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.

Viatorian Father James F. Crilly, 89, died Nov. 2 at Addolorata Villa in Wheeling.

He was one of three missionaries who established a Viatorian school and parish in Bogotá, Colombia, in the early 1960s.

Father Crilly was born in Chicago and graduated from St. Philip High School before making first vows in 1950. He was ordained in 1956.

He taught at Illinois high schools for five years before going to Bogotá in the summer of 1961. He was one of the three founding Viatorian Fathers of the Foundation of Colombia and the all-boys school, Colegio San Viator.

In 1973, he returned to the United States to become formation director and coordinator of vocations and taught for one year at St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights. In 1977, he was named pastor of St. Viator Parish before being appointed assistant provincial for the Province of Chicago in 1979, serving the province in that position until 1983.

Felician Sister Mary Agna (Lucille) Gorlewski, 102, died on Nov. 2, in Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. Joseph School and Good Counsel High School. She entered the Felician Sisters in 1934 and professed her final vows in 1942. She ministered as a teacher and principal in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. She also served as organist in a number of parishes.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Stanislaus, Posen (1948-1950); Our Lady of the Gardens (1957-1959); Good Counsel High School (1965-1966); and Our Lady of Ransom, Niles (1973-1974).

Deacon Kenneth A. Bell, 93, died Oct. 27. He was ordained in 1978 and served at St. Domitilla Parish.

He is survived by his children, Christine Bell, Monica Gieser, Stephen Bell, Marty Bell, Phil Bell, Greg Bell, Therese Stellato, John Bell and Paul Bell; 21 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Deacon Bell and his late wife, Jeanne, lived for 20 years in Hillside and 41 years in Berkeley. He was an auditor and an accountant for several insurance companies and, in his 70s, became a business manager for Mary Queen of Heaven Parish in Cicero and St. Clare of Montefalco Parish.

At St. Domitilla, he served on the parish council, numerous committees, worked with the lectors, participated in the Christian Family Movement, and taught baptism classes with his wife Jeanne before becoming a deacon. After ordination, he led the Sorrowful Mother novenas, baptized babies and married couples, led a Bible study for more than 20 years and was a part of the Men’s Christ Renews His Parish team and then the men’s prayer group. The thing he loved doing the most was preaching the homilies at Mass on Sundays, according to his family.

In 2016, after his wife died, he moved to Casa San Carlo in Northlake, where he served on the liturgy committee and wrote meditations for the daily Masses.

Sister of St. Casimir M. Rosalinda Grigonis, 96, died Oct. 9.

Born in Gary, Indiana, Sister Rosalinda entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1938 and made her final vows in 1947.

She taught in schools in New Mexico, Nebraska and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Vilna School (1940-1941), Providence of God School (1941), Immaculate Conception School, Brighton Park (1942-1946, 1947-1949), St. Anthony, Cicero (1949), Nativity BVM School (1952-1955), St. George, Bridgeport (1965-1967), St. Joseph, South Chicago (1968-1969) and St. Peter and Paul (1955-1965), where she also served as principal. She ministered at Maria High School as math teacher and assistant principal (1971-1989). She then served as assistant to the general treasurer before moving to Franciscan Village in 2014, where she served in the ministry of prayer and presence. 

Loretto Sister Betty Obal, 75, died Oct. 12 at the Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Kentucky.

Born in Nebraska, Sister Betty was received into the Sisters of Loretto in 1984 and made her final vows in 1993. She served mostly in Denver, Chicago and New York, where she worked at the United Nations in Loretto’s NGO office.

From 1987 to 1995, Sister Betty lived in Chicago. During this period, she lived in a variety of settings, including at the Catholic Worker house in Uptown Chicago. She also worked part-time and full-time in a number of positions, including as associate director of alternative housing for women with disabilities and for the Institute of Women Today Sisterhouse, an ecumenical group where more than 15 female ex-offenders, religious sisters, teachers and homeless people shared community. During this time, Sister Betty also initiated the Accessibility Project, a Loretto-funded study that resulted in improved policies and standards in the Chicago archdiocese for inclusion of persons with disabilities. In addition, she was a substitute teacher in several Chicago-area school districts. 

She is survived by her sister, Delores Jacobs, and her brother, Thomas Obal.

Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth Mary Corona (Teresa) Molenda, 92, died Oct. 14 in Grand Prairie, Texas, where she ministered to elderly sisters, leading them each day in prayers, exercises, songs and poetry.

