Father John S. Plotkowski, 76, died Nov. 25. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former pastor of St. Zachary Parish, Des Plaines.

Born in Chicago, Father Plotkowski attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College of Loyola University and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1974.

Father Plotkowski was associate pastor of St. Marcelline, Schaumburg; St. Stephen Protomartyr, Des Plaines; Our Lady of Hope, Rosemont; and St. Mary, Buffalo Grove.

From 1982 to 1986, Plotkowski was on the faculty of Quigley Preparatory Seminary. He also served as pastor of St. Simeon, Bellwood, and St. Zachary. He retired in 2018.

Father Marcel J. Pasciak, retired archdiocesan priest and one of Plotkowski’s classmates, remembered Father Plotkowski as a very personable, outgoing man who “was well-liked by everybody and very lively.”

Marianist Father Timothy Dwyer, 89, died Nov. 18 in San Antonio. He had been a member of the congregation for 70 years.

Born in St. Louis, he first encountered the Marianists at DeAndreis High School there and entered the novitiate after graduating. He made his first vows in 1954.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in 1957, he taught high school in Texas and then in Switzerland, where he entered the Marianist seminary in 1964.

After being ordained in 1968, he taught and was a chaplain at St. Michael High School in Chicago, and then in a school in Texas. He then started to do retreat work, religious formation and provincial administration.

He ministered in Missouri, Texas, New Jersey and Ontario, Canada, including seven years as provincial superior of the St. Louis Province.

Benedictine Sister Margaret Ann (Mary Denis) Holtz, 92, died Nov. 30 in St. Joseph Court, the infirmary of St. Scholastica Monastery. She was a member of the Benedictine community for 74 years.

Born in Pennsylvania, Sister Margaret Ann visited her aunt Sister Gertrude Holtz, OSB, on a family trip to Chicago. She entered the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago in 1950.

For decades, Sister Margaret Ann taught primary grades at schools throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago, including Queen of All Saints, St. John Nepomucene, St. George and St. Hilary, where she also served as assistant principal. She also taught at Mother of God School, Waukegan; and in Colorado.

As was the practice in religious communities at the time, Sister Margaret Ann took college courses while teaching; in 1964, she earned a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University.

In the late 1970s, Sister Margaret Ann moved from teaching into positions of financial responsibility for both schools and community. She served in the business office of St. Scholastica Academy, Chicago, eventually becoming treasurer. Her ministry also included an appointment as treasurer of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago. In her later years, Sister Margaret Ann coordinated monastery resources and housekeeping staff.

Father Philip C. Cleary, 71, died Nov. 3 in Mexico. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former associate pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish on Hermitage Avenue.

Born in Chicago, Father Cleary attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College of Loyola University and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein before being ordained in 1979.

He then served as associate pastor at St. Boniface Parish and Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. From 1982 to 1984, Father Cleary served as president of the Association of Chicago Priests and was elected to the National Federation of Priest Councils Executive Board in 1983.

During that time, Father Cleary learned about Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH), a nonprofit organization that cares for orphaned and abandoned children in Latin America and the Caribbean. His initial plan was to volunteer for one summer at NPH’s main orphanage in Mexico, he told people, but he ended up making a lifelong commitment to the children of NPH.

Father Cleary served as national director of NPH Mexico before becoming executive director of NPH International. He resided at NPH’s main home in Miacatlán, Morelos, Mexico. He later became chaplain for the Diocese of Cuernavaca in Mexico and retired in 2023.

Joliet Bishop Ronald Hicks, one of Cleary’s closest friends, remembers Father Cleary as a mentor, role model and friend who “lived life with great dedication.” Bishop Hicks spent a year in Mexico volunteering for one of NPH’s orphanages before entering Mundelein Seminary.

“He (Father Cleary) not only provided spiritual guidance but also a real dedication to the mission of improving the children’s lives,” Hicks said. “Because of watching his priesthood and how he lived it, he inspired me to enter the priesthood myself.”

Father Daniel J. Collins, 93, died Nov. 16. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former pastor of St. John Vianney Parish, Northlake.

Born in Chicago, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1958.

Father Collins served as assistant pastor of St. Francis Borgia; St. Issac Jogues, Niles; Our Lady of Mount Carmel; and St. Christopher Parish, Midlothian. He then served as associate pastor of St. Leonard, Berwyn, and later as pastor of St. John Vianney.

