Adrian Dominican Sister Denise (Thomas Irene) Devitt, 82, died Feb. 6 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Loretto Academy. She was in the 63rd year of her religious life.

She ministered in elementary and secondary education, in congregation leadership and as a pastoral minister.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Laurence (1962-1967); Aquinas High School (1970-1971, 1972-1978); and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Westchester (1978-1980). She was academy adviser and campus minister at Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1980-1982); chapter prioress for the Upper Midwest Chapter of her congregation, Hometown (1982-1985); pastoral counselor at St. Victor Parish, Calumet City (1987-1994), and St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Orland Hills (1994-1995); director of pastoral care at Bethlehem Woods Retirement Center, La Grange Park (1999); hospice chaplain and bereavement counselor at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood (2001); hospice chaplain at Hospice of North Shore, Evanston (2001-2002); assistant librarian at Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (2002-2008); and chaplain at Glenbrook Hospital, Glenview (2009-2012).

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Marie Shields, 81, died Dec. 31, 2019. She was in her 64th year of religious life.

A native of Chicago, Sister Marie attended St. Ferdinand Parish and Notre Dame High School for Girls, where she was educated by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. She entered religious life in 1955 and taught for 14 years in parish schools in Ohio.

She then dedicated 51 years of service to the church in Columbus, Ohio, before returning to Cincinnati, Ohio, in the ministry of prayer in 2019.

Norbertine Father Brian John Prunty, 83, died Jan. 4.

Born in Wisconsin, he discerned his call to priesthood while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps after high school. In 1956, he enrolled at St. Norbert College and entered the Norbertines a year later. He professed simple vows in 1959, solemn vows in 1962 and was ordained in 1965.

During the 1960s and 1970s, he taught at schools in Wisconsin, Michigan and Chicago, including St. Willibrord Catholic High School in Chicago. He served as pastor at St. Willibrord Parish and became president and chief administrator of the high school.

In 1983, Father Prunty worked as a physician assistant at the Cook County Jail hospital in Chicago and ministered at various Chicago parishes. His medical skills and passion for diversity led him to more than 20 years of work there. He also volunteered at a neighborhood free clinic.

He then joined the Norbertine mission on the Napo River in Peru. Three years later, Father Prunty returned to Chicago and resumed his ministry at the Cook County Jail hospital.

In 1995, he became associate director of formation and house superior at the Holy Spirit House of Studies in Chicago, while serving on the Abbot’s Council, the order’s personnel board and as a member of the St. Norbert College Board of Trustees.

He became pastor at St. Norbert College and house superior at St. Joseph Priory, De Pere, Wisconsin, in 2002. He continued to teach at the college until 2010. He retired to St. Norbert Abbey in 2014.

Father Prunty is survived by two sisters, Jane Schermitzler and Margaret Klegin.

Viatorian Father Simon P. Lefebvre, 92, died Jan. 13 at the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights.

Born in Quebec, Canada, Father Lefebvre made his first vows in Montreal in 1946, his final profession in 1956 in Arlington Heights and was ordained the same year in Chicago.

As a Viatorian, he taught in Peoria, Illinois; Las Vegas; Quebec; and California. He also taught at the secondary school and university levels in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Father Lefebvre spent the rest of his ministry in parish work in California.

He moved to the Viatorian retirement residence in 2016.

Father Lefebvre is survived by his brothers, Jean and Louis, and his sisters, Jean Coolins and Lena Baker.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Jan Brynda, 84, died Jan. 23 at Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn.

Born in Chicago, Sister Jan made her first religious profession in 1955 and her perpetual profession in 1958. She taught for 17 years and was principal for seven years and educational supervisor, instructor and consultant for 25 years. Sister Jan ministered as a pastoral associate for 12 years and director of adult faith formation for three years. She served in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Jan served as education consultant for Mercy Home for Boys and Girls (1991-1993); pastoral associate at St. Jane de Chantal Parish (1993-2000); and director of adult faith formation at St. Benedict Parish, Blue Island (2000-2003). She ministered at Dominican University, River Forest, in the School of Education as an academic advisor and adjunct instructor (2003-2012) and supervisor of student teachers (2003-2008) as well as at the Sr. Mary Nona McGreal Center for Dominican Historical Studies as a volunteer (2012-2020).

She is survived by a sister, Dominican Sister Eileen Brynda.

Deacon Gilberto Cintron, 87, died Jan. 7. He was ordained in 1975 and served at St. Hedwig Parish.

Deacon Cintron was born in Puerto Rico. He was married to his wife, Maria, for 62 years. He had nine children and more than 30 grandchildren and was a father figure to many more.

Benedictine Sister Eleanore (Rita) Hillenbrand, 95, died Oct. 29 at St. Joseph Court-St. Scholastica Monastery.

Born in Chicago, Sister Eleanore attended St. Hilary School and St. Scholastica High School. She was accepted into the community as an aspirant in 1942 and she professed her final vows in 1947. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in English from DePaul University. She taught at St. Hilary, St. Symphorosa and St. Lambert, Skokie, as well as in Colorado. She served at St. Scholastica High School (1957-1992), including as chair of the English Department. In her community, she served as the director of studies and executive secretary to the prioress.

Benedictine Sister Ann (Charlotte) Sharp, 99, died Dec. 27 at St. Joseph Court-St. Scholastica Monastery

A native of Chicago, Sister Ann attended Sullivan High School for two years before transferring to St. Scholastica High School becoming a postulant of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago during the fall of 1937, her senior year. She professed final vows in 1949.

Sister Ann attended De Paul University for both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. While completing her studies, she began teaching at Queen of All Saints in 1940 as a member of the original faculty. In 1945, she taught middle- to upper-grade students at Mother of God in Waukegan.

During her remaining 23 years in elementary education, Sister Ann taught at St. Symphorosa, St. Joseph and St. Lambert, Skokie, as well as in Colorado. In 1968, she joined the faculty at St. Scholastica Academy, and she served as dean from 1973 through 1978.

She was elected prioress of the community in 1978 and served until 1982. During her term, St. Joseph Court, a two-winged facility, was built at the north end of the 1906 monastery building, to be the health care facility for the sisters.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Lucille (Mauricio) Gardner, 84, died Dec. 30.

Born in Peoria, Illinois, Sister Lucy made her first religious profession in 1955 and her perpetual profession in 1958. She served in education and as a consolation minister in New Jersey, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma and Texas.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Lucy taught at Visitation (1957-1960) and St. Barnabas (1967-1971) and was principal at the combined St. Patrick/St. Alphonsus School, Lemont (1979-1984).

She is survived by a sister, Mildred Banister.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Marie Shields, 81, died Dec. 31 in Cincinnati.

Born in Chicago, she was in her 64th year of religious life.

Sister Marie taught in mostly inner-city parish schools in Ohio for 14 years. She later served for 51 years in Columbus, Ohio, doing parish ministry.

Sister Marie loved her work, and the parishioners loved her. She sparked parish support for a local food pantry and homeless shelter, for farm projects in Ghana and Ecuador and for national social justice groups like Network, Pax Christi and Bread for the World. She started an initiative to collect new clothes for people who needed them and connected the parishioners to the work of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur around the world.

She retired in 2019.

Felician Sister Mary Ruthilia (Helen) Kobitta, 90, died Jan. 3 at Swedish Covenant Hospital.

She attended St. Joseph elementary and high schools on the South Side of Chicago. She entered the Felician Sisters postulancy in 1947 and professed her final vows in 1955.  She ministered for 49 years in elementary schools as a teacher in Illinois and Wisconsin. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. James (1949-1951), St. Wenceslaus (1951-1952); St. Mary Magdalene (1952-1955); St. Isidore, Blue Island (1960-1966); St. Linus, Oak Lawn (1973-1983); and St. Turibius (1987-1997).

Providence Sister Mary Maxine Teipen, 91, died Jan. 5 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indianapolis, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1946 professed final vows in 1953.

Of her 74 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered in education for 21 years in Indiana and Illinois, including at St. Mel (1948-1953). She later was treasurer for her community, provincial and a member of the congregation’s general council.

Sister Mary Maxine is survived by a sister, Mary Lou Dunlop.

Sister of St. Joseph Alice Vincent, 87, died Jan. 3.

Born in Vermont, she was in religious life for 68 years.

Sister Alice was an elementary teacher in the Archdiocese of Chicago for 37 years before serving as a hospital chaplain in Missouri for 16 years. 

She retired to LaGrange Park in 2007 and continued to do congregational ministry work as a volunteer until 2010.

She is survived by siblings Daniel, Robert, Andy, Lawrence, John, Mary, Laurette and Lucille.

Providence Sister Patricia (Joseph Monica) Fillenwarth, 79, died on Jan. 7 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Born in Indianapolis, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1958 and professed final vows in 1965.

Sister Patty ministered in Indiana and Washington, D.C., before spending five years teaching in Arequipa, Peru. She then served 16 years as principal of Maternity BVM. She also served as councilor for the St. Joseph Province, headquartered in Chicago, for the last eight of those years.

Having experienced the needs of families in Humboldt Park, Sister Patty became a certified counselor and opened Providence Family Services, which offered bilingual family counseling at little or no charge. After giving 24 years to this ministry, she retired in 2018 and returned to the motherhouse.

Sister Patty is survived by her sister, Providence Sister Joseph Fillenwarth, and her brother, John Fillenwarth.

Father Michael J. Walsh, 89, died Dec. 31. He was a former associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Palos Hills.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Francis de Paula School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1956.

He served as assistant pastor of St. Ambrose; Holy Name of Mary; Santa Maria Del Popolo, Mundelein; Our Lady of Lourdes; and St. Helena of the Cross. He was associate pastor of St. Richard and Sacred Heart, Palos Hills. He retired from active ministry in 2000.

School Sister of Notre Dame Martin Therese (Janet) Gensler, 84, died at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox Dec. 13.

Born in Kickapoo, Illinois, Sister Martin Therese was a vowed member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 64 years.

She professed first vows in 1955, and took her final vows in 1961.

Sister Martin taught for more than 44 years. Her assignments included primary and intermediate grades at St. Constance and St. Alphonsus in Chicago as well as in other communities in Illinois and Indiana.

At St. Alphonsus, where she served from 1971 to 1992, Sister Martin taught seventh and eighth grades, was the media specialist and served as assistant principal.

Sister Martin moved to Marian Village in Homer Glen in September 2019 and then to Mother Theresa Home in Lemont.

Holy Cross Sister M. Lourdes (Anna May) Kelly, 109, died Dec. 19.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, the youngest of 11 children, she entered the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1935 when her sister, Holy Cross Sister Mary Martha (Elizabeth) Kelly brought her back to the United States with her. Sister Mary Lourdes made her initial profession of vows in 1938.

After a series of bureaucratic mix-ups, she became a citizen of the United States in 1948.

She began her teaching career in 1938, serving at schools throughout Indiana and Illinois. In 1980, she retired to St. Mary’s Convent in Indiana, where she made a daily trip to the grotto at the University of Notre Dame — on foot, if her ride was not on time.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marie Janet Meis, 94, died Dec. 25 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Iowa, Sister Marie Janet made her first religious profession in 1945 and her perpetual profession in 1948. She taught for 30 years and was principal for 13 years. She served in Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, California and Colorado.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marie Janet taught at St. Sabina (1945-1951) and St. Brendan (1960-1968).

Adrian Dominican Sister Joanne (Jessica) Podlucky, 71, died Dec. 25 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Pennsylvania, she was in the 52nd year of religious life, 12 years in the Vincentian Sisters of Charity and 40 years in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

She taught in schools in Pennsylvania, Alabama and Chicago before serving as a communications director and media specialist for the Adrian Dominican Congregation and Mercy Health Services in Farmington Hills, Michigan, as well as for a private media consulting company.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Presentation (1976-1977) and Precious Blood/Presentation (1977-1978).

She is survived by two sisters, Francine Hill and Carolyn Silka, and two brothers, Joseph Podlucky and Ronald Podlucky.

Providence Sister Charles Ellen (Mary Cleophas) Turk, 101, died Dec. 25 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indiana, Sister Charles Ellen entered the Sisters of Providence in 1936 and professed final vows in 1944.

In her 84 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered in education for 47 years in schools in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. She served as principal for 15 of those years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Leo (1938-1939); St. Angela (1939-1941, 1944-1950); St. Mel (1941); and St. Mel-Holy Ghost (1941-1944). She was principal of Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1969-1973).

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Mary Irene Spraley, 94, died Nov. 13 in Cincinnati.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, she recently celebrated her 75th year of religious life.

Sister Mary Irene began her 51-year career in education teaching first graders at St. Peter Canisius Parish School (1946-1950). She spent the rest of her teaching career in Ohio.

Holy Family of Nazareth Sister Ann Marie (Patricia Ann) Cwick, 64, died Nov. 21 in Chicago.

Born in Chicago and baptized at St. Adalbert Church, she entered religious life in 1973. She attended Oakton Community College in Des Plaines and St. Mary of Nazareth School of Nursing in Chicago and earned her registered nurse certificate in 1980. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from DePaul University in 1990 and a master’s in pastoral ministry from Catholic Theological Union in 2007.

She ministered for 34 years at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital (now AMITA Health Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center) as a medical-surgical and oncology nurse. She was the last Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth to minister at the hospital, which her congregation founded in 1894.

In her free time, Sister Ann Marie helped in parish ministry at St. Helen, St. Mark, St. Malachy and St. Ann.

In 2014, she began serving as the parish nurse at St. Cornelius, a ministry she continued until she became ill in the summer of 2019.

Mercy Sister Mary Lois (Leona) Bartnicki, 88, died Nov. 23.

Born in Milwaukee, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in Des Plaines at the age of 17.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Saint Xavier University, and she taught from 1951 to 2001 in parochial elementary schools throughout the dioceses of Milwaukee and Madison in Wisconsin, and Chicago and Peoria in Illinois.

After retirement, she served as a substitute teacher for eight years.

In the summers, she taught religion classes. An athlete at heart, Sister Lois could often be found at church festivals giving lessons on how to play ring toss.

Mercy Sister Therese (Tarasia) Windham, 87, died Nov. 24 at Mercy Circle.