A native of Argo, she had been in religious life for 76 years. She began her teaching ministry at St. Hyacinth School in Chicago in 1945. She taught for 61 years in Illinois, Florida and Texas.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Hyacinth, St. Susanna, St. Josaphat, St. Stanislaus, Holy Trinity, St. Adalbert, St. Hedwig and St. Camillus.

Adrian Dominican Sister Mary (Michael Celeste) Saynay, 91, died Oct. 21 in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Mary ministered in Michigan, Illinois and Ohio.

In Chicago, she taught at St. Columbanus (1949-1952) and St. Mary Star of the Sea (1952-1955).

She is survived by two brothers, Joseph and Lawrence Saynay, and seven sisters: Margaret Rogers, Barbara Barba, Lillian Grochowski, Bernadine Eschrich, Constance Saynay, Rosalie Spellecy and Adrian Dominican Sister Barbara Mary Saynay.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Phyllis (Mary Regina) Dugan, 90, died Oct. 22 in Ohio.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, she was in her 73rd year of religious life.

In Chicago, she served as the principal of Notre Dame High School for Girls (1972-1982). After a short sabbatical, Sister Phyllis returned to work as a consultant to secondary schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago (1983-1988), and later became assistant superintendent for secondary education in the Diocese of Cleveland. In 1993, she returned to Columbus, and served as the director of pastoral services for the diocese until health issues made it necessary for her to retire in 2002.

Maryknoll Sister Barbara Ann (Rose Barbara) Walenty, 90, died Oct. 24 in Maryknoll, New York.

She was born in Detroit and had been a Mary-knoll sister for 61 years.

She served as a hospital operating room supervisor in Kansas City before being sent to Hong Kong in 1963. She studied Cantonese and served there as an operating room supervisor and supervisor of the student nurse hostel. In 1973, she returned to the United States and ministered in hospitals and Catholic communities in Chinatowns in New York and Boston.

In 1979, she was assigned to St. Therese Chinese Catholic School in Chicago, where she served as school nurse and teacher’s aide until 1986, when she returned to Michigan to care for her elderly parents. 

In 1999, she returned to Chicago to retire, but continued to volunteer as a part-time religious education and art teacher at St. Therese School, where she remained until 2008.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Margaret (Elenara) Mihm, 101, died Oct. 26 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Washington, D.C., Sister Margaret made her first religious profession in 1943 and her final profession in 1946.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Margaret taught at St. Thomas More (1949-1955) and Queen of Peace, Burbank (1976-1977, 1978-1980). She served as assistant business officer at Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest (1967-1968), and as the secretary for the Eastern Province of the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation while living in River Forest (1989-1992) and secretary of Project OPUS (Order of Preachers in the United States) (1993-2000).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Kathleen (Donaldus) Malone, 80, died Oct. 29, 2018, in Lancaster, Wisconsin.

Born in Nebraska, she made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1958 and her perpetual profession in 1961. She taught for 39 years and served in educational administration for 18 years. Sister Kathleen served in Wisconsin and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Visitation (1960-1965).

Sister of Christian Charity Mary Mercedes (Marie) Johnson, 91, died Sept. 27 at Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette. She was 91 years old.

Born in Minnesota, she entered the candidacy in 1941. She made first vows in 1946 and perpetual vows in 1952.

For 46 years, she ministered as a cook in convents in Wilmette, Chicago and other cities in the Midwest, and at the Generalate in Rome.

In 1992 she volunteered to go to Fulton, Missouri, where she embarked on a new ministry: parish visitor and director of an after-school program. She returned to Wilmette in 2008.

Adrian Dominican Sister Hilda Nadine (Carl Edward) Sheehan, 81, died Oct. 4, while attending a Dominican Sisters Conference at the Mary-knoll Sisters in Ossining, New York.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 62nd year of her religious life.

She was an educator in Illinois, Michigan, California and Georgia, and a family nurse practitioner and primary care nurse in Kentucky and Michigan. In 2017 she was appointed vicaress of the Adrian Dominican Vicariate, where she served until her death.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mary of Mount Carmel (1957-1961); St. Rita Elementary (1961-1965); Bishop Quarter, Oak Park (1965-1966); and Queen of Angels (1966-1968).

She is survived by three sisters: Laurine Jessop, Sharon Crisan and Jacqueline Noonan; and one brother, Carl.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marie Amanda Allard, 91, died Oct. 7 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Kewanee, Illinois, Sister Marie Amanda made her first religious profession in 1947 and her final profession in 1950.