Sister of the Living Word Marie McKenna, 72, died Oct. 15 after a long journey with cancer.

Born in Toronto, she began her vocation with the Sisters of the Living Word, having taught at St. Gregory High School and ministered as pastoral minister at St. Simeon in Bellwood. She was a clinical family therapist at Catholic Charities for more than 20 years while also maintaining a private practice.

Sister Marie’s skills in counseling, envisioning “out of the box” ideas, and her dedication to the common good through activism, concern for effective health care programs, and love for God’s creation melded into effective leadership for the Sisters of the Living Word. She shared her vision in two leadership terms, and unfortunately ending her second term early as cancer curtailed her energy and abilities.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Patricia (Alberta) Caraher, 90, died Nov. 13 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, Sister Patty professed vows in 1956. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Rosary College, River Forest, and a master’s degree in education from Marquette University, Milwaukee. 

Sister Patty’s ministry was dedicated to education and social justice. She taught in Mobile, Alabama, from 1960 to 1975. While there, she cofounded a program for prisoners called LINK. She taught English as a second language at Friendship House and at St. Thomas of Canterbury, Chicago, where she cofounded Amos Temporary Help and also ministered at Epiphany Parish and at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

She served the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation as Southern Province councilor for four years and provincial for six years. She also ministered in Atlanta, in the Bronx, New York; and in Florida and Louisiana.

She retired in Muskego, Wisconsin, in 2023.

She is survived by a sister, Frances Collins.

Sister of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis Dorothy (Barbara) Monikowski, 81, died Nov. 16.

Born in Chicago, Sister Dorothy made final vows with the Sisters of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis in 1968. She spent many years teaching in various grade schools in Chicago, and she was elected to the provincial council on two occasions.

Sister Dorothy earned advanced degrees in administration and organization development. She became associate director of planning for the Archdiocese of Chicago. She became an organization consultant and facilitator helping many religious congregations throughout the United States. Sister Dorothy also worked for the Archdiocese of Chicago’s of Office of Catholic Schools.

Archbishop James Patrick Keleher, 93, died Nov. 9 in Olathe, Kansas. He had served as the archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas, from 1993 to 2005.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Felicitas School and Mount Carmel High School for one year before entering the archdiocesan seminary system. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1958.

He was assistant pastor of St. Henry and taught at Quigley North, Niles College of Loyola University and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before serving as rector of Quigley South and then USML/Mundelein Seminary.

He was named bishop of Belleville in 1984.

Sister of Christian Charity Campion (Mary Ann) Breske, 88, died on Sept. 28 at the Convent of the Holy Spirit in Northfield.

Born in Detroit, she entered the Sisters of Christian Charity in 1955. She pronounced first vows in 1958, and final vows two years later.

Sister Campion’s first ministry was teaching grade school. She taught at schools in Louisiana, Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan as well as Illinois, where she taught primary grades and religious education at St. Gregory School and at St. Theresa, Palatine.

In August 1987, Sister Campion began a new ministry, undergoing training in Deaf ministry while residing at Josephinum Convent. The next year, she began doing ministry to the Deaf community in St. Louis. Later ministries took her to South Dakota and elsewhere in Missouri, before moving to Holy Ghost Parish in South Holland, where she taught religious education and helped with pastoral duties.

Residing at St. Joseph Convent in Wilmette, Sister Campion ministered as activities coordinator at Sacred Heart Convent. Seven years later, she was transferred to Josephinum Convent, where she served as local leader and visiting eucharistic minister.

She started offering prayerful presence at Sacred Heart Convent in 2017; in 2024, she moved to the Convent of the Holy Spirit.

Servite Father Michael (Lawrence) Doyle, 86, died Oct. 2.

Born in Chicago, he entered the Servite order in 1956 and professed solemn vows in 1962. He was ordained a priest in 1965.

Father Doyle held advanced degrees in theology and educational administration, and taught theology and philosophy at Monte Senario College in Ladysmith, Wisconsin.

In Chicago, he served as pastor of Annunciata Parish and Assumption Parish (2006-2009). He also served in province leadership in various capacities, and as a pastor in St. Louis.

Father Doyle volunteered for the Hillside Fire Department, as chaplain in the Chicago Fire Department, and for 25 years was an active and reserved duty chaplain with the U.S. Air Force. He retired in 1998 as a colonel.