Sister Therese graduated from Mercy High School in Chicago in 1946 and worked as a sales clerk, typist and tutor before entering the Sisters of Mercy in 1952.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Saint Xavier University in 1957 and began teaching physics, chemistry, math and computer science, mostly in high schools and community colleges in Illinois and Wisconsin.

She earned master’s degrees in physics and computer science after starting her teaching career.

She also participated in the Bible study group at St. Linus Parish for five years.

Divine Word Father John Fincutter, 96, died Nov. 27. He was the only Divine Word missionary to serve three consecutive terms as rector of the Techny community.

As rector, Father Fincutter oversaw the construction of the Divine Word Residence.

Born in Libertyville, Father Fincutter began his studies with the Divine Word Missionaries in 1938, professed vows in 1943 and was ordained to the priesthood at Techny in 1950.

Recognizing his academic abilities, his superiors sent him to England for his first assignment. While in Great Britain, he served as headmaster at St. Richard’s College in Hadzor. He also served two terms as provincial of the British Province.

After two decades in Great Britain, Father Fincutter returned to the United States. He was elected rector of the Techny Community in 1973 and held that position until 1982. In addition to overseeing the building of the present residence building, he championed the creation of a landfill that produced significant revenue that was used in the Chicago Province and in the foreign missions.

Father Fincutter later taught Scripture at the minor seminary in East Troy, Wisconsin. He also served as rector of the Divine Word community in East Troy. In semi-retirement, he acted as business manager for the Divine Word community at East Troy, taught Scripture to adults in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and authored the Arnold Janssen Scripture Study Course.

Father Fincutter moved to Techny in 2013. He is survived by his brother, Robert.

Sister of the Living Word Virginia Thoen-nes, 89, died Dec. 8 in Chicago.

Born in Chicago, Sister Virginia was a Sister of the Living Word for 44 years, and a Sister of Christian Charity before that. She taught in the Chicago area and was principal of St. Gregory High School from 1976 to 1981.

She served in leadership for her community, and later as pastoral associate at various parishes in the northern suburbs. She was very involved in Church Women United and other justice works at St. Edna Parish in Arlington Heights. She lived the past eight years at Resurrection Life Center in Chicago.

She is survived by her siblings Martha Kastens and Richard Thoennes.

BVM Sister Mary Christine (Christophil) Athans, 87, died Dec. 7 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Sister Mary Christine was born in Joliet, Illinois, and entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1955. She made final vows in 1963.

She was an adjunct professor at Loyola University Institute of Pastoral Studies and Catholic Theological Union, both in Chicago. She was assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Illinois in Champaign. She also taught at universities in Minnesota and California. She began her ministry by teaching high school and elementary school, including St. Eugene School.

Sister Mary Christine wrote extensively on Jewish-Christian relations, including her book “In Quest of the Jewish Mary: The Mother of Jesus in History, Theology and Spirituality.”

She served on more than 20 boards and committees, including the Chicago-Jewish Scholars Dialogue sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Chicago Board of Rabbis and the United Jewish Federation of Greater Chicago.

She is survived by siblings Catherine Athans and Cyril Athans.

Father George H. Clements, 87, died Nov. 25. He was pastor emeritus of Holy Angels Parish.

Born in Chicago, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, becoming its first African American graduate, and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1957.

After ordination, Father Clements was assistant pastor of St. Ambrose and St. Dorothy parishes. He served as pastor of Holy Angels from 1969 to 1991 and later ministered in the Diocese of Nassau in the Bahamas, West Indies, and the Archdiocese of Washington. He retired in 2006.

Father Clements was active in the civil rights movement, marching with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Chicago, Alabama and Mississippi.

Father Clements, an advocate for adoption, is survived by his four sons, 15 grandchildren and his sister.

He requested that his body be donated to the Loyola University School of Medicine. A memorial service is scheduled for Jan. 26, 2020, Clements’ 88th birthday, at St. Sabina Church.

Sister of the Living Word Rosaria (Margaret Anna) Schlechter, 89, died Nov. 13 in Chicago.

Born in Minnesota, she made her final vows in 1954. She was a Sister of the Living Word for 44 years, and before that, a Sister of Christian Charity.

Sister Rosaria taught at St. Martha, Morton Grove, for nine years; was a teacher of the blind at Holy Trinity School; and served for 22 years at St. Raphael School in Englewood, where she also was the principal. She also served in Minnesota.

She lived her last few years at the Living Word Center in Arlington Heights and at Resurrection Life Center in Chicago in the ministry of prayer and presence.

Adrian Dominican Sister Lila Watt, 90, died Nov. 21 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Elmhurst, Illinois, she graduated from Josephinum High School. She was in the 68th year of her religious life.

Sister Lila ministered in Michigan, Florida, the Bahamas and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Queen of Apostles, Riverdale (1966-1968); St. Kilian (1968-1969); Aquinas High School (1969-1972); Immaculata High School (1972-1973); St. Casimir High School (1976-1979); St. Procopius (1981-1983); and St. Barbara (Throop Street) (1983-1987). She was assistant director at Metropolitan School of Business (1973-1976), parish secretary at St. Rita of Cascia (1988-1989), secretary for the Catholic Youth Office (1989-1990); and executive secretary for the St. Joseph Carondelet Child Center (1990-1991) and the Midwest and Upper Midwest Mission Chapters, Hometown (1991-1995).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Susan Ostrowski, 65, died Nov. 15 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Susan made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1979 and her perpetual profession in 1984.

She taught for 35 years in New York, Florida, Illinois and California. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Epiphany (1989-1993).

She is survived by a sister, Sharon Ostrowski; and three brothers, Bruce, Michael and Mark Ostrowski.

Deacon Thomas Ryan, 94, died Oct. 31. He was ordained in 1992 and served at St. Christina Parish.

Deacon Ryan was a U.S. Navy World War II veteran, worked for 32 years for People’s Gas, was a former secretary of the 19th Ward Democratic Organization and was a past Man of the Year of the Mount Greenwood Civic Association.

He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Connie; his children Constance Ryan, Thomas E. Ryan, JoEllen Martin, Martin Ryan and Patrick Ryan; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Divine Word Father Andrew Biller, 87, a missionary in the Philippines for four decades, died Nov. 2 in Techny.

Born in Missouri, he entered Divine Word Seminary at East Troy, Wisconsin, in 1949. He professed religious vows in 1953. Following ordination to the priesthood in 1961, Father Biller was sent to the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., to take graduate courses in guidance and counseling. He then served at Divine Word colleges and seminaries and as a pastoral minister in the Philippines from 1963 to 2002.

After returning to the United States, he was semi-retired but provided pastoral care for the Vietnamese community of St. Thomas of Aquinas in St. Louis. Father Biller moved to Techny in 2012.

He is survived by four sisters: Ruth Athay, Mary Searcy, Alberta Cooper and Rita Ward.

School Sister of St. Francis Lorraine (Aquinette) Quella, 97, died Oct. 5 in Milwaukee. She ministered in education for more than 75 years.

Born in Hammond, Indiana, she was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1938 and made her final vows in 1946.

Beginning in 1942, Sister Lorraine ministered in Nebraska and Illinois for more than seven decades. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Holy Angels School in Chicago for 65 years, from 1946-2011.

Benedictine Sister Eleanore (Rita) Hillenbrand, 95, died Oct. 29 at St. Joseph Court-St. Scholastica Monastery.

Sister Eleanore, a native of Chicago, attended St. Hilary School and St. Scholastica High School. She entered the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago as an aspirant in 1942 and professed her final vows in 1947. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s in English from DePaul University.

She taught at the elementary and high school levels. Sister Eleanore served as St. Scholastica’s English Department chairperson, the Benedictine Sisters’ director of studies, executive secretary to the prioress, and in other community positions. She served predominately in Illinois, but also in Colorado.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Eleanore taught in parish schools at St. Hilary, St. Symphorosa and St. Lambert in Skokie and at St. Scholastica High School (1957-1992).

Mercy Sister Regine Fanning, 96, died Nov. 5 at Mercy Circle.

Born in Utah, she was educated by Sisters of Mercy in Chicago and joined the congregation upon graduation from high school. She began teaching after professing vows in 1942. She taught for 28 years at levels from kindergarten through high school.

She earned master’s degrees from Mundelein College, the University of Illinois and the University of San Francisco.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as religious education coordinator at Sacred Heart Parish in Palos Hills for 15 years, then as a pastoral associate at Christ the King and St. Ethelreda parishes. She later served as a spiritual counselor.

She also wrote several books for adults and children.

Adrian Dominican Sister Margaret Ann (Robert Jean) Roggenbuck, 84, died Nov. 7 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 65th year of her religious life.

She ministered in Illinois and Michigan. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Santa Maria Del Popolo, Mundelein (1954-1958); Our Lady of Knock, Calumet City (1958-1962); St. Kilian (1962-1966); and St. Philip Neri (1966-1969). She was principal of St. Edmund, Oak Park (1969-1972).

Sister Margaret is survived by her sisters, Evelyn Stein and Jean Merkler, and her brothers, Barthol, John, Michael, Robert, William and Joseph.

 

Deacon Louis Francis Barone, 92, of Woodstock, died Oct. 23 at his home surrounded by his family. Deacon Barone was ordained in 1987 and served at St. Ansgar Parish, Hanover Park.

Born in Cicero, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944, after graduating from high school. He graduated from the DePaul University School of Law in 1951.

In 1961, he married his wife, Joan Sweeney, now deceased. He served as a Hanover Park village trustee, village clerk and, for 12 years, village president. He also was active in the Illinois Municipal League and the Northwest Municipal Conference.

He was ordained a deacon after retiring from municipal government, serving in a variety of ministries at St. Ansgar, including as business manager. He started a village-wide food pantry and a police chaplain ministry.

He moved to Woodstock to live with his family after the death of his wife, and was active at St. Mary Parish there.

He is survived by his son, John Barone; daughter, Mary Ann Rizzo; three grandchildren; and a sister, Nancy Gray.

Deacon William D. Maune, 95, died Oct. 24. He was ordained for the Diocese of Rochester in 1982 and began serving at St. Irenaeus Parish, Park Forest, when he moved to Illinois in 1994.

Deacon Maune was a World War II veteran who served in the Army Air Corps as a ball gunner on a B-24 Liberator. He married his high school sweetheart, Winnie, on a furlough in 1944. After the war he worked as a steamfitter, an exterminator and then worked for Kodak. During his career at Kodak, he worked in New York; Chicago; Hartford, Connecticut; Boston and Rochester, New York, where he retired in 1982 to work full-time as a deacon.

He continued his work as a deacon at St. Irenaeus Parish until he retired in 2002, due to his blindness. He continued to serve as a eucharistic minister and volunteer at St. Irenaeus until his death.

He was predeceased by his wife, Winifred. He is survived by his children Bernadette Maune, Mary Fote, William Maune, Anne Bell and Joseph Maune; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Deacon Thaddeus W. “Ted” Czarnecki, 86, died Oct. 26, He was ordained in 1977 and has served at Queen of the Rosary and St. Julian Eymard parishes in Elk Grove Village, where he lived for 59 years.

Deacon Czarnecki was a Navy veteran, a retired accountant/comptroller, served as coach and treasurer for Elk Grove Village Boys Baseball and was a former 10-year member and treasurer for the Lions Club of Elk Grove Village.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Geraldine; children Thaddeus Czarnecki, Karen J. Wolak and Kathleen M. Czarnecki; four grandchildren; and a brother, Leonard Scott.

Deacon Michael Monnelly, 79, died Oct. 27. He was ordained in 1982 and and served at Queen of All Saints Basilica.

Born in Chicago, he grew up in St. Bonaventure Parish and attended DePaul Academy and, later Marquette University in Milwaukee. After serving in the armed forces, he worked as a systems analyst for IBM.

At Queen of All Saints, he enjoyed doing baptism preparation and baptisms. He was a member of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, and he taught computer skills to formerly incarcerated men at St. Leonard’s House.

He is survived by his wife, Louise; children Colleen Neary, Joellen Mendoza, Emily Monnelly and John Monnelly; 11 grandchildren; and siblings Patricia, Frank and Ed Monnelly.

Providence Sister Mary Adrian (Bernadette) Jaroch, 85, died Oct. 3 in Winfield, Illinois.

Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1956 and professed final vows in 1963. 

She served in Indiana, Connecticut and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as a nurse at Whitehall North, Deerfield (1979-1981, 1986-1988); as director of health care at Divine Word Residence, Techny (1989-1991); as a hospice nurse at VNA North, Evanston (1991-1992); as nursing supervisor at Colonial Manor, LaGrange (1992-1993); as a nurse at Brighton Gardens, Prospect Heights (1997-1998); and as a nurse at New Perspective, Wheeling (1999-2002).

Sister Mary Adrian’s experience in hospice care early in her nursing career helped her grow not only in skill but also in compassion. Always willing to help, after her retirement from active nursing, she continued serving her sisters in the Chicago area who needed care when they were ill. 

Sister Mary Adrian is survived a sister, Patricia Maher.

Adrian Dominican Sister Ann Romayne (Patricia Joan) Fallon, 91, died Oct. 6 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 72nd year of her religious life.

She ministered in Illinois, Florida, Michigan and Alaska.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Laurence (1957-1958); Infant Jesus of Prague, Flossmoor (1958-1959); and Queen of Angels (1959-1964). She served at Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette as principal (1977-1983), president (1983-1988) and interim president (2000-2002).

She is survived by her sisters, Margaret E. Fallon and Kathleen Fallon.

Jesuit Father Raymond C. Baumhart, 95, died Oct. 10.

Born in Chicago, Father Baumhart graduated from DePaul Academy and attended DePaul University while working as the associate director of the Chicago chapter of the Boys Club (now named Boys and Girls Clubs of America), an organization that provides after-school programs and mentoring for young people. In 1943 he transferred to Northwestern University and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He began his Navy career by studying at Northwestern and, in 1944, studying business administration at the Harvard Business School. He went to sea on the President Polk, a troop transport ship, as a junior officer in 1945. He was honorably discharged from the Navy and entered the Society of Jesus in 1946.

In 1963, Father Baumhart was the first clergyman to earn a doctorate in business administration from Harvard University. His dissertation was on business ethics.

After ordination and the completion of coursework for his doctorate, Father Baumhart spent more than three decades at Loyola University Chicago. He taught personnel management, business ethics and statistics (1962-1966), was assistant dean (1963-1964) and was dean of the School of Business Administration (1964-1966).