After teaching and serving as a principal for 21 years, Sister Marie Amanda was elected prioress of the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation for two terms, serving from 1967 to 1977 and leading the congregation through the changes of the Second Vatican Council.

Sister Marie Amanda also ministered in diocesan administration, including director of education, director of the permanent diaconate program and as director of lay ministry formation, totaling 19 years. She served in Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, Texas and Oklahoma. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marie Amanda taught at Epiphany (1947-1954).

Daughter of Charity Phyllis Nolan, 83, died Oct. 9.

Born in Chicago, Sister Phyllis graduated from the Immaculata and entered the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul from St. Bartholomew Parish in 1953.

She taught in Missouri, Nevada, Puerto Rico and Texas.

In 1979, she went as a missionary to Bolivia, serving in catechetical and pastoral ministry in Trinidad, La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba before returning to the United States in 2000.

She then served in pastoral ministry in Texas and Arkansas, and as a legal assistant, English as a Second Language teacher and advocate for unaccompanied minors in Texas before returning to the Seton Residence in Evansville, Indiana, in 2014.

Father Anthony Adducci, 67, died Sept. 30. He retired in 2016 after serving most recently as chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago.

Born in Chicago, Father Adducci attended St. Anthony of Padua School, Quigley South Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1976.

He served as associate pastor at St. Ferdinand and Holy Rosary before serving as chaplain at St. Anne Hospital, St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital and most recently at St. Joseph Hospital.

Father Dennis Zalecki, a classmate and pastor emeritus of St. Anastasia Parish in Waukegan, had known Father Adducci since their high school years at Quigley South. “He was a very good priest and friend, and humor was one of his outstanding characteristics.”

According to Father Zalecki, although Father Adducci’s health had been fragile, he always maintained a sense of hopefulness.

Sister of St. Casimir M. Michaeline Pakrosnis, 88, died Sept. 7 at Mother Theresa Home in Lemont.

A native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Sister Michaeline entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1948 and made her final vows in 1956. 

She ministered in Sisters of St. Casimir institutions and local convents in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, New Mexico, Maryland and Florida. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at Providence of God Convent (1954-1955); St. Bartholomew Convent, Waukegan (1955-1956); St. Norbert Convent, Northbrook (1964-1965); and the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Casimir (1973-2007).

She served in the ministry of prayer and presence at the SSC Motherhouse and Franciscan Village (2007-2018). 

Sister of St. Joseph Dorothy (Kathleen) Lynch, 88, died Sept. 12.

She had been in religious life for 69 years, and she earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University and two master’s degrees, one from Loyola and one from DePaul University.

She was on the leadership team at Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, and at St. Paul High School.

Sister Dorothy was president of the Sisters of St. Joseph of La Grange, executive director of the Christian Life Center in La Grange and pastoral associate at St. Francis Xavier Parish, La Grange.

She is survived by her siblings Vincent Lynch, Servite Father Myles (Tom) Lynch and Norine (John) King.

Felician Sister Mary Presentia (Lucy) Nitecke, 101, died on Sept. 16 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in Milwaukee, she entered the Felician Sisters in 1936 and professed her final vows in 1944. She served primarily as a music teacher for more than 40 years at various schools in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas and North Dakota. She also ministered at St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee as a medical records clerk for 30 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Helen (1936-1937, 1965-1966); St. Joseph (1938-1938, 1960-1961); St. Bruno (1939-1940); St. Mary Magdalene (1944-1947, 1966-1967); St. Stanislaus, Posen (1947-1948, 1973-1975); Holy Innocents, (1948-1949); St. John of God (1956-1958); St. James (1958-1959); Sacred Heart (1959-1960); St. Bronislava (1964-1965) and Our Lady of Ransom, Niles (1968-1969).

Sister of St. Casimir Jeanne Moceyunas, 82, died Sept. 20 in Cordoba, Argentina.

Born in Pennsylvania, Sister Jeanne entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1956 and made her final vows in 1964. She ministered in New Mexico and in Rosario and Cordoba, Argentina.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Nativity BVM School (1959-1962), St. George School, Bridgeport (1963-1964), and Sts. Peter and Paul School, West Pullman (1964-1966).

Mercy Sister Solina (Alice) Hicks, 105, died Sept. 23.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Solina attended Mercy High School in Milwaukee and entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1934.