He is survived by his sisters Anne Marie Templin and Maureen Reynolds

Deacon Ronald L. DeRose, 77, died Oct. 13. He was ordained in 1994 and ministered at Assumption Parish and as a chaplain in Kolbe House Jail Ministry.

He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in the Vietnam War.

He is survived by his siblings Janet Salihar, Louis DeRose, Joseph
DeRose and Richard DeRose.

Sister of the Living Word Theresa Weber, 96, died Oct. 10.

She served as a house mother in the St. Vincent Orphanage near St. Louis, served her community, and for many years used her gerontology education and skills in various nursing homes and residences in Detroit.

Her last years were spent at Ascension Resurrection Life Center.

School Sister of St. Francis Corina Stifter, 103, died Oct. 13 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Greenfield, Wisconsin.

Born in Minnesota, Sister Corina was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1938, made her first profession of vows in 1940 and made her perpetual vows in 1946.

Beginning in 1939, Sister Corina ministered in the Archdioceses of Milwaukee and Chicago, and throughout Central and South America. In Chicago, Sister served as a homemaker at Our Lady of Victory Convent (1939-1941) and at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Convent, Glenview (1943-1944). She also taught at Holy Angels School (1947-1955).

Sister Corina retired in 2012 and ministered through prayer and presence at St. Joseph Center Motherhouse in Milwaukee until 2017 and at Our Lady of the Angels from 2017 until she died.

Deacon Richard F. Johnson, 80, died Sept. 30. He was ordained in 2006 and ministered at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish (Belmont Avenue).

Born in Chicago, Johnson worked as an attorney.

He is survived by his wife, Sheila; his children Brendon Johnson, Bridget Johnson and Laura Keim, one granddaughter; and his brother, Frank Johnson. He was predeceased by his son, Timothy Johnson.

School Sister of St. Francis Arlene Einwalter, 91, died Sept. 9 in Greenfield, Wisconsin.

Born in Iowa, Sister Arlene was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1949, made first vows in 1961 and made perpetual vows in 1957.

Beginning in 1951, Sister Arlene ministered in Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. William School (1951-1960).

Sister Arlene retired in 2021 and ministered as a volunteer and through prayer and presence at Sacred Heart in Milwaukee and at Our Lady of the Angels.

School Sister of St. Francis Noel Le Claire, 94, died Sept. 13 in Greenfield, Wisconsin.

Born in Michigan, Sister Noel was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1947, made her first vows in 1949 and made her perpetual vows in 1955.  

Beginning in 1951, Sister Noel ministered in Wisconsin, Kentucky, Illinois and Mississippi. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Noel served as a teacher at Our Lady of Charity School in Cicero from 1951 to 1957.

Sister Noel retired in 2017 and ministered through prayer and presence at Our Lady of the Angels in Greenfield.  

Sister Noel is survived by her sisters, Therese Remski and School Sister of St. Francis Margaret Le Claire.

Marianist Father Christian Aloysius Janson, 83, died Sept. 14 in San Antonio.

Born in St. Louis, he had been in religious life for 64 years.

Then-Brother Cris taught high school Latin and English in Texas and Wisconsin for several years before entering the seminary.

After being ordained in 1973, he taught and was a chaplain for seven years at St. Michael High School in Chicago and in Texas, before accepting a parish assignment in Mexico.

He served in four cities in Mexico for 16 years, before returning to Texas, where he worked in parish ministry and at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Agnes Francis Jung, 89, died Sept. 27.

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

Sister Agnes Francis’ ministry was as a primary grade teacher in Illinois and Ohio. After retirement, she served the community at Mount Notre Dame in Cincinnati.

She is survived by her sister, Julie Marselek.

Bishop Edward J. Slattery, 84, died Sept. 13. He was bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma.

Born in Chicago, Bishop Slattery attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1966.

“I’m saddened by the news of Bishop Slattery’s death, but I am thankful to our Almighty God for his service to the church and his unwavering support to Catholic Extension Society,” said Cardinal Cupich. “Join me in praying for this son of Chicago.”

After being ordained, Slattery served as assistant pastor at St. Jude the Apostle, South Holland. In 1971, he became vice president of the Chicago-based Catholic Extension Society, a funding agency for the American home missions. He then served as the society’s president from 1976 to 1994.