He then spent two years (1966-1968) researching and writing at the Cambridge Center for Social Studies (a Jesuit think tank aimed at work on business ethics and social justice). Father Baumhart returned to Loyola as executive vice president (1968-1969) before becoming the acting vice president of Loyola’s Medical Center (1969-1970). He had a major hand in the 1969 opening of the Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois.

In 1970, Father Baumhart became the 21st and longest serving president of Loyola University Chicago (1970-1993). His tenure saw the university grow in both enrollment and physical space. He also oversaw the merging of Mundelein College with Loyola in 1991.

After a sabbatical, Father Baumhart served on Cardinal Joseph Bernardin’s and Cardinal Francis George’s advisory cabinets, became the director of Evangelization and Christian Life for the Archdiocese of Chicago (1994-2000) and served as a personal consultant to Cardinal George (2000-2011). He also served the Loyola University Jesuit Community as superior of the Jesuit residence (2006-2007) and treasurer of the community (2007-2011). In 2011, He moved to the Colombiere Center in Michigan to pray for the Society of Jesus and the church, and care for his health.

Divine Word Father John Rodney, 88, died Oct. 11 in Techny.

Born in Chicago, Father Rodney grew up in St. Elizabeth, Chicago’s oldest African-American parish. As a teenager in 1946, he enrolled in Divine Word Seminary at East Troy, Wisconsin, and professed religious vows in 1952.

After completing his seminary studies in 1960, he was ordained to the priesthood. Father Rodney continued his studies while serving in pastoral ministries. He earned master’s degrees in classical languages and German literature and a doctorate in comparative literature.

During the 1960s, he provided pastoral care for parishes in predominantly African-American communities, including St. Anselm and Our Lady of the Gardens. In 1967, he was assigned to Divine Word seminary in East Troy. He later taught college-level German, Spanish, Latin and Greek at Divine Word seminaries. He also served as a hospital and nursing home chaplain in Washington, D.C.

He is survived by his sister, Marie Davis

Providence Sister Marie Alexis (Elizabeth Clarissa) Geiger, 91, died Oct. 14 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indiana, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1946 and professed final vows in 1953. She ministered in Indiana, Illinois and Washington, D.C.

Sister Marie Alexis, an able administrator, was supportive and appreciative of all with whom she worked. She was also fun-loving, rarely missing an opportunity to be part of a group, whether it was to play cards or just to socialize.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Francis Borgia (1956-1963).

Father Phillip F. Cioffi, 64, died Sept. 17. He was associate pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish (Belmont Avenue) until he retired in July.

Born in Chicago, he attended Our Lady Help of Christians School; Fenwick High School, Oak Park; DePaul University; and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1981.

Father Cioffi served as associate pastor at St. Frances of Rome, Cicero; Our Lady of Mercy; St. Bernardine, Forest Park; Immaculate Conception, Highland Park; and Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Father Jeremiah Boland, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glenview, remembered his classmate as “one of the most beloved members of the class of 1981.” Boland added that “he was bright and had a terrific sense of humor. He was greatly influenced by the spirituality of St. Philip Neri.”

Father James P. Murphy, 80, died Oct. 1. He was pastor emeritus of St. Barbara Parish, Brookfield.

Born in Evanston, Father Murphy attended St. Francis Xavier School, Wilmette; Quigley Preparatory Seminary; and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1965.

Father Murphy was assistant or associate pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes; St. James, Sauk Village; St. Mary, Des Plaines; St. Raymond de Penafort, Mount Prospect; and St. Eugene Parish.

He was pastor of St. Catherine Labouré, Glenview, from 1989 to 2002 and pastor of St. Barbara from 2003 to 2009, when he was named pastor emeritus.

Father Robert Mair, pastor emeritus of St. Catherine Labouré, served alongside his classmate there. He remembered Father Murphy’s contributions to the parish and school. “He was always very generous with his time in terms of liturgies even after he retired,” Mair said.

Resurrection Sister Andrew (Noreen Rose) Donohue, 85, died Sept. 2 at Resurrection Life Center.

Born in Chicago, she was baptized at St. Jerome Parish and entered the congregation in 1950. She professed her final vows in 1958.

Sister Andrew taught at St. Mary of the Angels; St. Casimir (now Our Lady of Tepeyac); and Queen of the Rosary, Elk Grove Village, as well as in Nebraska and Indiana. She taught and was librarian at St. Casimir High School (now Our Lady of Tepeyac High School) and ministered at Resurrection Day Care.

Sister Andrew is survived by her sister, Sister Emmanuel Joseph, a Little Sister of the Poor.

Divine Word Father Arnold Lang, 93, died Sept. 26 in Techny. He was an educator and missionary in Appalachia.

Born in Ohio, Arnold Langenkamp, who later changed his surname, began his studies with the Divine Word Missionaries in 1940, professed vows in 1946 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1953.

He taught biology to Divine Word seminary students in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Iowa.

In 1985, Father Lang was called to West Virginia, a relatively new mission for the Society of the Divine Word. He served in the state for 23 years.

Father Lang moved to Techny in retirement in 2008.

Sister of Christian Charity Rosemary (Coronata) Schwer, 87, died Aug. 27 at Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette.

Born in St. Louis, she entered the convent in 1946 and made her first vows in 1951.

She began her nursing training at St. Elizabeth Hospital in 1953, and then resided at St. Teresa Convent while taking classes at DePaul University (1956-1957).

She served as a nurse and organist at Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette (1957-1963); served as a nurse and taught biology and health in Maria Immaculata Academy and in Mallinckrodt College (1967-1971).

She taught biology at the college again while living in Wilmette starting in 1979. In 1993, she moved to New Mexico to serve as a pastoral minister. She returned to Wilmette in 2005 and served in the leadership of her congregation.

She had served since 2012 in the ministry of care and bereavement at St. Joseph, Wilmette, and she was a member of the church choir.

Adrian Dominican Sister Theresia (Mary Susan) Scheuer, 88, died Sept. 6 in Adrian, Michigan. 

Born in Adrian, Michigan, she was in the 71st year of her religious life. She ministered in Michigan and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Ascension, Harvey (1954-1960).

She is survived by a sister, Jo Ann McKelvey.

Providence Sister Camille Neubauer, 79, died Aug. 14 in St. Mary of the Woods, Indiana.

Born in Washington, D.C., Sister Camille entered the Sisters of Providence in 1961 and professed final vows in 1969.  She taught in schools in Missouri, Maryland and Illinois, then served as music director in parishes in Maryland and Virginia.

In 2002, she returned to the motherhouse in St. Mary of the Woods to serve as director of liturgy and music, and later was a volunteer receptionist at Woods Day Care and Providence Conference and Spirituality Center. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1975-1980).

Claretian Father Raymond E. O’Connor, 81, died Aug. 17 in Park Ridge.

Born in Chicago, Father O’Connor attended Claretian seminaries and Catholic University of America before being ordained in 1964.

He had brief assignments at Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Francis of Assisi parishes before serving as assistant vocation director at the Claretian House of Studies in Washington, D.C., in 1966. He also ministered in New York, Virginia, Missouri and Georgia.

He returned to Chicago in 2005 and became the director of the National Shrine of St. Jude at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.  In 2008, he retired and became a resident of the Claretian community in Oak Park, but continued as codirector of the shrine for another 10 years. In 2019, he moved to the Sheridan at Park Ridge nursing home, his final place of residence.  

Jesuit Father Robert C. Thul, 89, died Aug. 25.

Born in Cincinnati, Father Thul was a Jesuit for more than 70 years.

He taught math and religion at St. Ignatius College Prep, at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati and at Colegio San Jose in Arequipa, Peru.

In the 1990s, Father Thul co-authored “Math for Change,” a teaching curriculum which incorporated social justice themes into math problems, and which has gone through multiple reprints. 

After 2006, he did pastoral ministry in Lexington, Kentucky; and in Cincinnati before moving to the Colombiere Center in Michigan in 2016.

Adrian Dominican Sister Carol Louise (Elizabeth June) Hiller, 97, died Aug. 24 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 77th year of her religious life.

Sister Carol Louise ministered in Illinois, New York, Michigan, Florida, Nevada, Alaska and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita (1943-1944); St. Kilian (1944-1948); St. Kevin (1948-1951); and St. Albert the Great, Oak Lawn (1958-1959); and she was a librarian at Aquinas High School (1962-1966).

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Mary (Carmen Therese) Milano, 87, died July 21 in Cincinnati.

Born in Chicago, she was baptized at St. William Parish. She was in religious life for 70 years.

Sister Mary taught every elementary grade from second to eighth. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Robert Bellarmine (1954-1958) and St. Victor, Calumet City (1963-1966). She also taught in other Illinois cities; in Ohio, Michigan and Arizona; and in Kenya.

She was at the Institute for Spiritual Leadership at Loyola University Chicago from 1979 to 1980. After training in spiritual direction, she served as novice director, then spiritual and retreat director for 26 years.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marie Patrice O’Donnell, 91, died July 26 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Nebraska, Sister Marie Patrice made her first religious profession in 1947 and her perpetual profession in 1950.

She served in Illinois, Wisconsin, Alabama, Colorado and Nebraska.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marie Patrice taught at Visitation (1947-1950) and St. Cajetan (1958-1962, 1971-1972).

Sister of St. Casimir Maureen Juozapavicius died July 29.

A native of Chicago, Sister Maureen entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1943.  She made her first profession of vows in 1946 and made her final vows in 1951.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Maureen taught at Immaculate Conception (44th Street) (1946-1947, 1964-1968); St. Joseph, South Chicago (1952-1954, 1956-1957, 1969-1970); Nativity BVM (1956-1957, 1961-1964); St. Norbert, Northbrook (1958-1959); Sts. Peter and Paul (1959-1961); Our Lady of Vilna (1968-1969); and Maria High School (1973-1981), where she also provided guidance counseling.  From 1981 to 1993, Sister Maureen served in pastoral care at Holy Cross Hospital.  She also taught in elementary schools in New Mexico, Michigan and Florida.

She was a minister of prayer and presence from 2014 to 2019 at Franciscan Village in Lemont.

Daughter of Charity Sister Ursula Cazalé, 93, died Aug. 5 in Bridgeton, Missouri.

Born in New Orleans, Sister Ursula was a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul for 72 years.

She received her nursing diploma from St. Joseph School of Nursing in Chicago in 1950; the following year, she earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing education from DePaul University.

Sister Ursula served as nursing supervisor at St. Joseph Hospital (1947-1951). She also served at other hospitals in Illinois and in Alabama, Texas and Louisiana, and at the Marillac Provincial House in St. Louis.

Adrian Dominican Sister Patricia (Francis Kevin) Brady, 80, died Aug. 6 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she attended Aquinas High School and was in the 61st year of her religious life.

Sister Patricia ministered in Michigan, Florida, Illinois and Louisiana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was associate principal at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Westchester (1977-1987); taught at Mother McAuley High School (1988-1991); was chapter prioress of the Upper Midwest Chapter (1991-1997); was coordinator/liaison for Dominican Youth/Young Adult Ministry in Westchester (1998-2008) and was executive director of the Dominican Association of Secondary Schools in Westchester (2008-2009).

She is survived by her sisters, Mary Quinn Brady and Colleen McGuire.

Jesuit Father Richard W. Anderson, 84, died Aug. 10.

Born in Chicago, he was a Jesuit for more than 65 years.

He ministered as a spiritual director and community superior at Loyola University Chicago and Milford Spiritual Center. He also served as chaplain at various locations, including St. Ignatius College Prep and the John Felice Center of Loyola University in Rome.

Father John C. Hergenrother, 79, died July 8. He was pastor emeritus of St. Louise de Marillac Parish, La Grange Park.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Laurence School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1966.

He was chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago and a judge of the Metropolitan Tribunal. He also served as associate pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Ferdinand and St. Monica. He became pastor of St. Louise de Marillac in 1985 and was named pastor emeritus in 2010.

Father Michael Bradley, adjutant judicial vicar who worked with Father Hergenrother for more than 20 years, said Father Hergenrother wrote about the spirit of joy as the Second Vatican Council was unfolding during his final years in the seminary. Father Hergenrother felt that same “spirit renewed with Pope Francis challenging us to live the joy of Jesus’ merciful Gospel and the documents of Vatican II being implemented,” Bradley said.

Father Joseph Nam Dao, 65, died July 10 in Ohio. He was associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Highland Park.

Born in Vietnam, he attended Blessed Phung Minor Seminary and St. Theresa Major Seminary in Vietnam and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 2000.

Father Dao served as associate pastor at St. Margaret Mary; Sts. Faith, Hope and Charity, Winnetka; and Immaculate Conception.

Father Claudio Diaz, classmate and pastor of St. Aloysius, remembered Father Dao as “a mixture of an old soul with a child’s twinkle in his eyes.” He added that Father Dao “endured many hardships in Vietnam and came to Chicago with the sole purpose of serving the people of God in the archdiocese.”

Deacon Frank DeVita, 97, died July 10. He was ordained in 1974 and served at Divine Providence Parish, Westchester.

Deacon DeVita served as a combat medic in World War II and attained the rank of staff sergeant. After the war, he continued to serve in the reserves and National Guard, where he attained the rank of first lieutenant. He worked for 31 years as an insurance agent and manager.

As a deacon, he assisted in hospital and parish ministry.

His wife, Blanche DeVita, predeceased him. He is survived by his children Maria Burg, Anthony DeVita, Michelle Fong and Jean Ferri; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Deacon Mario Avila, 68, died July 10. Deacon Avila, who lived in Westchester, was ordained in 1992 and served at St. Malachy-Precious Blood Parish, where he was a pastoral associate.

He is survived by his wife, Juanita, the director of religious education at St. Malachy-Precious Blood; children Mario Jr., Wendy Ruth and Christine Olivia Avila; and brothers Jose Castulo, Alejandro and the late Julio Avila.

Sister of St. Casimir Genevieve Kripas, 94, died June 25 in Lemont.