Her first assignment was as a kindergarten and first-grade teacher at St. Cecilia, Chicago.

After 10 years of teaching in Chicago Catholic schools, she earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1952 from Saint Xavier College and a master of fine arts degree in 1954 from Siena Heights College in Adrian, Michigan. Upon graduation, she began her life’s work as an art teacher, and always as a working artist.

Sister Solina was the original designer of the art department at Saint Xavier College’s new campus in 1954. She served as its first chair from then until 1965. She created the Saint Xavier College shield which is still in use today.

Her own work was controversial as she introduced the college community to modern art. “If the church has to deal with the modern then there has to be modern art in the church,” she said.

Always a progressive, Sister Solina’s later experiences included teaching art at an alternative school for Mexican Americans in California. She also spent time on a Navajo reservation in Arizona.

At 105 years old, Sister Solina was the oldest Sister of Mercy in the West Midwest Community.

Divine Word Father Stanley Plutz, 92, vice postulator for the canonization of St. Arnold Janssen and longtime missionary in the Philippines, died Sept. 23 in Techny.

Born in Appleton, Wisconsin, Father Plutz entered the Society of the Divine Word in 1940 and professed religious vows in 1946.

In 1953, he was ordained to the priesthood and left for his first overseas assignment in the Philippines in 1954.

In 1999, Father Plutz became the vice postulator for the sainthood cause of Father Arnold Janssen, founder of the Society of the Divine Word.

Upon returning to the United States in 2000, he was assigned to the U.S. Southern Province and continued to promote devotion to St. Arnold, who was canonized in 2003.

During his 46 years as a missionary in the Philippines, Father Plutz served as a teacher and spiritual director.

Father Plutz had been living at Techny since 2013.

Adrian Dominican Sister Virginia (Joan Patricia) O’Reilly, 91, died Sept. 24 in Adrian, Michigan.

Sister Virginia was born in Detroit and was in the 75th year of her religious life.

Sister Virginia ministered in Illinois, Florida, Georgia and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita Elementary School (1944-1946), Aquinas High School (1960-1964) and Illinois Institute of Technology (1967-1968).

Sister Virginia is survived by a sister, Patricia Rush.

Deacon Philip White, 73, died Aug. 28 in Wisconsin. He was ordained in 1980 and served at St. Eulalia, Maywood, and Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

Deacon White, formerly of Westchester, was born in Ireland and attended University College Dublin, where he met his wife of 43 years, Lucy Power.

The couple immigrated to Chicago in 1974 and Deacon White taught religion at Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in Westchester.

He is survived by his wife, Lucy; daughters Rachel White and Maureen White; son Brendan White; and three grandchildren.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Prudence Ludwig died Aug. 16, her 96th birthday, in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Montana, Sister Prudence made her first religious profession in 1945 and her final profession in 1948. She served in Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Nebraska, California and Colorado.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Prudence taught at St. Philip Benizi (1945-1949), Visitation (1957-1958) and St. Brendan (1960-1967 and 1978-1979).

She is survived by a sister, Barbara Corboy.

Sister of Providence Jean Anne (Robert Marie) Maher, 85, died Aug. 23 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. Agnes School and Providence High School. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence in 1951 and professed final vows in 1955. 

Sister Jean Anne ministered in Indiana, Illinois, California, Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Andrew (1965-1967); St. Mark (1967-1970); St. David (1970-1971, 1979-1980); St. Sylvester (1975-1976); St. Angela (1976-1978); Chicago Urban Skills Institute (1980-1984); St. Priscilla (1984-1985); St. Beatrice, Schiller Park (1992-1993); Holy Family (1993-1994); and St. Stanislaus Kostka (1994-1996); and was a pastoral associate at St. Mark (1996-1999) and St. Simeon, Bellwood (1999-2003).

Sister Jean Anne is survived by a sister, Celeste Sammet.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary (Marie Florian) Wolff, 100, died Sept. 3 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Nebraska, Sister Mary made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa in 1938, and her final profession in 1941. She taught for 69 years, 10 while also serving as principal, and created and ran a reading program for 10 years. Sister Mary served in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, California and Colorado.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary taught at St. Philip Benizi (1938-1939); Visitation (1939-1947); St. Philip the Apostle, Northfield (1959-1964); and Trinity High School, River Forest (1981-1988).