During that time, he also served as pastor of St. Rose of Lima.

He was installed as third bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa at Holy Family Cathedral on Jan. 12, 1994. He retired in 2016 and served the Diocese of Tulsa as bishop emeritus.

He is survived by his siblings Winnie C. Dollear, Anne T. Stevenson, Catherine J. Freihage, Margaret I. Sheehan and James E. Slattery.

School Sister of Notre Dame Mary Margaret Murphy, 92, died Sept. 16 at Ascension Resurrection Life Center.

Born in Chicago, Sister Margaret Mary was a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 72 years.

She taught elementary school in Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Michael, St. Alphonsus, Santa Maria Incoronata-Santa Lucia, St. Columba and St. Florian; was a part-time parish receptionist at St. Columba and administrative assistant at. St. Florian; and did a ministry of prayer and presence at Marian Village. She also was a leader and companion for SSND Associates for many years.

Resurrection Sister M. Paulette Pieta, 84, died July 24.

Born in Chicago and baptized at St. Roman Church, she lost her parents at an early age and was raised by her grandmother and aunts.

Sr. Paulette entered the Sisters of the Resurrection in 1963 and professed her first vows in 1965 and her final vows in 1971. She taught kindergarten at St. Casimir for 10 years and then served as administrator of Resurrection Day Care for 30 years. When the day care was closed, she ministered at Resurrection College Prep High School, where she supervised study periods and helped in the office for about 14 years. In the community, she served as local superior for a number of years.

Deacon Derald James “DJ” Shinkle, 92, died Aug. 20. He was ordained in 1978 and ministered at Sacred Heart Parish, Winnetka.

He was predeceased by his wife, Kathleen, and his children Lisa Patt and Monique Blair. He is survived by his children Ray Shinkle, James Shinkle and Honor Shearer; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Divine Word Father Raymond Hober, 92, a missionary in the Philippines for more than three decades, died Aug. 3 in Techny.

Born in Pennsylvania, Father Hober entered the Society of the Divine Word in 1946 and professed vows in 1952 in New York. In 1960, he was ordained to the priesthood in Techny.

Following ordination, he was assigned to the Philippines, where he undertook additional theology courses in Manila before going to Mindoro, where he taught secondary school and college classes and served as a college administrator.

He simultaneously served the SVD Mindoro Province as treasurer. After a successful career in higher education, Father Hober was assigned to the Social Action committee of the Vicariate of Calapan. During this time, he found and dug water wells for communities desperately in need of fresh water.

In 2001, Father Hober was assigned to the Pittsburgh Community of the Chicago Province to travel and deliver mission appeals. He moved to Techny in semi-retirement in 2016.

Sister of the Living Word Rita Ramos, 90, died Aug. 6.

Born in Chicago, she spent her entire religious life and ministry in various missions in the Chicago area. She served as an elementary teacher for 17 years, and in parish ministry, teaching English as a Second Language, and fostering leadership in the Latino community from 1974 to 1989.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at Maternity BVM; St. Raphael; St. Teresa; St. Aloysius; Annunciation; St. Gregory; Our Lady of the Angels; St. Pius V; St. Joan of Arc, Skokie; Morton Community College, Cicero; Household International, Mount Prospect; High School District 214, Arlington Heights; Harper Community College, Palatine; St. Nicholas, Evanston; and St. Hedwig. She also served in Westmont, Aurora and Elgin; and in Wisconsin.

Deacon William Kalivoda, 84, died Aug. 4. He was ordained in 1979 and served at St. Julian Eymard, Elk Grove Village.

He retired in 2013 to care for his wife, Ginny, who predeceased him.

He is survived by his children Bob Kalivoda and Carol Bochat, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Divine Word Father Gerard O’Doherty, 85, died in Techny on July 16. He had served on three continents.

“He will be remembered by those who live and follow his example,” said Father Thomas Krosnicki SVD, who delivered the homily at Father O’Doherty’s funeral Mass. “He took pride in being a missionary servant.”

Born in Dublin, he completed his novitiate and seminary education in Ireland before being ordained in 1974.

Father O’Doherty’s superiors sent him to the Philippines for his first assignment to serve as a teacher and administrator. He worked in education and pastoral ministry in the Philippines for 17 years before returning home to Ireland to serve as procurator of the Ireland Community.