Born in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago, Sister Genevieve was in the 75th year of her religious life. She made her first religious profession in 1944.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Genevieve taught at Nativity BVM (1944-1946); St. Bartholomew, Waukegan (1946-1947); and Holy Cross (1947-1950). She was a nurse at St. Theresa Hospital, Waukegan (1950-1953); and a registered nurse at Holy Cross Hospital (1953-1954) and Loretto Hospital (1954-1958). Sister Genevieve was a nursing home administrator at Holy Family Villa, Palos Park, from 1984 to 1993. She also ministered as a nursing home administrator in Nebraska and Pennsylvania for over 20 years.

Sister Genevieve served as moderator of the SSC Auxiliary from 1999 to 2012.

She was a minister of prayer and presence from 2014 to 2019 at Franciscan Village in Lemont.

Mercy Sister Mary Ralph Orlinski, 101, died June 25. She was a Sister of Mercy for 82 years.

Born in Chicago, Sister Ralph entered the community in Des Plaines in 1936 and professed perpetual vows in 1942.

She ministered first as a nurse in Aurora, Illinois, then started a 60-year teaching career in Elgin, Illinois, in 1940.

She taught at Our Lady of Mount Carmel; Resurrection; St. Finbarr; Precious Blood; St. Joseph, Libertyville; St. Stephen, Des Plaines; St. James; and, for 35 years, at St. Catherine-St. Lucy, Oak Park.

When Sister Ralph retired from St. Catherine-St. Lucy in 2000, the pastor, Father Dan Whiteside, said, “Sister Ralph has laid the foundation of not only our education, but also of our lives. She taught thousands of children about trying their hardest always, about sharing and being nice, about helping others and saying our prayers every day. And she called each one, ‘Honey.’”

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Jeanette (Guinevere) Landuyt, 89, died July 3 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Peoria, Illinois, Sister Jeanette made her first religious profession in 1950 and her perpetual profession in 1953.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Jeanette taught at Visitation (1951-1960), served as supervisor of student teachers at Dominican University, River Forest (2000-2002), and was director of personnel for the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation while living in River Forest (1986-1988).

Adrian Dominican Sister Patricia (Kevin Patrice) Dolan, 85, died July 8 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Aquinas High School and was in 67th year of her religious life.

She ministered in Michigan, Illinois and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Santa Maria Del Popolo, Mundelein (1956-1962), and Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1962-1967); was an editor at Scott Foresman, Glenview (1988-1989) and a freelance editor (1989-1990); and was data resources coordinator at Galvin Library, Illinois Institute of Technology (1991-1993).

She is survived by a sister, Maureen Silver.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Mary (Mary Ellen) Buckley, 93, died July 17. She was in her 76th year of religious life.

A native of Chicago, Sister Mary attended St. Peter Canisius Parish and Notre Dame High School for Girls, where she was educated by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. She entered religious life in 1943 at Mount Notre Dame in Cincinnati, Ohio, and taught for 43 years. Thirty-one of those years were spent at Notre Dame High School for Girls in Chicago.

She is survived by her siblings, Therese Buckley Mulvihill and John Buckley.

 

Father John P. Finnegan, 90, died June 16. He was pastor emeritus of St. Mary of Vernon Parish, Indian Creek.

Born in Chicago, Father Finnegan attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1954. He also earned postgraduate degrees at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, Loyola University Chicago and the University of Chicago.

Father Finnegan’s younger brother, Father William J. Finnegan, a retired priest and former pastor of Our Lady of the Woods Parish in Orland Park, remembered that his older brother saw himself as a parish priest from the very beginning and he was able to fulfill his dream for two years by working with the people of Our Lady of Loretto Parish, Hometown, a few months after ordination to priesthood. Father John Finnegan was then asked to become a full-time teacher at Quigley Preparatory Seminary and later at St. Mary of the Lake Junior College in Niles.

In 1978, Father Finnegan became founding pastor of St. Mary of Vernon Parish, where he served until retirement. His brother added that “even after retirement he continued to offer liturgies there (St. Mary of Vernon Parish) and also always considered himself one of their family.”

Father Lawrence J. Malcolm, 74, died unexpectedly on July 4. He was pastor of St. Gerald Parish in Oak Lawn.

Father Malcolm was born in Chicago and attended Immaculate Conception School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1970. He also earned a post-graduate degree at Loyola University in Chicago.

He was assistant pastor of St. Bonaventure and St. Theresa, Palatine; associate pastor of St. Bede the Venerable and St. Daniel the Prophet; and then pastor of St. Daniel the Prophet. In 2008, he was named pastor of St. Gerald Parish, where he served until his death.

Father Louis J. Cameli, cardinal’s delegate for formation and mission, had known Father Malcolm since their time at Quigley Preparatory Seminary. “He really was a very generous person with a good heart who always reached out and welcomed everyone, especially those in need,” Cameli said.

Adrian Dominican Sister Jane Irene (Irene Jane) Hutton, 92, died June 24 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Aquinas Dominican High School. She was in the 69th year of her religious life.

Sister Jane Irene ministered in Michigan, Illinois, California, South Carolina and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mary, Star of the Sea (1954-1957).

Adrian Dominican Sister Marie (Madonna Joseph) Quenneville, 83, died June 25 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 66th year of her religious life.

Sister Marie ministered in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Ascension, Harvey (1953-1960), and St. Denis (1960-1965), and taught and was assistant principal at Santa Maria Del Popolo, Mundelein (1965-1966).

She is survived by a brother, Donald Quenneville.

Adrian Dominican Sister Marcelline (Jeanne Henry) Fouchey, 90, died June 27 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 73rd year of her religious life.

Sister Marcelline ministered in Michigan, Illinois and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Carthage (1947-1951); taught and was treasurer at Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1965-1966); and taught at Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, Westchester (1983-1986).

Sister of Christian Charity Margaritis (Catherine) Kullowitch, 81, died early in the morning of May 23 at NorthShore Hospice in Skokie Hospital in Skokie.

Born in Chicago, she was received into the novitiate in 1955. She made her first vows in 1957 and her perpetual vows in 1963.

She taught at St. Theresa, Palatine; St. Martha, Morton Grove; and St. Gregory School, as well as at schools in other states. She also helped with the SCC Literacy Program at Josephinum Convent and the religious education program at St. Mary of Celle, Berwyn.

In 2014, Sister Margaritis was assigned to Sacred Heart Convent in Wilmette.

Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Rose William Herzog, 90, died June 2 in Ohio.

Born in Ohio, she was a Sister of Charity for 68 years.

After serving in Ohio and Michigan, she taught at Holy Ghost, South Holland (1966-1982).

She then returned to Ohio.

Adrian Dominican Sister Dorothy Jeanne (James Marie) Burns, 98, died June 6 in Adrian, Michigan. Born in Michigan, she was in the 80th year of her religious life.

Sister Dorothy Jeanne spent 50 years ministering in education in Michigan, Illinois and Ohio.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Columbanus (1940), Our Lady of Good Counsel (1949-1941) and St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1942-1945).

Adrian Dominican Sister Lorraine (Johneda) Pepin, 84, died June 8 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 64th year of her religious life.

She ministered in Illinois, Michigan, Iowa and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel (1953-1954), St. Columbanus (1955-1957) and St. Carthage (1957-1958).

Deacon Miguel Valle died from a heart attack on May 19. He was ordained in 1996 and served at St. Wenceslaus Parish.

Deacon Valle was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and was the eldest of five children.

He was a longtime collaborator with Chicago Católico, writing notes and articles, and he hosted a radio show called “Compartiendo Nuestra Fe Católica.” He was known for organizing prayer groups, courses and workshops for the Hispanic Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Chicago, and he organized trips to the Holy Land.

Deacon Valle owned Nazareth, a bookstore that specialized in religious material where, with the archdiocese’s approval, he opened a small chapel.

“I lost one of the wisest people I ever met,” said Deacon Jaime Ríos of Valle. “Sometimes, instead of looking through my books to search for a quote or a story, I would call Miguel and he would say ‘Oh, it’s in such and such book, in such and such chapter.’”

Ríos added that Deacon Valle was a “walking library.”

“He had a tremendous knowledge of the Bible. He taught me so much,” he said.

Deacon Valle is survived by his mother and his four siblings.

Sister of St. Casimir Therese Bernadette Zebrauskas, 91, died May 10 in Lemont.

Born in Chicago, she made her first religious profession in 1949 and her perpetual profession in 1954. 

She taught for 47 years at elementary schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Therese Bernadette taught at Immaculate Conception School, Brighton Park (1949-1952); Nativity BVM School (1952-1954, 1963-1965, 1992-1996); St. Joseph School, South Chicago (1955-1956); St. Michael School, North Side (1956-1958); St. Norbert School, Northbrook (1968-1971, 1975-1977); All Saints School, Roseland (1971-1973); Sts. Peter and Paul School, West Pullman (1973-1974, 1977-1979); St. George School, Bridgeport (1974-1975); Providence of God School (1979-1985); and St. Anthony School, Cicero (1985-1992). She also served as assistant principal while at Providence of God School and at St. Anthony School.

Sister Therese Bernadette also ministered as a receptionist at Maria High School, Chicago, from 1996 to 2011.

She was a minister of prayer and presence from 2014 to 2019 at Franciscan Village in Lemont.

Felician Sister Mary Christella (Joan) Butrymowicz, 90, died on May 11 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Chicago.

Born in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, she joined the Felician Sisters aspirancy in Chicago, where she attended Good Counsel High School. She entered the Felician Sisters postulancy in 1945 and professed her final vows in 1953. 

She ministered in elementary schools as a teacher and principal in Illinois and Wisconsin. She also served in areas of religious formation and leadership within the Felician community and later ministered in the International Cord Rosary Center.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at Good Shepherd (1947-1953); St. Mary Magdalen (1953-1957); St. Wenceslaus (1957-1960); St. Linus, Oak Lawn (1960-1966); and St. James (1983-1987).

Providence Sister Michaela (Arline Clare) Galvin, 94, died May 15 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. 

Born in Massachusetts, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1943 and professed final vows in 1951.

She ministered in Indiana, Illinois, Texas, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Mel-Holy Ghost (1946); Maternity BVM (1946-1950), St. Leo (1951-1954), St. Andrew (1958-1962) and Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1988-2000).

Adrian Dominican Sister Irene Marie (Mary Louise) Kerich, 94, died May 27 in Adrian, Michigan. She was 94 years of age and in the 77th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican congregation.

Born in Minnesota, she ministered in Michigan, Illinois, New Mexico and Ohio.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Kevin and St. Clare of Montefalco.

Claretian Missionary Father Thomas R. Brummel, 88, died May 29 in Chicago.

Born in Chicago, Father Brummel attended Dominguez Seminary and Loyola University in California and Gregorian University in Rome before being ordained in 1959. 

Father Brummel served as a teacher and professor at various educational institutes in California, New York, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. He also was a professor at the Claretian Institute of Philosophy and the Spiritan International School of Theology, both in Nigeria.

Until his retirement in 2009, he also served part-time at the Chicago parishes of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Paul.

Deacon Robert LaCosse, 80, died May 1 in Marquette, Michigan. He was ordained in 1990 and served at St. Mary Parish, Buffalo Grove, before returning to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where he was born and raised, in 1999.

He served in the Marine Corps from 1957 to 1960 and returned home and married his wife, Janet, in 1962. The couple moved to Chicago the same year. Five years later, they moved to Buffalo Grove.

Deacon LaCosse was an accountant and financial planner for several Chicago-area companies.

He is survived by his wife, Janet; his children Jeffrey LaCosse, Scott LaCosse, Robert Michael LaCosse and Lee Ann LaCosse; six grandchildren; and his brothers Gene LaCosse and Stanley LaCosse.

Deacon Robert A. Banet, 92, died May 7. He was retired and had been living in Crown Point, Indiana. He was ordained in 1977 and ministered at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Calumet City, where he lived at the time.

Deacon Banet was also a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He taught English literature and composition at Calumet College of St. Joseph and Bellarmine University.

He is survived by his children, Kevin Banet, Christopher  Banet, Eva Lambert, David Banet and Jane Zatorski; nineteen grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a sister, Mary Ann Kruer. His wife, Mary, predeceased him.

School Sister of Notre Dame Mary Bruce (Patricia Ann) Wright, 82, died March 1 at Resurrection Life Center.

Born in Chicago, she was baptized at St. Michael Church and attended St. Bonaventure School and St. Michael High School.

She entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1955 and professed final vows in 1963.

Sister Mary Bruce taught intermediate grades at schools in Wisconsin and locally at St. Rosalie, Harwood Heights; and St. Paul. She became an administrator at St. Paul, and later at St. Margaret of Scotland, also in Chicago, after teaching junior high at St. Margaret for several years.

In 1997, Sister Mary Bruce became medical payments coordinator for the Chicago Province, and eventually for the Chicago area of the Atlantic-Midwest Province.

School Sister of Notre Dame Julita (Stella) Jelen, 102, died at Resurrection Life Center on April 18.

She was a vowed member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 84 years.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. John Cantius School and St. Stanislaus Commercial High School. She was received into the novitiate in 1934 and was professed the following year. She taught first grade for 31 years at many schools, including St. Therese Chinese Catholic School. She opened a new school in Wisconsin with two companions before returning to the Archdiocese of Chicago to teach at St. Alphonsus; St. Anthony; and St. Benedict, Blue Island.

In 1975, Sister Julita became principal at St. Michael School in Old Town. Sister Julita was the last principal there; the school closed in 1981.

She was then principal of St. Columba School for 10 years. Following retirement, she remained at St. Columba, ministering to the homebound and elderly and volunteering as librarian and tutor in the school.

She moved to Resurrection Life Center in 2015.

Servite Sister Bridie Kelly, 88, died May 14 in Wheeling.

She retired after many years of service at St. Domitilla School, Hillside.

She is survived by her sisters Kathleen Shanley, Mary Duggan, Nora Doherty and Margaret Callaghan.

Father Edward J. McKenna, 79, died April 11. He was most recently the  Catholic chaplain at St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights.

Father McKenna was born in Chicago and attended St. Dorothy and St. Philip Neri schools, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1965.

He was assistant pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas and associate pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Glenview; St. Bridget; and St. Paul (22nd Place).

In addition, McKenna served as a Catholic chaplain at Maryhaven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center; at Holy Family Medical Center, Des Plaines; and St. James Hospital, Chicago Heights.