She is survived by two brothers, F. Patrick Wolff and Benedictine Abbot Theodore Wolff.

Adrian Dominican Sister Mary Ellen (Ann Edward) Brodeur, 90, died Sept. 10 in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Mary Ellen ministered in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Carthage (1955-1961).

Father Thomas J. Purtell, 83, died Aug. 24. He was pastor emeritus of St. John Fisher Parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Purtell attended Our Lady of Victory School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1961.

He was assistant pastor at St. Joseph, Homewood; Our Lady of Lourdes (Keeler Street); and St. Benedict, Blue Island. He was named pastor of St. John Fisher Parish in 1984, and he remained there until he retired in 2003.

Father Daniel Brady, pastor emeritus of St. Cecilia Parish in Mount Prospect, knew Father Purtell for almost 70 years and remembers his classmate as “a very good friend, a marvelous storyteller and wonderful priest.”

Deacon Anthony Llorens, 85, died Aug. 25. He was a member of the first class of permanent deacons in the archdiocese, ordained in 1972, and served at Providence-St. Mel and St. Martin de Porres parishes.

Deacon Llorens owned a company that made grinding wheels for the aeronautics industry, according to his daughter, Julie Richardson. 

As a deacon, he led classes for people participating in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. He was active in the Westside Catholic Cluster, which gave him its first Bishop Dempsey Award; and the Black Catholic Deacons of Chicago. He received the Augustus Tolton Award from the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office for Black Catholics.

He was the deacon who sang the prayers of the faithful at Pope St. John Paul II’s 1979 Mass in Grant Park, Richardson said. 

He served as president of the Providence-St. Mel school board, was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and was an honorary member of the Knights of St. Peter Claver.

He and his wife of 66 years, Mathilda, had 10 children: Anthony, Magdalena, Michael, John, Arnold, Ronald, Julie, Martin, Antoinette and Sophia. They had 24 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

Felician Sister Mary Sebastian (Helen) Dzwierzynski, 100, died Aug. 14 in Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Sister Mary Sebastian was born in Chicago, where she attended St. John of God and Hamline elementary schools and Good Counsel High School. She entered the Felician Sisters’ postulancy in 1942 and professed her final vows in 1950. She ministered for almost 25 years as a teacher in elementary schools in Illinois and Wisconsin. Later, she cared for the aged in Illinois and Wisconsin. She also served as a housekeeper at the Cardinal’s Residence.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at Sts. Peter and Paul (1944-1946), Sacred Heart (1948-1959), St. Bruno (1959-1960), St. Bronislava (1964-1968), St. Andrew Home in Niles (1983-1986), and the Cardinal’s Residence (1986-1994).

Jesuit Father Earl A. Weis, 95, died Aug. 15 in Clarkston, Michigan. He had served as a professor of theology at Loyola University Chicago for almost 40 years.

\Father Weis, who was a Jesuit for nearly 77 years and a priest for 64 years, also served as chair of the theology department at Loyola University Chicago from 1971 to 1980.

Born in Toledo, Ohio, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1941. In addition to teaching, he was a staff editor of the New Catholic Encyclopedia (1963-1966) and editor of Corpus Instrumentorum (1966-1970).

Father Michael A. Olivero, 70, retired pastor of St. Cecilia Parish, Mount Prospect, died Aug. 4.

Born in Chicago, Father Olivero attended St. John Berchmans School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary North and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1974.

Father Olivero was associate pastor at Queen of the Rosary, Elk Grove Village; St. Cecilia, Mount Prospect; and St. Cyprian, River Grove. In 1993, he was appointed pastor of St. Stephen Protomartyr, Des Plaines, and served in that role until 2005, when he became pastor of St. Cecilia. He retired on June 30.

Msgr. John Pollard, retired pastor of Queen of All Saints Basilica, remembers his classmate as a good and faithful priest. “He spent all his years in the priesthood in parishes dedicating himself to the people of the archdiocese,” said Msgr. Pollard. “He was a very fine liturgist and preacher, always present to his people who were always and foremost in his mind.”

Father John J. Powers, 93, died Aug. 10. He was pastor emeritus of St. Jude the Apostle, South Holland.

Born in Chicago, Father Powers attended St. Robert Bellarmine School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1951.

Father Powers was assistant pastor at Ascension, Harvey; Ascension, Oak Park; St. Mary, Riverside; and Holy Ghost, South Holland. In 1978, he was appointed pastor of St. Jude the Apostle, where he served until retirement in 1995.