Five years later in 1996, he was needed in California, where he was appointed treasurer for the Western Province, while serving in several parishes.

Father O’Doherty moved to Techny in retirement in 2017.

He is survived by his brothers James, Peter and Brian O’Doherty.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Patricia (Adrianne) Brennan, 98, died July 27 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Iowa, she professed vows in 1951.

Sister Patricia taught elementary school in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Oklahoma, Montana, New Jersey and Wyoming, where she was also a principal. She also served as executive housekeeper at the Dominican Motherhouse in Sinsinawa.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Jarlath and taught and was librarian at Epiphany School where she also served as librarian.

She is survived by a sister, Rita Seidl.

Esther Mikuta (nee Abramowicz), 92, died Aug. 8. She was the sister of the late Bishop Alfred Abramowicz.

She was born, raised and lived in the Brighton Park community of Chicago until 1996, where she was a devoted volunteer to many parish ministries, causes and social activities at St. Pancratius Parish, as well as Five Holy Martyrs, where her brother was pastor from 1968 to 1990. She was active in the Council of Catholic Women and hospitality ministries at her parish, St. Bernard in Homer Glen.

Mrs. Mikuta was proud of her Polish ancestry and worked as a travel agent for decades, allowing her to travel to Japan, Russia, Yugoslavia, New Zealand and to Rome for a private audience with St. John Paul II.

Mrs. Mikuta was predeceased by her husband, Richard. She is survived by her children Kimberly Mikuta, Kevin Mikuta, Keith Mikuta and Kurt Mikuta; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Deacon Eric B. Sorenson, 70, died July 16.

He was ordained in 2006 for the Archdiocese of Detroit and moved to the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2014 and was incardinated in 2017.

He served at St. Andrew and Queen of Apostles parishes.

Deacon Sorensen began his journey in ministry after a successful career in the auto industry, where he grew and managed an industrial controls company.

He is survived by his wife, Rita; his children Steven Sorenson, Karen Helm and Nicole Drury, and four grandchildren.

Providence Sister Mary Catherine (Esther Josephine) Keene, 85, died July 20 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indianapolis, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1957 and professed final vows in 1964. She earned a master’s degree in music from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in theological studies from Catholic Theological Union.

She ministered as a music teacher, director of liturgy, community leader and family caregiver in Illinois and Indiana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1965-1971).

Father Lawrence F. Springer, 90, died June 28. He was the former associate pastor of St. Zachary Parish, Des Plaines.

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

He served as assistant pastor of St. Matthias; St. Mary, Buffalo Grove; and Our Lady of Victory parishes. He was associate pastor of St. Athanasius, Evanston; St. Joseph, Libertyville; St. John Brebeuf, Niles; St. Linus, Oak Lawn; and St. Zachary. He retired in 2003.

Father Ronald Kalas, vicar for senior priests and one of Father Springer’s classmates, recalled how his friend “loved the church from the time he was an altar server, then to the seminary days and then to his 65 years of priesthood.”

Kalas added that his classmate “served in many parishes and enjoyed carefully following the liturgical renewal and even donated vestments to the parishes he served.” 

Deacon Casimir “Casey” Fronczek, 99, died June 28. One of two deaf deacons ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago, he served at the St. Francis Borgia Deaf Center.

He is survived by his sons Daniel and David, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Alice.

Redemptorist Father Gregory Schmitt, 81, died June 30 in Kansas City, Missouri. He was still preaching with the Unbound ministry and involved with the social services programs at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Church at the time of his death.

Born in Wisconsin, he professed first vows as a Redemptorist in 1964 and began his theological studies. He professed his perpetual vows in 1967 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1969.

After earning master’s degrees in divinity and religious education, he ministered in Missouri, Minnesota and North Dakota. In 1978, he joined the mission team stationed at St. Alphonsus Parish (Wellington Avenue) and traveled throughout the country for six years.

He then ministered in parishes in Michigan and Missouri, while taking on leadership responsibilities for his community.

Father Greg served as a pastor, local superior and retreat center director in Washington, California and Louisiana before joining the mission team at St. Michael Parish (Cleveland Avenue) in 2011.

He returned to Kansas City as a missionary in residence in 2018.

Sister of St. Joseph Barbara Lord, 92, died July 5.