Rev. David P. Dowdle, 65, died April 18. He was senior priest and former pastor of St. John of the Cross Parish in Western Springs.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Bernardine School, Forest Park; Quigley Preparatory Seminary; Niles College Seminary of Loyola University; and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1979.

Father Dowdle served as associate pastor of St. Marcelline, Schaumburg; St. Mary of Celle, Berwyn; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glenview. He was pastor of St. Gall (1992-2000), then became director of spiritual formation for the Deacon Formation Program.

In 2007, Dowdle was appointed pastor of St. John of the Cross in Western Springs, Illinois, and served in that role until 2018. As his health declined, he continued to serve as a senior priest.

Deacon Mathews VellurattilDeacon Mathews C. Vellurattil, 69, died April 22.

He was ordained in 1999 and served at St. Ladislaus Parish.

He is survived by his wife, Kunjoonjamma (Kay), his son Sijin; two grandchildren; and his siblings Father George Vellurattil, Lizy, Joseph, Alex and Shiny.

Providence Sister Mary Jo (Joseph Maureen) Stewart, 91, died April 20 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indiana, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1945 and professed final vows in 1952. She ministered in education and health care in Indiana, Illinois, California and Mississippi. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Sorrows (1947-1948); St. Genevieve, (1948-1952) and St. Francis Borgia (1952-1954).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Patricia Ann “Pam” (Marie Job) Miller, 78, died April 25 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Kansas City, Sister Pam made her first religious profession in 1967 and her perpetual profession in 1970. She was a teacher, pastoral minister and congregation leader who served in Minnesota, Illinois, Montana, Alaska, Washington and Oregon.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Pam taught at Trinity High School, River Forest (1976-1978).

She is survived by a sister, Cathy Colver, and two brothers, James Miller and Thomas Miller.

Adrian Dominican Sister Beverly (Marie Neal) McEachin, 90, died April 26 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in her 72nd year of religious life,

Sister Beverly ministered in education and school counseling in Illinois, Arizona and Michigan. She also worked in finance and in the sisters’ development office.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Nicholas of Tolentine School (1948-1951, 1962-1965).

She is survived by her sisters Marilyn Helhowski and Susan Nichol and her brothers Patrick McEachin and Robert McEachin.

Viatorian Father Robert T. Bolser, 74, died April 28 in Las Vegas.

Born in Urbana, Illinois, he professed his first vows as a Viatorian in 1964, his final vows in 1967 and was ordained a priest in 1995 in Chicago.

Father Bolser held master’s degrees in religious studies, educational psychology and divinity.

He taught in Springfield and Rock Island, Illinois and in Colombia.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he served as director of affiliates and in campus ministry at St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights (1983-1989); as a pastoral associate at St. Bartholomew Parish, Waukegan (1989-1991); and parochial vicar at St. Viator Parish (1995-2000, 2001-2006). He also ministered in Las Vegas. He moved to the Province Center retirement residence in Arlington Heights in 2016.

He is survived by his brothers Viatorian Father Charles Bolser, John Bolser and Joseph Bolser; and his sisters Mary Catherine Bolser and Colleen Von De Bur.

Providence Sister Mary (Marie Anita) Leahy, 84, died April 30 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1952 and professed final vows in 1959.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1968-1971); was the coordinator of secondary schools for the St. Joseph Province, based in Chicago (1971-1973); taught at St. Genevieve (1972-1973); was principal at St. Jerome (1973-1979); and was finance and development director at Sacred Heart of Mary High School, Arlington Heights (1980-1985).

She ministered in education and development in Indiana, Illinois and Washington, D.C. In 1997, she was named director of the National Religious Retirement Office, an office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that coordinates fundraising for the retirement of members of all religious congregations.

Sister Mary is survived by two sisters, Sheila Ruskauff and Margaret Frederick.

Father John P. Smyth, 84, died April 16. He served at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines for more than 40 years.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Genevieve, DePaul Academy and Quigley Preparatory Seminary. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1957 and turned down an opportunity to play in the National Basketball Association to pursue a vocation to the priesthood. He received a bachelor’s degree in theology from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in 1962 and was ordained the same year.

Following ordination to the priesthood, Smyth was assigned to Maryville Academy in Des Plaines and served there in a variety of roles for more than 40 years. During his time at Maryville, Smyth also served as the director of the Office of Catechesis and Youth Ministry from 1992 until 1995. In 2007, Smyth was appointed president of Notre Dame College Prep, Niles. He  served until 2014.

Resurrection Sister M. Virginia Tasny, 92, died March 6 at Resurrection Life Center.

She was born in Detroit and worked as a bank teller for six years before entering the congregation in 1950. She made final vows in 1956.

She spent many years teaching primary grades at schools including St. Mary of the Angels; St. Casimir (now Our Lady of Tepeyac); and Queen of the Rosary, Elk Grove Village. She also assisted in the office at Resurrection High School.

Sister Mary Virginia then spent 20 years working at the provincial home as receptionist, assisting the local superior or director of nursing at Queen of the Resurrection.

Providence Sister Cecilia (June) Carter, 92, died March 31 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.  Born in California, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1952 and professed final vows in 1960. She ministered for 41 years as a music teacher in schools in Indiana, Illinois, Maryland and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Andrew and St. Mel-Holy Ghost.

She moved to the motherhouse in 2002.  Beginning in 2009, she dedicated herself totally to the ministry of prayer.

Holy Family of Nazareth Sister M. Christiana (Dolores Georgianna) Metz, 88, died April 1 in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Born in South Heart, North Dakota, she entered religious life in 1946. She earned a teaching diploma and theology certificate from DeLourdes College in Des Plaines in 1954.

She taught for 24 years in Chicago at Roseland, St. Josaphat and Immaculate Heart of Mary. She also taught in Florida and North Dakota.

After her teaching ministry, she spent 13 years caring for the sick at Nazarethville Skilled Nursing Care in Des Plaines. She also served as a nurses’ aide at Jesus the Good Shepherd Convent in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Elaine (Genevieve) Robbins, 86, died April 5 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin. Her religious name was Sister Genevieve.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Elaine made her first religious profession in 1956 and her perpetual profession in 1959. She served in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Alabama, Missouri, Maryland and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Elaine taught at Visitation (1958-1961) and St. Thomas of Villanova, Palatine (1969-1970).

Adrian Dominican Sister Patricia (Mary Cuthbert) DeMay, 87, died April 6 in Toledo, Ohio.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 70th year of her religious life.

Sister spent 53 years ministering in education and library services in Illinois, Michigan, Florida and Alabama.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Celestine, Elmwood Park, and Infant Jesus of Prague, Flossmoor.

Springfield Dominican Sister M. Brendan (Mary Bernadette) Gibbons died April 9 at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield.

She was born in Gridley, Illinois, in 1934, and made her profession of vows in 1954 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield.

Sister M. Brendan taught grades one through six at schools in Illinois and California, including St, Lawrence O’Toole, Matteson. In 2016, she retired to Sacred Heart Convent. For the past three years, she was a tenacious assistant in the congregational archives, where she relished organizing records and unearthing minute historical facts.

She is survived by her sisters, Julie Martinez, Jane Smith, Helen Brandon and Rose Crosby; and her brother, Jim Gibbons.

Viatorian Father James E. Michaletz, 87, died April 10 at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. He had been a Viatorian for 67 years.

Born in Chicago, he graduated in 1949 from St. Mel  High School in Chicago and attended Northwestern University before making his first vows as a Viatorian in 1952 in Arlington Heights. He entered the Viatorian Seminary in Evanston in 1956 and was ordained a priest in 1960.

Father Michaletz was on the founding faculty of Saint Viator High School, serving as a chemistry teacher (1961-1964), assistant principal (1964-1968) and principal (1968-1972). From 1972 to 1975, he was superintendent of Sacred Heart of Mary High School in Rolling Meadows, before serving as assistant superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago (1973-1975). He served as co-director of the Office of School Planning (1975-1976) and Director of Planning (1976-1977) for the archdiocesan school system. He was an assistant professor of education at Dominican University, River Forest (1991-1998).

He retired to the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights, in 2011.

He is survived by his sisters Geraldine Roller and Roberta Michaletz.

Adrian Dominican Sister Ellen (Marie Aquino) Murphy, 82, died April 11 in Adrian, Michigan.

Sister Ellen was born in Detroit, and she was in her 64th year of religious life.

She ministered in Illinois and Indiana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel (1954) and St. Joseph, Homewood (1959-1963); was principal at Queen of Angels (1972-1979); St. Joseph, Wilmette (1980-1983); and St. Catherine of Alexandria, Oak Lawn (1983-1992); was program coordinator for the Women’s Center Project, Westchester     (1994-1995); worked in spiritual development at Centerpoint, South Holland (1995-1998); was an educational consultant in Merrionette Park (2000-2005); and was an administrative assistant in the Dominican Midwest Chapter Office,  Burbank  (2008-2009).

 

 

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Louanna Orth, 91, died April 13. She was in her 71st year of religious life.

A native of Chicago, Sister Louanna attended Notre Dame High School for Girls, where she was educated by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. She entered religious life at Mount Notre Dame and taught for 42 years in elementary and high schools in Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Ohio, and Chicago.

Father John F. Baldwin, 85, died April 1. He was a retired U.S. Navy chaplain.

Born in Chicago, Father Baldwin attended St. Clare of Montefalco School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1959.

Father Baldwin served the archdiocese as assistant pastor at Resurrection Parish (Jackson Street) and St. Joseph Parish, Round Lake. He was assigned as chaplain of the U.S. Navy in 1968 and served in that role until retirement.

Deacon Edward P. O’Leary, 81, died March 21. He was ordained a deacon in 1974 and served at St. Eugene Parish and at St. Benedict Nursing Home, Niles.

He was married to the late Joanne. He is survived by his children Ed, Cathy, Maureen, Maribeth and Jack O’Leary; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Deacon Efrain Ayala, 77, died March 20. He was ordained in 1979 and served at Resurrection Parish.

He is survived by his wife, Carmen; his children Diana Ayala, Carmen Iris Ayala and Angelica Ayala Beasley; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Adrian Dominican Sister Margaret Augustine (Nancy Jane) Exworthy, 78, died March 5 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 60th year of her religious life.

Sister Margaret Augustine ministered in Michigan, Illinois and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Ailbe (1960-1966) and St. Kevin (1966-1968) and was principal of St. Michael, Orland Park (1979-1985).

She is survived by a sister, Kareen May Newcombe.

Fr. M. Joseph Casey

Jesuit Father M. Joseph Casey, 82, died March 8. He was a Jesuit for more than 60 years.

Born in Evanston, he ministered in education in Indianapolis and Chicago. He was an associate pastor in Ohio and, later in life, superior at Colombiere Center in Michigan.

Father Joe had three great loves in his life: Jesus (and the Society of Jesus), teaching French and playing bridge. His jovial attitude, wide smile and care for others helped him to make friends easily, according to obituary information from the Jesuits. His dedication and attention to others helped him to maintain great friendships throughout his life.

Sister of the Living Word Grace Edith Rief, 94, died March 14 in Chicago.

Born in Minnesota in 1924, Sister Grace made her final vows in 1949. She was a Sister of the Living Word for 44 years, and previously a member of the Sisters of Christian Charity. She taught in schools in Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana and Michigan. She was a devoted elementary school teacher for just short of 50 years, and she continued as a tutor and ESL teacher for another five years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Gregory; St. Aloysius; St. Isaac Jogues, Niles; St. Raphael; St. Juliana; St. Ita; and St. Jerome.

Sister Grace spent her last years at Resurrection Life Center, where she served in the ministry of prayer and presence.

Adrian Dominican Sister Mary Ellen (Brendan Mary) Plummer, 72, died March 25 in Adrian, Michigan.

A Detroit native, she was in the 54th year of her religious life.

She ministered in Illinois, Michigan, Florida, North Carolina and Texas.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Ellen taught at St. Mary Star of the Sea (1965-1968) and Queen of Apostles, Riverdale (1968-1971).

She is survived by two brothers: John and William Plummer; and four sisters: Elizabeth Presley, Margaret Plummer, Catherine Gatto and Virginia Plummer.

Adrian Dominican Sister Maureen (Shaun Paul) Fenlon, 75, died March 27 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 60th year of her religious life.

She ministered in Illinois; Florida; California; North Carolina; Massachusetts; New York; Washington, D.C.; and Louisiana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita (1960-1963); Santa Maria Del Popolo, Mundelein (1963-1965); St. Joseph, Homewood (1965-1967); and Queen of Apostles, Riverdale (1967-1970).

She is survived by a sister, Shauna McCormick, and two brothers, Dennis and Paul Fenlon.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Katherine (Marie Bernarde) Connell, 79, died March 29 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Detroit, Sister Mary Kay made her first religious profession in 1959 and her perpetual profession of vows in 1964. She taught, was a pastoral minister and guidance counselor, and was a support staff member.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Kay taught at Visitation (1966-1972, 1973-1976). She served as a caregiver in the Schaumburg area (2000-2001), and ministered at Maryville Academy sites in Bartlett and Des Plaines as a youth care worker (2001-2006); as receptionist and switchboard operator, (2006-2008); and in the archives (2008-2009).

She is survived by a sister, Anne Osten.

Providence Sister Marie Paul (Mary Mardelle) Haas, 91, died March 30 in Chicago.

Born in Indiana, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1945 and professed final vows in 1953.

She ministered as a music teacher in schools in California, North Carolina, Indiana and Illinois. Her specialty was string instruments. She continued this ministry until months before her death, giving private and group lessons to students in the Chicago area.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Francis Borgia Parish from 1963 until shortly before she died.

Sister Marie Paul is survived by a brother, Paul R. Haas.

Father William J. Lisowski, 95, died March 7 at Holy Family Villa in Palos Park. He was a retired pastor of St. Ladislaus Parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Lisowski attended St. John of God School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1950.

He was assistant pastor at St. Mary Magdalene; St. Blase, Argo; Holy Innocents; and St. Salomea. He was pastor at St. Helen and at St. Ladislaus, where he retired in 1993.

Father Leon R. Wagner, 94, died March 7. He was the retired pastor of St. Mary Parish, Riverside.

Born in Evanston, he attended St. Joseph School, Wilmette; Quigley Preparatory Seminary; and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, before being ordained in 1949.

