissa
Sister of St. Joseph Grace Sbrissa, 86, died June 23.
In religious life for 68 years, Sister Grace taught math in many schools and was a dominant presence at Nazareth Academy. She also served the congregation as an administrator and treasurer.
She is survived by her sisters Sister of St. Joseph Joellen Sbrissa, Toni Gillette and Sandi Szymborski.
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Sr. Joan Kirkpatrick
Providence Sister Joan (Joan Patrice) Kirkpatrick, 92, died July 9 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.
Born in Colorado, Sister Joan entered the Sisters of Providence in 1956 and professed final vows in 1964. In her 69 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered in education for 18 years in Indiana, Illinois and California. In 1974, she was asked to come to the Motherhouse to serve as treasurer of the Sacred Heart Province and manage the motherhouse operations. After eight years in this ministry, she returned to California where she continued serving in a business capacity at several institutions.
Having earned a master’s degree in counseling, she did a five-year psychotherapist internship in California and then returned to Indiana, where she served as a counselor.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught mathematics at Providence High School.
She is survived by a sister, Lynn Poole, and brother, Rob Kirkpatrick.
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Fr. John Roller
Father John Walter Roller, 91, died June 28. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and pastor emeritus of St. Thomas Becket Parish in Mount Prospect.
Born in Chicago, he attended Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1960.
After ordination, he was assistant pastor of Santa Maria del Popolo, Mundelein; St. Luke, River Forest; St. Ann, Lansing; and St. Benedict (Irving Park Road). He was associate pastor of St. Athanasius, Evanston, and St. Theresa, Palatine.
Father Roller went on to become pastor and then pastor emeritus of St. Thomas Becket Parish in Mount Prospect. He served as a retired resident at St. Thomas Becket and St. Emily in Mount Prospect. Roller celebrated his 65th anniversary and completed his final Mass on May 3.
Father Michael Grzesik, an archdiocesan priest and friend of Father Roller, said he remembers the love and respect he received from the communities he served, and he remembers Father Roller’s boisterous and authoritative voice.
“When he spoke, people listened,” Grzesik said. “When he gave homilies, he told great stories and he engaged the people and really brought them closer to Christ.”
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