Sister Barbara had been a member of the congregation for 73 years.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. Eulalia Parish, Maywood. She was an educator at St. Joseph Academy; St. Hugh, Lyons; St. Elizabeth; Our Lady of Pompeii; and St. Viator. In her later years, she offered community support services and was a seamstress for her congregation.

She is survived by her sister, Carol Lord.

Felician Sister Mary Virginia Sztorc (Mary Annuntiata), 92, died June 2 in Mother of Good Counsel Convent.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. Wenceslaus School and Cardinal Stritch High School. She entered the Felician Sisters in 1952 and professed final vows in 1960. She ministered as an elementary school teacher and librarian in Illinois and Minnesota. She also served for 10 years in the Felician Generalate in Rome in various capacities. Later, she collected and delivered food, clothing and other items for the poor, especially for the Franciscan outreach at Port Ministries and Well of Mercy in Chicago.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Helen (1955-1957, 1960-1962), St. Joseph (1956-1957, 1978-1981, 1985-1988), St. Turibius (1963-1969), St. John of God (1969-1972) and Our Lady of Ransom, Niles (1974-1978).

Deacon Lawrence R. Kancler, 80, died June 20. He was ordained in 1983 and served at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Streamwood, and in the Diocese of Rockford.

Deacon Kancler grew up in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago and attended Nativity of Our Lord Elementary, De La Salle High School, DePaul University and DeVry Institute of Technology. He married his high school sweetheart, Elaine, in 1964.

In 1968, the couple moved to Streamwood where they raised three daughters and became very involved at St. John the Evangelist. Deacon Kancler worked as an engineer for AT&T and later became a chaplain and coordinator of pastoral care at St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates.

He is survived by his wife, Elaine; his daughters Bridget, Amy and Tracy; and three grandchildren.

Father Jan F. Kaplan, 80, died May 22. He was pastor emeritus of St. Ladislaus Parish.

Born in Janów Podlaski, Poland, he attended high school there before entering the diocesan seminary in Siedlce, Poland.

Father Kaplan was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Siedlce in 1967.

From 1967 to 1977, Kaplan served as an associate pastor at several different parishes in the Diocese of Siedlce. He then served as a missionary in the Diocese of Anatuya, Argentina, from 1977 to 1985. He moved to Canada to serve in the Diocese of Prince Albert from 1985 to 1998.

Following his time in Canada, Father Kaplan moved to Illinois and served as associate pastor of Sts. Cyril & Methodius, Lemont; Transfiguration, Wauconda; St. Joseph, Round Lake and St. Blase, Argo (now Blessed Martyrs of Chimbote). He was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2005 and served as pastor of St. Ladislaus.

Following his retirement in 2014, Father Kaplan resided at his family home in Poland.

Father Wojciech Kwiecień first met Father Kaplan when they were both at St. Ladislaus and remembered his friend as an incredible person who was dedicated to connecting with people. “He was very happy to be a priest and had a great passion for traveling and spreading his ministry.”

Father Edward J. Cronin, 69, died June 2. He was a former pastor and associate pastor.

Born in Chicago, Father Cronin attended St. Francis de Sales High School and Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1980. He completed post-graduate studies at the University of San Francisco.

He served as associate pastor of St. Lawrence O’Toole, Matteson; St. Cletus, La Grange; and St. Thomas the Apostle. In 1987, Cronin also became a part-time on-call chaplain at La Grange Memorial Hospital.

Father Cronin joined the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein as an adjunct faculty member from 1990 until 1997 and was an instructor of “Rural Ministry, the Catholic Church in Rural America.”

Following his time at USML, Father Cronin served as pastor of St. Alexander, Palos Heights; St. Jane de Chantal; and St. Helen. He served as associate pastor at Our Lady of Unity Parish and director of St. Stephen of Hungary Mission in Chicago until his retirement in 2022.

Father Cronin was profiled in a 2019 Chicago Catholic article that reported  on his care for animals, especially his dogs Bella and Kazu. “Man is fulfilled when he is more in sync with the rest of God’s creation, and that includes the animal kingdom,” he said.

Deacon William P. Malloy, 87, died May 22. He served at Queen of All Saints Basilica.

Born in Chicago, he grew up in the city and in Jackson, Tennessee, and he earned a football scholarship to the University of Tennessee. When his football career was ended by injury, he returned to Chicago and to Loyola University, where he studied history.