Father Wagner was assistant pastor at St. Anthony of Padua; St. Joseph, Waukegan; St. Matthias; St. John Brebeuf, Niles; Divine Infant Jesus, Westchester; and Queen of All Saints Basilica. In 1975, he was assigned as pastor at St. Mary, Riverside, where he served until his retirement.

Father Michael A. Goergen, 82, died March 8. He was pastor emeritus of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Goergen attended St. John Bosco School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1962.

He was assistant pastor at St. Eulalia, Maywood; Queen of All Saints Basilica; and Queen of the Universe. He was associate pastor of St. Christina, and in 1982 he was assigned as pastor of St. Nicholas of Tolentine. In 1995, he was assigned as pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine, where he served until retirement.

Deacon John Mellon, 85, died Feb. 4 in Evanston. He was ordained in 1985 and served at St. Nicholas Parish in Evanston.

Deacon Mellon had worked as an English professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He was married to his late wife, Mary Gael, for more than 40 years.

He is survived by his children Christina, Elizabeth Jane and John Mellon.

Deacon Joseph Siranovic, 84, died March 2 in Elmhurst, Illinois.

He was ordained in 1976 and served at St. Bruno (1976-1995), Notre Dame de Chicago (1995-2003) and St. Domitilla, Hillside (2003-2012). As a deacon, he led religious education programs, prepared parents for baptism and baptized children, served as a field advocate for the Marriage Tribunal, preached at Masses and led RCIA programs.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Dawn; his children Mark Siranovic and Michelle Paprocki; and three grandchildren.

Deacon William Sullivan, 80, died March 8. He was ordained in 1986 and served at St. Barnabas Parish.

Deacon Sullivan was retired from the Cook County Assessor’s Office, and he was a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard.

He is survived by his wife, Noreen; his children William Sullivan, Megan Rees and Mara Arakelian; six grandchildren; and his siblings Patricia Roach, Margaret Murnane and John Sullivan.

Deacon Dennis McAllister, 72, died March 9. He was ordained in 2000 and served at Our Lady of the Brook and St. Norbert parishes in Northbrook.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Nora; his children Michael McAllister and Maggie Casali; three grandchildren; his sisters Kathleen Bell and Patricia Farrell; and his brothers Michael and Tim McAllister.

Sister of St. Casimir M. Andreata Naudziunas, 96, died Feb. 22 in Lemont.

Born in South Boston, she made her first religious profession in 1942 and her perpetual profession in 1947.

She taught at elementary schools in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, New Mexico and Illinois and at high schools in Pennsylvania and Nebraska.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Andreata taught at St. George (Bridgeport, 1943-1944), All Saints (Roseland, 1947-1948), Nativity BVM (Marquette Park, 1949-1950) and Providence of God (1953-1955).

She also ministered as congregational treasurer from 1970-1978, and at Holy Cross Hospital she served in the accounting area for eight years. Sister Andreata also served in the Maria High School Alumnae Office (1994-2005) and in the Sisters of St. Casimir Food Pantry (2005-2010).

She was a minister of prayer and presence from 2010-2019 at Franciscan Village in Lemont.

Adrian Dominican Sister Sean (Rita Jean) Morley, 85, died Feb. 27 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Aquinas High School.

She was in the 68th year of her religious life and ministered in Illinois, Ohio and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Denis (1966-1969); taught and was principal at St. Matthew (1969-1971); taught (1971-1972), was religious education coordinator (1972-1973) and was principal (1973-1974) at St. Albert  the Great, Burbank; was principal at St. Catherine Laboure, Glenview (1974-1983); was principal at St. Cajetan (1983-1996); was assistant principal at St. Francis Xavier School, LaGrange (1997-2001); and volunteered in the admissions office at Little Company of Mary Hospital, Evergreen Park (2003-2007).

Maryknoll Sister Frances Mary (Consolata Marie) Horan, 94, died March 1 in Maryknoll, New York.

Born in Philadelphia, she entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in 1944. She made her final profession of vows in 1950.

She served in New York, Texas and Missouri, as well as at St. Therese Chinese Catholic School, where she was a secretary and then a teacher and assistant principal (1973-1983).

She was sent to Panama in 1987, retired but continued volunteer ministry in Panama in 2008 and returned to New York in 2012.

Sister of St. Casimir M. Lucille Zelvys, 84, died March 1 in Lemont.

Born in Lithuania, she made her first religious profession in 1957.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Lucille taught elementary grades at Providence of God and Immaculate Conception (44th Street). She also taught in Nebraska.

Sister Lucille later ministered as a nurse at Loretto Hospital and Holy Cross Hospital, where she worked for 35 years. She also ministered as a school nurse and teacher at Maria High School.

Deacon Arturo Rubio, 47, died Feb. 16 the day after suffering an accident at work. He was ordained in 2012 and served at Our Lady of Tepeyac Parish.

Deacon Rubio directed the RCIA program at Our Lady of Tepeyac, and had served at Our Lady of the Mount Parish in Cicero.

He is survived by his wife, Eva, and four daughters. 

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Jean (Meredith) Murray, 91, died Feb. 14 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Broadview, Sister Jean made her first religious profession in 1952 and her perpetual profession in 1955. She taught French at the high school level for four years and at the college level for 38 years. Sister Jean served as president of Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest, from 1981 to 1994, and a building on campus bears her name.

She also taught French there (1961-1972, 1975-1981 and 1995-2008) and was director of the Rosary-in-Fribourg Program in Switzerland (1972-1975). She also served the Sinsinawa Dominican congregation as a provincial councillor for the Southeast Province while living in River Forest (1976-1980).

Servite Sister Anne Patrice McEntegart, 97, died Jan. 11 at Addolorata Villa, Wheeling.

Born in Chicago, she entered the Servants of Mary in 1951 and professed first vows in 1952.

She ministered in education for 40 years in Illinois, New Jersey, Wisconsin and Minnesota; served as secretary to the Servants of Mary congregation for nine years; and served a three-year term on the congregation’s leadership team.

She is survived by a sister, Kathleen Curran.

Irish Christian Brother David A. MacIntyre died Jan. 12.

Born and raised in Montana, he attended the Irish Christian Brothers High School, Boys’ Central, in Butte, Montana, before joining the Irish Christian Brothers.

He began his professional career as a teacher at Brother Rice (1962-1967).  He then ministered at St. Laurence High School in Burbank (1967-1980), serving as principal for the last five years of that assignment.

He spent the remaining 39 years of his career and life at Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Sister of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate Pauline (Alice Marie) Schutz, 87, died Feb. 10 in Joliet.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. Pascal School and Alvernia High School. After graduating from Alvernia, she entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate in Joliet and professed her final vows in 1955.

Sister Pauline taught in schools in Illinois and Ohio between 1952 and 1978. Because of her failing eyesight, she was invited by the pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Lombard, Illinois, to consider moving from teaching and administration to begin a new ministry in pastoral care. Sr. Pauline spent 38 years at St. Pius X in Lombard in that capacity, establishing 26 different ministries that touched the lives and hearts of many people.

Sister Pauline is survived by a sister, Georgiana Schutz Glennon.

Providence Sister Mary Cecile (Mary Bernadette) Grojean, 87, died on Feb. 13 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, Sister Mary Cecile entered the Sisters of Providence in 1950 and professed final vows in 1957. She ministered as a music teacher for 39 years in schools in Indiana, Illinois, Maryland and California. In 2002, she returned to the motherhouse where she gave service to her sisters as switchboard operator and driver.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Leo (1957-1963); St. Andrew (1970-1980); and St. Agnes (1980-1987); and taught (1987-1990) and was secretary (1992-1993) at Jesus our Brother School.

Felician Sister Mary Eulodia (Rose) Gramczak, 90, died on Feb. 14 at Swedish Covenant Hospital.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. Joseph Elementary School and St. Joseph High School. She entered the Felician Sisters in 1947 and professed her final vows in 1955. She ministered in Chicago on the elementary school, high school and college levels. She served at Good Counsel High School and St. Joseph High School in Chicago as a counselor for 15 years and worked at Felician College/Montay College for 20 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. John of God (1949-1951), St. Helen (1951-1956), Good Counsel High School (1956-1957), (1962-1971), St. Joseph High School (1957-1962), and Felician College/Montay College (1975-1995).

Benedictine Sister Agnes (Lois Mae) Kelly, 94, died Feb. 17 at St. Francis Hospital, Evanston.

Born in Evanston, she attended St. Scholastica High School and entered the community as a postulant in 1942 and professed her final vows in 1947. She taught at the elementary and high school level in math, social studies and music. Sister Agnes also directed freshman chorus, the Glee Club and taught private voice lessons. She served in Colorado and in Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Agnes taught at Queen of All Saints (1944-1950), (1952-1956); St. Scholastica High School (1963-2012).

She also taught in Colorado.

Mercy Sister Mary Jonella Bohmann, 86, died Feb. 18.

Born in Wisconsin, she graduated from Mercy High School in Milwaukee in 1950 and entered the Sisters of Mercy in Des Plaines the following year.

Sister Jonella taught at Catholic high schools and elementary schools across the Archdiocese of Chicago for 20 years before moving to the collegiate level and teaching English at Saint Xavier College (now University) from 1973 until 1980.

She later ministered in the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, and became involved in the National Catholic Educational Association. She returned to Wisconsin, where she directed a transitional housing program for young women and was a college instructor before retiring.

She moved to Mercy Circle in 2014.

Viatorian Brother Dale Barth, 75, died Feb. 21 at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.

Born in Peoria, Illinois, Brother Barth pronounced first vows in 1963 in Arlington Heights and was ordained a permanent deacon in 2003 by Bishop Joseph Imesch in Joliet, Illinois.

For 23 years he was assigned to St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights, where he served as director of maintenance (1967-1990). For the next six years, he worked in the provincial treasurer’s office at the Viatorian Province Center, Arlington Heights. He served as pastoral associate at St. Viator Parish in Chicago (2005-2008), before retiring to the Viatorian Province Center retirement residence in 2008.

Deacon James “Jimmie” Flewellen, 92, died Jan. 31. He was a member of the first class of permanent deacons ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1972, and he ministered at St. Thaddeus Parish.

He was born in Columbus, Georgia, and met his late wife, Isabelle, in high school. They married before he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1945.

After leaving the Army, he moved his family first to Saginaw, Michigan, and then to Chicago, where he helped build St. Thaddeus church and school, helped start the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the African-American community, and was active in other community efforts.

In 1960, he and his wife were baptized into the Catholic Church, and in 1970, he began formation as a deacon. He later worked as a federal prison chaplain, serving in Springfield, Missouri from 1985 to 1993, when he returned home to serve at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago.

He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in pastoral studies from Loyola University Chicago, taught in the archdiocese’s diaconate formation program, was a chaplain to the Knights of St. Peter Claver and received the Augustus Tolton Award from the Office of Black Catholics.

He is survived by his son, Jimmie Flewellen Jr.

Deacon Jose Uroza-Suarez, 86, died Feb. 3. He was ordained in 1977 and served at St. Angela Parish.

Deacon Uroza-Suarez was a Korean War Army veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Ofelina; his children Jose Uroza Jr. and Sandra Feliciano; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and his siblings, Clement, Juanita and Monse.

Holy Family of Nazareth Sister M. Hilary (Stephanie) Dyrcz, 99, died Jan. 19 in Des Plaines.

Born in Harvey, she entered religious life in 1934. With multiple degrees in French, education and psychology, she taught at St. Hyacinth, St. Ladislaus, Holy Trinity and Holy Family Academy in Chicago and at De Lourdes College in Des Plaines. 

Beginning in 1983, she served nine years in Rome as assistant general superior for the congregation. Upon completion of her term, she ministered at Holy Family Medical Center in Des Plaines as the director of volunteers and as the receptionist at the front desk. In 2003, she retired from active ministry.

She was also a participant in Rush University’s Religious Orders Study. In her last act of service, when she died her brain was taken to Rush Medical Center to further advance research into Alzheimer’s disease.

Felician Sister Mary Virginette (Lillian) Reczek, 96, died Jan. 19 in Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in Chicago, she attended Holy Trinity School and Good Counsel High School. She entered the Felician Sisters in 1941 and professed her final vows in 1949. She ministered as a teacher in various elementary schools in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

After attending a program of studies at the Deaf Institute, she worked for 13 years with hearing-impaired people in a number of schools in the archdiocese. She served as a clinician and later as  the director of the Felician College Psychoeducation Center.

She was in provincial leadership for six years followed by work in behavioral medicine at St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia, Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. John of God (1941-1942), Holy Innocents (1943-1944), St. James (1944-1946, 1964-1965), St. Bronislava (1946-1948), St. Helen (1951-1954), St. Hedwig Orphanage (1954-1960), St. Joseph School (1960-1962), and St. Frances DePaul School for the Deaf (1962-1973) and Felician College (1973-1987).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Alyce (Stellan) Kelly, 88, died Jan. 24 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, she made her first religious profession in 1953 and her perpetual profession in 1956. She taught, served as director of religious education and was a pastoral associate and parish administrator for 18 years. Sister Alyce served in Wisconsin, Illinois and Hawaii.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Alyce taught at Immaculate Conception (1969-1970), where she also coordinated the religious curriculum.

She is survived by her sister, Providence Sister Kathleen Kelly.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Patricia (Jarett) Henschel, 88, died Jan. 24 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Milwaukee, she made her first religious profession in 1951 and her perpetual profession in 1954. She taught at the elementary, middle and collegiate levels for 28 years and served in educational administration for 20 years.

She served in Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Pat taught at St. Sabina (1958-1966) and Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest (1977-1987, 1988-1989). She was principal at St. Edmund, Oak Park (1972-1975).

Comboni Father Robert Kleiner, 74, died Feb. 2.

Born in Cincinnati, he attended the Comboni high school seminary. After completing his novitiate and college studies, he was ordained a priest in 1971, two months before he was sent to Peru.

He remained there for three years, returned to the United States because of health problems and then was sent to minister at a high school seminary in Ciudad Juarez in Mexico from 1976 to 1982.

After a stint in California, he came to the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1991 to minister at St. Donatus, Blue Island, and Seven Holy Founders, Calumet Park. He remained in the archdiocese until 2002.

Sister of the Holy Child Jesus Loretta Tiernan, 80, died Feb. 5.