Father George J. Kane, pastor emeritus of Church of the Holy Spirit, Schaumburg, remembers his classmate as “kind, compassionate, joyous and absolutely dependable. All through these years this is how he lived his life as a priest.”

BVM Sister Mary Enid Lodding, 91, died July 27 in Dubuque, Iowa. 

Sister Mary Enid was born in Chicago and entered the BVM congregation in 1944 from St. Joseph Parish.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Enid taught at St. Agatha and was a pastoral associate at Our Lady of the Wayside, Arlington Heights.

She also taught in Rock Island and East Moline, Illinois, and in Iowa, Tennessee, Washington and Oregon. She was a pastoral minister in Iowa and director of religious education in Addison, Illinois. 

Adrian Dominican Sister Jean Charles (Elizabeth Ann) Birney, 94, died Aug. 3 in Adrian, Michigan. Born in Michigan, she was in the 76th year of her religious life. 

She ministered in Michigan, Illinois and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1942); St. Philip Neri (1948-1952); and St. Edmund, Oak Park (1957-1958).

Sister Jean Charles is survived by a half-brother, Charles Birney Jr., and two half-sisters, Charlene Sundquist and Patricia Lane.

Sister of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis Mary Anthony Leno, 86, died Aug. 7.

Born in Chicago, she had been in religious life for 69 years.

She ministered in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago, including more than 40 years teaching Spanish at Lourdes High School. After retirement, she composed prayers at Clare Oaks in Bartlett.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Kathleen (Marie Amy) Brady, 69, died Aug. 10 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Milwaukee, Sister Kathleen made her first religious profession in 1968 and her final profession in 1973. She was an educator, chaplain and family caregiver in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Washington, Montana and Colorado. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Kathleen taught at Epiphany (1974-1980) and Immaculate Conception (1980-1981) and was principal at St. Pius (1981-1983). 

Jesuit Father Thomas Widner, 76, died Aug. 13 in Indianapolis. He had been a priest for 49 years and a Jesuit for 33.

Born in Indiana, he did seminary studies at St. Mary’s College in Kentucky and Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis before being ordained in 1969 for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. 

He ministered as an archdiocesan priest in Indianapolis for 15 years, teaching high school English, serving as an associate pastor and co-pastor and working as editor-in-chief of the archdiocesan newspaper, the Criterion.

He entered the Jesuits in 1985 and served as an assistant editor and writer for America Magazine. He was the editor of the New World, as the Archdiocese of Chicago newspaper was known, from 1992 to 1995.

He later was a publications assistant at Company Magazine while serving as director of the Chicago Province communication office, worked in retreat ministry and as the Secretary for Communications at the USA Jesuit Conference.

Father Widner moved back to Indianapolis in 2004, where he served as vice president for mission and identity at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School and rector of the Jesuit community (2004-2010). In 2010, he became the director of spiritual formation at Bishop Bruté Seminary, where he worked until his death.

Father John J. McDonnell, 71, died July 23. He had been the pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish.

Born in Chicago, Father McDonnell (also known as Father JJ), attended St. Cornelius School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary North, Niles College and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1973. 

Fourteen years into his priesthood, Father McDonnell joined the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome to pursue his doctorate in sacred theology.
Father McDonnell was assistant pastor at St. Louise de Marillac, LaGrange Park, and associate pastor at Holy Name Cathedral Parish. 

He taught Christian anthropology and ecclesiology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary; was the administrative secretary for Cardinal Francis George from 1997 through 2003; and served as pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish from 2003 until retirement in 2017.

Adrian Dominican Sister Patricia (Anne Robert) Spangler, 83, died July 29 in Adrian, Michigan. 

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

She ministered in Michigan, Illinois, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Kentucky and Kansas. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita (1961-1966); St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1966-1967); and Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1967). 

She was principal at Queen of Angels (1969-1972); and was a volunteer tutor at Aquinas Literacy Center (2004, 2010-2013).
Sister Patricia is survived by a brother, Thomas Spangler.

Redemptorist Brother Patrick (John Foster) Concidine, 85, died July 25 in St. Louis.

He had been in poor health for several years. 

Born in DeKalb, Illinois, Brother Patrick became interested in the Redemptorists after attending a high school retreat. He professed temporary vows in 1949 and permanent vows in 1955.