He was a teacher and an arbitrator.

As a deacon, he assisted at Mass, gave homilies and made weekly Communion visits to local senior citizens.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; his brother Bernard Mathis Malloy; his daughters Jennifer Quinlan and Catherine Malloy; and four grandchildren.

Adrian Dominican Sister Cora Marie (Genevieve Anne) Campbell, 88, died May 9 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 71st year of her religious profession.

Sister Cora Marie served over 50 years ministering in religious, elementary and secondary education in Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Queen of Angels (1953-1954), St. Clare of Montefalco (1954-1955), Our Lady of the Westside (1988-1989) and Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (theology teacher, 2006-2015; senior study monitor, 2015-2016).

She is survived by six brothers: Alex, Mark, Charles, Thomas, William and John; and two sisters: Mary Walton and Cara Meyer.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Margaret “Penny” (Marie Albert) Smith, 86, died May 22, in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, Sister Penny made her first profession in 1961 and her perpetual profession in 1966. She graduated from Rosary College (now Dominican University) in River Forest with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and received her master’s in religious studies from Providence College in Rhode Island.

She taught high school in Milwaukee and in Freeport, Illinois, and was director of religious education at St. Thomas of Villanova Parish, Palatine. She also ministered in Alabama.

Father Jerome Joseph Maksvytis, 76, died May 27 at his home in Portage, Wisconsin, succumbing to cancer.

Born in Chicago, Father Maksvytis attended Annunciation and St. Michael schools, Quigley Preparatory Seminary North and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary; Holy Name Seminary, Madison; and St. Francis de Sales Seminary, Milwaukee, before being ordained for the Diocese of Madison in 1974.

Father Maksvytis served as associate pastor and pastor of several parishes in Wisconsin. He was named pastor emeritus of All Saints Parish in Berlin, Wisconsin, on his retirement in 2014.

He is survived by his sister, Lucille Tylutki.

Divine Word Father Joseph Bugner, 89, died May 8 in Techny. He was a missionary in Papua New Guinea for 35 years.

Born on the family farm in Prairie View, Father Bugner descended from immigrants who settled Rogers Park in 1844. One of his forefathers donated the land on which St. Henry Church is built.

A priest for 61 years and in religious vows for 69, he did pastoral ministry for a year in Washington, D.C., before beginning his first overseas assignment in Papua New Guinea.

In 1964, he was assigned to Mount Hagen, where he provided pastoral care for the area’s residents and supervised catechists in Kuli in northeast New Guinea. Father Bugner’s parish served roughly 6,000 Catholics in a 120-square-mile territory in the Wahgi River Valley.

Under Father Bugner’s leadership, schools and community facilities increased. He managed catechists who taught about 300 children in 12 outlying areas. The parish school added two grades, and the government established an additional two schools. Father Bugner also built a medical clinic for Kuli.

Father Bugner had lived in the Divine Word Residence at Techny since 1999.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Rita Clare (Patricia Ann) Kristoff, 84, died May 11 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Sister Rita Clare made her first religious profession with the School Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King in Lemont in 1958. She transferred her vows to the Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1995.

Her ministry was dedicated to elementary education. As a Franciscan sister, she taught for 30 years, working extensively with children with learning disabilities in Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Indiana and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Stephen School and Sacred Heart School.

 As a Dominican sister, Sister Rita Clare ministered in Illinois and taught at St. Thomas More School and St. Basil School and served as resource person and helped children with special needs at St. Thomas the Apostle School. She also served as catechist at Divine Infant Parish, Westchester.

Father Michael P. Ahlstrom, 82, died May 3. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former pastor of St. Colette Parish in Rolling Meadows.

Born in Indianapolis, Father Ahlstrom attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1969. He also earned a master’s degree in liturgical studies at the University of Notre Dame.

He was a faculty member at Niles College of Loyola University and assistant pastor of St. Bernadette, Evergreen Park. He then served as associate pastor of St. Gertrude, Franklin Park; Mary, Seat of Wisdom, Park Ridge; and Immaculate Heart of Mary. He was appointed pastor of St. Colette Parish, a position he held from 1989 until 2003.

Father Ahlstrom served as vicar for deacons from 2004 to 2013, and served as vicar emeritus after his retirement.