Born and raised in Waukegan, she attended Holy Child High School, where she first met the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus. She entered the society in 1956 and became well-known by the religious name Mother Mary Clarice. She made her final vows in 1964.

Sister Loretta returned to the Archdiocese of Chicago to teach at St. Veronica (1959-1963); St. Ignatius (1963-1965); and St. Anastasia, Waukegan (1965-1967).

In 1979, Sister Loretta returned to Waukegan, where she became a minster at Victory Hospital, then served as a pastoral associate and minister of care at St. Joseph and St. Bartholomew Parish. The scope of her ministry grew as the parishes consolidated.

Sister Loretta is survived by her sister, Mary Ann Grazier.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marise Barry, 87, died Feb. 6, in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, Sister Marise made her first religious profession in 1951 and her perpetual profession in 1954.

She taught, served as a principal, was in congregation leadership worked in the social service field.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marise taught at Immaculate Conception (1968-1970) and served as provincial for the Eastern Province of the Sinsinawa Dominicans while living in River Forest (1992-1998).

Jesuit Father Philip J. Grib, 80, died on Feb. 8 at Resurrection Hospital.

Born in Chicago, he graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep and earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin, Greek and philosophy from Xavier University in Cincinnati, followed by a law degree from the University of Chicago before entering the Society of Jesus in 1964.

During his Jesuit formation, he taught U.S. history and English at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, and worked in campus ministry Loyola University Chicago following his ordination in 1972. He went on to teach law and moral theology at Loyola University for 11 years and served as chaplain in the school of law.

After a sabbatical, Father Grib moved completely into pastoral ministry. He was an associate pastor at St. Constance Parish (1996-1999). In 1999, he moved to St. Eugene Parish in Chicago, where he served until his death.

Father Grib was a musician and clarinet player. For a while, Father Grib served as the chaplain for the International Polka Society.

Divine Word Brother Wayne Till, 85, died at Techny on Feb. 8.

Born in Iowa, Brother Wayne entered formation with the Society of the Divine Word after graduating from high school in 1951.

While in formation at Techny, he worked as an assistant in the Techny Mission Gardens.

In 1960, Brother Wayne professed vows and was assigned to the congregation’s dairy farm in Kellyville, Australia.

After 10 years in Australia, Brother Wayne was assigned as a mechanic in Wewak, Papua New Guinea, where he also served as bursar for Holy Spirit Seminary in Port Moresby.

Having fulfilled 28 years of missionary service in Papua New Guinea, Brother Wayne returned to the United States in 1998. He moved to Techny in late 2018.

BVM Sister Patricia O’Rourke, 90, died Feb. 11 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Chicago, she entered the BVM congregation in 1950, from St. Eulalia Parish, Maywood.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Patricia taught at St. Tarcissus, St. Eugene and Holy Name and was an adult learning skills teacher for the City Colleges of Chicago. She was also a principal and teacher in Cedar Rapids and Clinton, Iowa.

Jesuit Father Daniel L. Flaherty, 89, died Feb. 13 in Michigan.

Born in Chicago, Father Flaherty, known as “Flax,” graduated from St. Ignatius High School before entering the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus in 1947. He was ordained a priest in 1960 and took final vows in 1965.

After moving back to Chicago in 1971, he was executive editor of Loyola University Press and the first editor/publisher of the National Jesuit News (1971-1973) and provincial of the Chicago Province (1973-1979).  During his provincialate, he was a delegate at General Congregation 32 (1974-1975). 

In 1979, he returned to Loyola University Press, where he was associate director (1979-1981) and director (1981-1989). He then spent 20 years as treasurer of the Chicago Province (1989-2009). 

In addition to working in the province office, he was the acting superior of the Jesuit community at Canisius House (2003-2011). He moved to Colombiere Center in Michigan in 2011.

Deacon John Dulen, 92, died Jan. 20. He was a member of the first class of permanent deacons ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1972. He ministered at St. John Brebeuf in Niles.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia; children Michael Dulen, Maureen Dulen, Mary Beth Benson, Eileen Jennings, Kathleen Dulen, Jacqueline Dulen, Patrick Dulen and Annmarie Dulen; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Janet (Ann Raymond) Hughes, 88, died Jan. 17.

Raised in Villa Park, Illinois, Sister Janet worked in Chicago as a stenographer for five years after high school before discerning a vocation to religious life. She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1955.

For nearly 20 years, Sister Janet served students and their families as a teacher at schools in Ohio and Illinois. After the Second Vatican Council, she chose to serve God in another way and began work as a secretary in Chicago for the next 30 years. In parishes where she worshipped, she served on liturgy and worship commissions, in the choir and as an extraordinary minister of Communion. For many years Janet was also part of a small faith community, where she was involved in preparing meals for the homeless.

Providence Sister Louise (Margaret Ann) Schroeder, 93, died Jan. 19 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indiana, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1943 and professed final vows in 1950.

Of her 76 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered as a primary teacher for 46 years in schools in Indiana, Illinois and California. Retiring from teaching, she came to the motherhouse in 1991 and served in a variety of capacities.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Andrew (1945-1948), Maternity BVM (1962-1965) and Immaculate Conception (1988-1991).

Sister of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Agnes Moczarnik, 83, died Nov. 11, 2018, in Texas.

Born in the Hegewisch neighborhood of Chicago, she discerned a religious vocation as a teenager and entered the order of the Sisters of St. Francis in Dubuque, Iowa, taking the name Jucunda. During the next three decades in Iowa, Ohio and Kentucky, she taught grammar school.

In her 50s, she questioned her calling and left the sisterhood. She continued to teach school and participate in spiritual activities, including serving as an extraordinary minister of Communion at St. Columba Parish. In her 60s, she realized again that God was calling her to religious life and was received into the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity. She served in this order in New Mexico and Texas until her death.

She is survived by her sister Victoria Szuflita and her brother Adam Moczarnik.

School Sister of St. Francis Margaret Anne (Verena) Puhek, 93, died Dec. 14, 2018, in Milwaukee.

Born in Milwaukee, Sister Margaret Anne was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1943 and made her final vows in 1951.

Sister Margaret Anne ministered as an educator in Illinois and Wisconsin for more than seven decades. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glenview (1946-1954), and at Holy Angels School (1960-1963).

Sister Margaret Anne is survived by a sister, Eileen Hackney.

School Sister of St. Francis Mary Ruth Schweisthal, 99, died Dec. 24, 2018, in Milwaukee.

Born in Aurora, Illinois, Sister Mary Ruth was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1938 and made her final vows in 1946.

Sister Mary Ruth ministered in education in Illinois, Wisconsin and Nebraska for more than eight decades. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Martin (1944-1946); St. Benedict High School (1953-1956 and 1967-1968); Alvernia High School (1958-1967 and 1970-1973), where she also served as financial manager (1983-1987); and De LaSalle Institute (1969-1970). She served as secretary (1976-1977) and treasurer (1977-1983) for her congregation’s Holy Name Province, based in Chicago. She also served in Chicago as office manager for Friends of the Children (1990-1994), and as building manager for St. Priscilla Convent (1994-1995), where she also was as a receptionist and driver (1995-2002) 

In retirement, Sister Mary Ruth served in the ministry of prayer and presence at St. Joseph Convent, Campbellsport, Wisconsin (2002-2013), and at Sacred Heart in Milwaukee from 2013 until the time of her death.  

Daughter of Charity Mary (Mary Elizabeth) Quinn, 93, died Dec. 30, 2018, in Evansville, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, Sister Mary graduated from St. Patrick High School before entering the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis from Our Lady of Sorrows Parish.

She taught in schools and served as a house mother in homes in Alabama, California and Missouri. She then served as a social worker and group home coordinator in Michigan and Alabama, where she was also local community superior.

She then returned to Chicago, where she was Daughter of Charity Liaison for St. Joseph Health Centers and Hospital (1988-2001) and coordinator of volunteers at Marillac Social Center (2001-2005).

She is survived by her brothers Vincent Quinn, James Quinn and Vincentian Father Bernard Quinn; and her sisters Pauline Brewer, Joan Scully and Daughter of Charity Katie Quinn.

 Adrian Dominican Sister Nora (Marie Phelim) Brady, 93, died Jan. 5, in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Ireland, she was in the 70th year of her religious life.

Sister Nora ministered in Michigan and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Denis (1972-1981, 1982-1992) and served St. Denis Parish as hospitality minister (1992-2006).

Adrian Dominican Sister Cecilia Marie (Barbara Jane Mary) Brown, 95, died Jan. 5 in Adrian, Michigan. Born in Rockford, Illinois, she was in the 76th year of her religious life.

She ministered in Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Edmund, Oak Park (1955-1956); St. Denis (1963-1966); St. Albert the Great, Oak Lawn (1967-1969); St. Mary Star of the Sea (1970-1971); and St. Collette, Rolling Meadows (1971-1972). She also was plant manager at the Immaculata Congregational Home, Bartlett (1990-1991).

She is survived by a sister, Rosemary Naill.

Adorers of the Blood of Christ Sister Mary Matthew (Bridgit) Janciar, 93, died Jan. 6 in Pennsylvania.   

She entered the Adorers of the Blood of Christ in 1939 as a high school student. She professed first vows in 1942 and final vows five years later.

As a young sister, she taught primary grades at St. Jerome School and in schools in Missouri and Pennsylvania.

She later taught high school and college, directed scholastics in her community, and served as a local and provincial coordinator. She then served in Hispanic and parish ministry in Pennsylvania.

Sister Mary Matthew is survived by a stepbrother, Leonard Kuzbel.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary (Muritta) Hemeyer, 88, died Jan. 7 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Sister Mary made her first religious profession in 1950 and her perpetual profession in 1953.

Sister Mary served in Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Wyoming.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary taught at Visitation (1950-1953) and served as secretary at Trinity High School, River Forest (1981-1982).

Jesuit Father John R. (Jack) Crocker, 88, died Jan. 8.

Born in Chicago, he was a Jesuit for 70 years.

After earning his doctorate, Father Jack taught in the Department of Clinical Psychology at the Child Guidance Center in Hines VA Hospital (1967-1969). He then spent eight years at Loyola University Chicago, where he was the director of the Speech Pathology Center at the medical center and was an assistant professor of physical medicine and associate professor of psychology.

While he was at Loyola University, he spent a year at the Rome Center (1973-1974).

After spending two years in Chicago as the provincial assistant for planning and higher education (1992-1994), he returned to Rome and was the socius to the Delegate for International Houses for one year before becoming the superior and director of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem (1995-1998).

After another two years in Chicago, Father Jack returned to Italy, where he was the assistant to the rector of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome (2000-2001) and the minister of the Anthony Baldinucci Community in Florence.

In 2004, Father Jack returned to the United States for the last time and focused on spiritual and pastoral ministries: the Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth, Wernersville, Pennsylvania (2004-2006); Jesuit Retreat Center at Milford, Ohio (2006-2008); in the Chicago area (2008-2012); and at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House, Barrington (2012-2013). He moved to Colombiere Center in Michigan in 2013.

Felician Sister Mary Suzanne (Sandra Mary) Bacia, 74, died Jan. 9 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in Chicago, she attended Sts. Peter and Paul School and St. Joseph High School. She entered the Felician Sisters in 1962 and professed her final vows in 1970. She ministered in elementary schools as a teacher and librarian in Illinois and Wisconsin. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Bruno (1965-1966, 1982-1985); St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates (1967-1967); St. John of God (1967-1968, 1985-1986); Sacred Heart (1968-1971); St. Bronislava (1971-1972); St. Stanislaus, Posen (1973-1978); Good Shepherd (1978-1980); and St. Helen (1987-1989).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marielle Schmitt, 100, died Jan. 15 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, she made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1938 and her perpetual profession in 1941.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marielle taught at St. Luke, River Forest (1945-1951), and served as librarian at St. Giles, Oak Park (1973-1979).

Deacon Robert Brauch, 89, of Lake Barrington died Dec. 14. He was ordained in 1989 and served at St. Anne Parish in Barrington.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Helen; children Mary Afflerbach, Claire Quinn, Jayne Haller, Kristin Plescia, Beth Gavin, Kay Carley and Marty, John and Rob Brauch; 29 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Jean Scott.

Deacon Arthur Nylen, 87, died Dec. 19. He was ordained in 1984 and served at St. Jude the Apostle Parish in South Holland.

He served as the parish’s director of social ministry from 1995 to 2011 and was a member of the Holy Name Society, a minister of care, a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus Genoa Council and a third-degree Knight of Peter Claver. He served on the Catholic Charities Southside Advisory board and was the first co-recipient of Catholic Charities Compassion in Action Award in 2003.

Deacon Nylen also was a U.S. Army Korean War veteran.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Beverly; children Thomas, Michael, Robert and Terri Ann Nylen, and Mary Lou Gutrich; 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Rose Pett.

Deacon Donald Daum, 94, died Dec. 26. He was ordained in 1986 and served at St. Germaine Parish in Oak Lawn.

He was a World War II veteran, retired from Illinois Bell and volunteered with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

He is survived by his wife, Joan, and his children Donald Jr., Richard, David, Thomas, James, Robert, Philip, John and Timothy Daum; Mary Knight and Juliana Hynes; 35 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; and his brother James and sister Alice Majewski.

Deacon Stephen Norys, 82, died Dec. 31. He was ordained in 1989 and served at St. Theresa Parish, Palatine.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Gail Wesolek Norys; his children Steve, Jerry and Greg Norys; Lorrie Mammarella; and Mary Kaye Pollard; 20 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.

School Sister of St. Francis Anna Marie (Agnes) Dressler, 88, died Dec. 13 in Milwaukee.

Born in Wisconsin, she was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1946 and made her final vows in 1954.

Sister Anna Marie ministered in education in the Archdiocese of Chicago for seven decades. She taught at St. Martin (1948-1956) and Our Lady of Charity, Cicero (1956-1964); served as principal at St. Maria Goretti, Schiller Park (1964-1968); and taught at St. Mary, Buffalo Grove (1968-1969), and St. Catherine Labouré, Glenview (1969-1970). In 1970, Sister Anna Marie began her ministry in Barrington at St. Anne parish and school, where she served as teacher (1970-1984), religion coordinator (1984-1992), RCIA director (1992-2015), and volunteer (2015-2018). 