He was trained as a tailor and made more than 1,000 habits for his fellow Redemptorists as a young brother in Wisconsin.
He served as a sacristan and porter at communities throughout the Midwest before being assigned as sacristan to St. Alphonsus Parish, which served a large, culturally diverse community. 

With the blessing of his superiors, he began an outreach program to the Filipino community with the Confraternity of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, serving as a link between the Redemptorists in the Philippines and the Filipinos in the Chicago area. 

Brother Patrick was granted permission to devote all of his time to the Perpetual Help Confraternity when he relocated to Old St. Michael’s in 1984. He and an assistant shared a small office in the former convent on the church grounds. Membership in the confraternity grew into the thousands, and members in the Chicago area participated in the Tuesday novena services and the annual novena leading up to the Perpetual Help feast day celebration in June. 

Deacon John (Jack) O’Leary died April 26 in New Lenox, Illinois. He was ordained in 1984 and had served at St. Joseph Parish, Homewood. As part of his diaconate ministry, he trained altar servers and was a minister of care. 

He is survived by his children Sheila and Tom; daughter in-law Erin; grandchildren Colleen, Courtney, Kara and Michael; and great-grandchild Jayden.

Adrian Dominican Sister Therese (Mary Jane Therese, Therese Marcel) Reynolds, 82, died July 5 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 63rd year of her religious life.

She ministered in Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Loretto, Hometown (1962-1970).

Sister Therese is survived by a brother, Marcel Reynolds, and a sister, Dorothy Waldbillig.

Providence Sister Maureen Ann McCarthy, 89, died July 6 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. Genevieve School and the Immaculata before entering the Sisters of Providence in 1947. She professed final vows in 1954. 

She ministered in Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, Maryland and Texas. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Angela (1959-1960), St. Columbkille (1960-1965), St. Francis Borgia (1967-1972), St. Andrew (1973-1975), St. Genevieve (1976-1982), Immaculate Conception (1985-1986); and Providence-St. Mel (1986-1997).

Felician Sister Mary Francesca (Josephine) LaCerba, 79, died July 9, in Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in Chicago, she attended Mulligan and Newberry elementary schools and St. Michael Central High School. She entered the Felician Sisters in 1957 and professed her final vows in 1965. She ministered in elementary and high schools as a teacher and librarian in Illinois and Wisconsin. She was moderator of the Mother of Good Counsel Ladies Auxiliary for 15 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Turibius (1960-1961); St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates (1963-1969); Good Counsel High School (1974-2004); and Our Lady of Tepeyac (2006-2015).

Redemptorist Father John Paul Andree, 76, died July 10 in Liguori, Missouri, after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Born in Detroit, he joined the Redemptorists in 1963 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. 

Father Andree served in retreat ministry in Rolling Meadows; was a member of the Redemptorist Chicago Mission preaching team; and was in residence at both St. Alphonsus and at Old St. Michael’s (Cleveland Avenue). He served for 23 years as director of the Co-Redemptorist Association.

Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ Sister Lucy (Rose) Megaro, 86, died July 12 in Donaldson, Indiana. 

Born in Chicago, she was educated by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and after finishing high school, she worked as a beautician on the North Side of Chicago. 

She took care of children and teenagers at Angel Guardian Orphanage from 1957 to 1974.

After earning associates and bachelor’s degrees, she taught preschool at Angel Guardian Day Care on the South Side from 1985 to 1990 and ministered in home health care to the elderly in Chicago and Cincinnati from 1991 to 2011, Ohio. After semi-retiring, she became a volunteer for the Little Brothers of the Poor to continue service to the elderly.  

Providence Sister Pauline (Janet Agnes) Brockelsby, 79, died July 13 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.  

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1960 and professed final vows in 1968.  She was a teacher and chaplain who ministered in Indiana, Virginia, New Hampshire, Illinois and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a chaplain at St. Ann Hospital (1981-1983).

Father John L. Harvey, 67, died June 9. He was pastor of St. Mary Queen of Apostles Parish in Riverdale.

Born in Chicago, Father Harvey attended Hales Franciscan High School, earned a bachelor’s degree at the St. Louis University and a pursued a master’s degree at the Chicago Theological Seminary.

He was ordained to the priesthood in 1986.

Father Harvey served at the following parishes: St. Felicitas, St. Benedict the African-East and West, St. Mary of the Assumption, and St. Mary Queen of Apostles Parish in Riverdale. For many years, Father Harvey served as the cardinal’s liaison to the Charismatic Renewal.