During his career in ministry, Father Ahlstrom also served as associate director of the Office for Divine Worship; instructor and chairman of the board of the Liturgical Institute in Mundelein; instructor in medical ethics at Little Company of Mary School of Nursing; priest presenter for Engaged Encounter and Marriage Encounter; pastor in residence and liturgy instructor at Mundelein Seminary; board member of Chicago Studies; member of the Annual Catholic Appeal board; and member of Catholic Charities’ Parish Outreach Committee.

Deacon James Norman, current vicar for deacons, worked with Father Ahlstrom for the past two years. “It was clear that he valued and loved the diaconate community: deacons, their wives and families. He was always there when needed to celebrate a Mass, lead a prayer, coach and mentor. He left us a legacy of love and support.”

Deacon David Brencic, assistant director of the Office of the Diaconate, also was a friend and colleague of Father Ahlstrom. “He was really loved by the deacons and wives, and it was mutual,” Brencic said. “I remember him saying at several gatherings of deacons and wives, ‘My main job is to love you.’ He was a true shepherd and generous servant.”

Felician Sister Mary Alvina (La Verne) Gill, 93, died April 18 at Mother of Good Counsel Convent.

Born in Chicago, she attended Sts. Peter and Paul School and St. Joseph High School. She entered the Felician Sisters in 1949 and professed her final vows in 1951.

She ministered for a brief time as an elementary school teacher in Illinois. She also served in the ministry of nursing at St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee and at St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia, and served as the assistant administrator at St. Andrew Life Center in Niles.

In her later years, she ministered in a variety of roles in the provincial house.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Wenceslaus (1951-1953), Sacred Heart (1953-1956), St. Joseph (1956-1957) and St. Andrew Life Center (1986-2014).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Elaine Ann Taylor, 84, died April 23 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Ohio, Sister Elaine made her first religious profession in 1961 and her perpetual profession of vows in 1967.

Her ministry was dedicated to teaching the arts. She ministered in Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Elaine taught art at St. Thomas the Apostle School, art and religion at St. Benedict High School, and art at Trinity High School, River Forest.

She is survived by two sisters, Jane Kantowicz and Mary Taylor.

Little Sister of the Poor Genevieve of St. Margaret Mary (baptized Catherine Anne Roche), 82, died April 24 at St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly in Palatine, where she lived since 2006. 

Born the sixth of 13 children in California, she was inspired by an older sister who entered the Little Sisters of the Poor. She made her first vows in 1963 and her final vows in 1967.

For most of her religious life, she was a “begging sister,” visiting produce markets, businesses, parishes and benefactors, where she spread her great devotion to St. Joseph knowing with confidence that God would provide for the needs of the home, the residents and Little Sisters.

She is survived by her sisters, Little Sister of the Poor Elisabeth Anne de Notre Dame, Alice Roche, Dorothy Kennedy and Barbara Hopkins.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Teresita (Helen Louise) Weind, 81, died April 28 in Cincinnati.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, to a Baptist family, Sister Teresita entered full community with the Catholic Church at the age of 12. She attended Catholic schools and met Catholic sisters, inspiring her to enter the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation in 1960. She made first vows in 1963 and final vows in 1968. She transferred her vows to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1973 and made her final commitment to the congregation in 1976.

She served two terms in the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur’s general leadership, and was the 19th superior general of the congregation.

Sister Teresita was also a founding member of the National Black Sisters Conference, where she served on the board and on many committees. She represented the NBSSC also on the board of the National Office of Black Catholics. She was also a leader in Women of Color, formed by SNDdeN General Government Group in the late 1980s, to promote anti-racism and cross-cultural efforts within the congregation.

She had also served in provincial leadership.

Sister Teresita earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing in North Dakota, and in 1972, a master’s degree in religious studies from Mundelein College. She ministered in Illinois, Michigan, North Dakota and Ohio.

She ministered in the Archdiocese of Chicago from 1970 to 1991. During those years, she moved from nursing to pastoral ministry and changed religious communities.

From 1973 to 1979, Sister Teresita was the director of liturgical formation for Black Parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago. She then joined the pastoral team at the recently merged St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Parish in Oak Park, while giving retreats and workshops across the country. She was also one of the founders of Mary’s Pence, a funding source for women who wish to create social change, start community initiatives and foster collaboration.