Sister Anna Marie is survived by six sisters: Alma Moris, Claire Churchill, Rose Koppen, Catherine Oberfoell, Agnes Simpson and Bernadette Thole. She is survived by three brothers, James, Bernard and Clement Dressler.

Mercy Sister Emily Mary (Joan) Kemppi, 84, died Nov. 22.

Born in Waukegan, she grew up in North Chicago. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1952.

Sister Emily began her life of ministry in 1957 as a high school teacher, teaching Latin, English and logic for nearly 10 years at Mother McAuley High School in Chicago, as assistant principal at Mercy High School in Chicago and as co-principal of Unity High School when Mercy and Loretto high school merged. She also taught at Mercy High School in Milwaukee.

She then became mental health occupational therapist at Mercy Center in Aurora, Illinois, and Mercy Hospital in Chicago until 1992.

She later served as an aide to sisters living at McAuley Convent while working as support staff for Network for Mercy Education in Chicago.

In 2014, she moved to Mercy Circle.

School Sister of St. Francis Evelyn Trapp, 88, died Nov. 29 in Greenfield, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, she entered the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1947 and made her final vows in 1955.

Sister Evelyn ministered in education in Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin for more than seven decades. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Peter School, Skokie (1950-1959). 

Sister Evelyn is survived by four brothers: Gilbert, Philip, Robert and John.

School Sister of St. Francis Doris Mary (Kathlyn) Zander, 86, died Dec. 9 in Milwaukee.

Born in Wisconsin, she entered the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1950 and made her final vows in 1958.

Sister Doris Mary ministered as a musician in Illinois and Wisconsin for more than six decades. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Clara (1952-1955), St. William (1955-1962); and St. Bernardine, Forest Park (1962-1963). 

Sister Doris Mary is survived by four sisters: Franciscan Sister Felissa, Lois Severson, Kathleen Statz and Marion Dommer.

Sinsinawa Sister Rita Rae (Raffaello) Burger, 85, died Dec. 24 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Madison, Wisconsin, she made her first religious profession in 1956 and her perpetual profession in 1959. She ministered in Illinois, Montana, Wyoming, California, Minnesota, Washington and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Rita Rae taught at St. Sabina (1956-1959), Epiphany (1967-1970), and St. Thomas the Apostle (1987-1996), where she also served in the media center (1996-2000). Sister Rita Rae also served in the library at St. Basil School (1996-2000).

Sister of St. Casimir Mary Balkus, 93, died Dec. 26.

A Chicago native, Sister Mary entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1946 from All Saints Parish (Roseland) and made her final vows in 1953.

She taught in schools in Illinois and Maryland.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Sts. Peter and Paul (1948-1952), Our Lady of Vilna (1953-1954), St. George (1959-1960), and Maria High School for 35 years (1960-1967, 1976-2004). She moved to Franciscan Village, Lemont, in 2014, where she served in the ministry of prayer and presence. 

Sister of St. Joseph Mary Ricardo DiSanto, 93, died Dec. 27.

She had been a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph for 74 years.

She taught at St. Barbara, Brookfield; St. Francis Xavier, LaGrange and Our Lady of Bethlehem, LaGrange Park. She was a music teacher at Nazareth Academy, and taught the Suzuki method at the C.S.J. School of Music.

Divine Word Father Walter Bunofsky, 87, who served as a chaplain, pastor and seminary formator, died Dec. 29 in Techny.

Born in Ohio, he professed religious vows in 1952 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1960.

For the first nine years of his priesthood, he served as a vocation director. In 1969, he asked for an opportunity to work in African-American ministry and was assigned to St. Anselm Parish in Chicago. He later served in St. Louis.

In 1994, he began a 21-year tenure at Divine Word College at Epworth, Iowa.

In 2015, he moved to Techny in retirement but continued to write poetry.

He is survived by two sisters, Florence Garcher and Elaine Mureko.

Adrian Dominican Sister Catherine (James Anita) McKillop, 87, died Dec. 30 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Scotland, she was in the 69th year of her religious profession.

Sister Catherine ministered in Illinois, Florida, Alabama, Puerto Rico and Michigan. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2017.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Columbanus (1951-1952) and was coordinator of volunteer services at St. Leonard’s House, which provides temporary housing for formerly incarcerated men (1998-2007).

Sister Catherine is survived by sisters Patricia Young and Marguerite DeJaeghere and a brother, Joseph McKillop.

Adrian Dominican Sister Charles Christine (Eunice) Uhnavy, 101, died Jan. 2 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 80th year of her religious profession.

She ministered in Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. Sister Charles Christine became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan in 2012.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1939-1940) and St. Philip Neri (1940-1943).

Father Willard F. Jabusch, 88, died Dec. 9.

Born in Chicago, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1956.

He also earned a master’s degree in English from Loyola University Chicago and a doctorate in speech from Northwestern University.

Father Jabusch served as assistant pastor at St. James Parish (Wabash Avenue), chaplain and director of Calvert House at the University of Chicago, and as a faculty member at Quigley Preparatory Seminary, at Niles College and at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, where he taught for more than 20 years.

Father John Kartje, rector/president of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, knew “Fr. Bill” during his entire time in college at the University of Chicago, where Father Jabusch was the campus chaplain.

“He was very influential in inviting me to think about the priesthood,” Kartje said. “In addition to being an avid composer and musician, he loved learning and conversing over just about any topic the students were interested in.”

Father Jabusch wrote many hymns and tunes, including “The King of Glory,” a well-known song based on an Israeli folk tune that he learned while studying in Israel.

Sister of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis Charlotte M. Wachadlo, 95, died Oct. 5.

She had been a teacher, sacristan, caregiver and member of her religious community for 75 years. She taught special-education students in Alaska, Puerto Rico and Illinois, and started a home for developmentally disabled women where she was “head of household” for 19 years.

She is survived by a sister, Evelin Bevis.

Mercy Sister Evelyn Marie (de Chantel) Paznek, 90, died Nov. 5.

Born in Minnesota, she traveled to Milwaukee to care for a relative who was ill. While there, she met Mercy Sister Rosaire Ward, and was so impressed with the work of the Sisters of Mercy she decided to become one.

She entered the novitiate of the Sisters of Mercy in Des Plaines in 1949. After making temporary vows in 1952, she began teaching and served in nine different Mercy elementary schools in Illinois while earning her bachelor’s degree from Saint Xavier College (now University) after school, on weekends and during the summers.

In 1980 she was assigned to Queen of Martyrs Parish, where she would teach and minister for over 20 years until her retirement. She told people the highlight of her life was starting the first kindergarten at Queen of Martyrs School.

Holy Family of Nazareth Sister M. Ignatius (Marie) Remian, 99, died Nov. 5 in Des Plaines.

Born in Chicago, she entered religious life in 1939. Between 1939 and 1986, she served as a medical technologist at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago, as well as in hospitals in Texas. In the 1940s, she was involved in doing research on the Rh factor. She was also instrumental in planning and designing an 18,000-square-foot clinical and anatomical pathology department at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital and served as the department’s director.

From 1992 to 2002, she ministered at Holy Family Medical Center in Des Plaines as the liaison between doctors and patients’ family members in the surgical waiting room. She retired from active ministry in 2003 at the age of 83.

She is survived by her youngest brother, Arthur.

Hospital Sister of St. Francis M. Marciana (Mary Louise) Lynch, 96, died Nov. 12 in Springfield, Illinois.

Born in Chicago, she entered the congregation in 1939 and professed vows in 1941.

She served as a maternity staff nurse and supervisor at HSHS hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin during the early part of her career, and was administrator of St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator, Illinois (1970-1974). She was the director of materials management for Hospital Sisters Health System in Springfield (1976-1999), then became staff assistant for materials management until 2006.

BVM Sister Marion (John Patrice) Murphy, 82, died Nov. 15 in Dubuque, Iowa.

She was born in Chicago and entered the BVM congregation in 1953 from Our Lady of the Angels Parish.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marion was an elementary teacher at Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Odilo; principal at Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady of the Angels, and Santa Maria del Popolo; pastoral coordinator and administrative assistant at Holy Family Parish, tutor at the Westside Employment Education Center and volunteer at the Holy Family Parish food pantry. She also taught in Portland, Oregon.

School Sister of St. Francis Sister Katherine Mary (Laverna) Kramer, 96, died Nov. 22 in Milwaukee.

Born in Chicago, she was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1940 and made her final vows in 1948.

Sister Katherine Mary ministered in education and support services in Illinois and Wisconsin for over seven decades. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Joseph, Wilmette (1951-1958); at St. Clara (1958-1962), where she also served as principal (1962-1967); at St. Joseph, Waukegan (1967-1969); and at St. Mary, Buffalo Grove (1969-1972), where she also served as principal (1972-1986).  

In retirement, she volunteered at St. Joseph Convent, Milwaukee (2008-2011), and served in the ministry of prayer and presence at Sacred Heart in Milwaukee from 2011 until she died.

School Sister of St. Francis Sister Rosemary (Mary Shawn) O’Brien, 87, died Nov. 28 in Milwaukee.

Born in Milwaukee, Sister Rosemary was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1950 and made her final vows in 1958.

Sister Rosemary ministered in education in Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado and California. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as support staff for Friends of the Children, Schiller Park (1980-1981) and taught at St. Domitilla School, Hillside (1981-1986).

Sister Rosemary is survived by a twin sister, Florence Ann Timm.

Adrian Dominican Sister Andrea (Joseph Helen) Broutin, 86, died Nov. 30 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 68th year of her religious profession.

Sister Andrea ministered in Illinois, Ohio and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita Elementary School (1951-1954) and St. Joseph School, Homewood (1954-1960).

Josephite Father John Joseph McBrearty, 87, died Dec. 1. He was the oldest active Josephite pastor.

Born in Donegal, Ireland, he came to Chicago after finishing school and worked here for four years before discerning a vocation to study for the priesthood with the Josephites. He entered the community in 1958 and was ordained in 1968.

He ministered in Washington, D.C., Alabama, Texas, Virginia, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Sister of the Living Word Mary Ann Grausam, 78, died Dec. 5 in Chicago.

Born in Minnesota in 1940, Sister Mary Ann made her final vows in 1967. She joined the Sisters of the Living Word in 1975. She taught in schools in Iowa and Michigan, and served as a pastoral minister in Mississippi and Illinois. She was the novice director for 14 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was the director of religious education at St. Martha, Morton Grove (1979-1992) and in 2015 entered Resurrection Life Center in Chicago, where she served in the ministry of prayer and presence.

Sister Mary Ann is survived by her sisters Patricia Burdick and Nanette Helgeson and her brothers Robert, Michael, Tom, John and James Grausam.

BVM Sister Eliza Kenney, 86, died Dec. 5 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Phoenix, she entered the BVM congregation in 1951.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Eliza was a music program director within the fine arts department at Loyola University and music department chairperson at Mundelein College. She was a music teacher in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and served as the curator at Mount Carmel in Dubuque.

Divine Word Father David Mayer, 80, died Dec. 6 in Techny.

A missionary in Japan for almost 45 years, Father Mayer served as professor of American literature and language at Nanzan University in Nagoya and was an expert on the works of Flannery O’Connor, James T. Farrell, Japanese-American writer Toshio Mori and urban ethnic writers.

In his book “The American Neighborhood Novel” (University of Nagoya Press: 1986), Father Mayer developed the genre of the neighborhood novel, fiction that either celebrates or criticizes the values and relationships of an urban group closely knit by their common identity and physical presence.

Born in 1938 in Missouri, Father Mayer professed religious vows in 1958.

In addition to degrees from St. Mary’s Seminary in Techny, he earned a master’s degree in English from Georgetown University and a doctorate in English from the University of Maryland.

Ordained in 1966, Father Mayer taught at Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa, until 1968. He began teaching at Nanzan University in 1974.

A prolific writer, Father Mayer penned academic works, essays and book reviews, as well as fiction and poetry.

Father Mayer returned to the United States for home leave in spring of 2018 and stayed for health reasons.

Sister of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis Marianne Wiora, 93, died Dec. 7.

In her 70 years of religious life, she was a teacher, principal, missionary and pastoral minister who did education with the elderly.

She served in the Archdiocese of Chicago; in South Bend, Indiana; and in Puerto Rico.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Patricia Kinser, 93, died Dec. 9 in Ohio.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, she was in her 75th year of religious life.

For nearly 30 years, Sister Patricia served students and their families as an elementary teacher and principal at schools in Ohio and Illinois. After her retirement, she ministered in the Cincinnati area as a school secretary and volunteered in several inner-city ministries.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Peter Canisius School (1955-1957, 1967-1969).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Julianne (Mary Leonard) Josten, 92, died Dec. 10 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in South Dakota, Sister Julianne made her first religious profession in 1946 and her perpetual profession in 1949. She taught for 30 years and served as principal for five years. Sister Julianne served as activities director for three years, as convent administrator for three years and assistant in the General Finance Office for 15 years. She served in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, California, Minnesota and Washington.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Julianne taught at St. Mary, Evanston (1946-1949), and Immaculate Conception (1949-1955). She served as administrator at Trinity Convent, River Forest (1985-1988).

Father James P. Roache, 84, died Nov. 19. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1959.

Father Roache attended St. Francis de Sales School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary, the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary and the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy.

He was ordained to the priesthood on Dec. 20, 1959, in Vatican City.

He served as assistant pastor at Holy Name Cathedral, communications representative for the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace, moderator of the curia and vicar general.

Father Gregory Sakowicz, rector of Holy Name Cathedral, recalled how much Father Roache loved the people of God and being a priest.

“Something most people would not know about Jim is that he celebrated Mass every Tuesday for over 50 years at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago,” he said.

Deacon Edward M. Gadomski, 97, died Nov. 28. He was ordained in 1976 and served at St. Linus Parish, Oak Lawn.

He was married to his wife, Emily, for 64 years. He is survived by his children Rosanne McKinney, Mark Gadomski and Linda Perez; and six grandchildren.

Adrian Dominican Sister Anne Bernadette (Ruth Marie) Stein, 92, died Nov. 1 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 71st year of her religious life.

She ministered in California, Illinois and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Aquinas High School (1957-1960) and Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1960-1962).

Sister Ann Bernadette is survived by a sister, Barbara Pendolino.