Mercy Sister Margaret Wright, 81, died Oct. 16.

Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Mercy after graduating from St. Patrick High School, Des Plaines.

She graduated from Creighton University School of Pharmacy in Omaha, Nebraska and became a pharmacist in 1962. She served at Mercy Hospitals in Chicago and Aurora, Illinois, for many years. During that time, she served on the Illinois State Board of Pharmacy for 17 years, including 13 years as chairwoman.

She was the first woman and the first from a hospital setting to be named Pharmacist of the Year in 1980 by the Illinois Pharmacists Association, and in 1995, Sister Margaret was introduced as “the conscience of pharmacy in Illinois” when she was named an honorary lifetime member to the Illinois Council of Hospital Pharmacists.

Adrian Dominican Sister Elizabeth (Catherine William) Kreiner, 95, died Jan. 15 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 79th year of her religious profession.

Sister ministered in education, in congregation leadership, as a chaplain and as an administrator in Illinois and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Queen of Angels (1938-1943, 1967-1968); St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1943-1951); St. Clare of Montefalco (1951-1952); and St. Albert the Great, Oak Lawn (1962-1967). She was co-provincial of the St. Dominic Province in Hometown (1970-1972), executive director of Mercy House Corp (1973-1974); chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital (1974-1976) and chaplain at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood (1977-1981).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Therese (Eamon) O’Donnell, 90, died Jan. 14 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Chicago, Sister Therese made her first religious profession in 1947 and her final profession in 1950. She was a teacher, principal and consultant in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Therese was principal at St. Basil (1968-1969) and St. Louis de Montfort, Oak Lawn (1977-2002).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Jeanne Flanagan, 91, died Jan. 14 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, Sister Jeanne made her first religious profession in 1949 and her final profession Aug. 5, 1952. She ministered in education, community leadership, religious education and spiritual direction in Minnesota, Wyoming, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Illinois, Oklahoma and Texas.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Jeanne was principal at Queen of Peace, Burbank (1962-1966) and served the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation as prioress provincial of the Southwest Province (1968-1976).

Adrian Dominican Sister Marianne (David Frances) O’Neill, 80, died on Jan. 13 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she was in the 62nd year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Marianne ministered in education, pastoral care and service to her congregation in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Mary Star of the Sea (1979-1981); Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1981-1986); and St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights (1986-1987).

Benedictine Sister Anne (Barbara) Krall, 88, died Jan. 5 at St. Scholastica Monastery.

She was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado, and entered the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago in 1954. She made her final vows in 1959.

In Chicago, she taught at Queen of All Saints, St. Joseph, St. Hilary and St. Symphorosa. She also taught at a number of schools and directed parish religious education programs in Colorado.

Sister of Notre Dame of Namur Rita (St. Clement) Schirtzinger, 88, died Dec. 27 in Cincinnati.

Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, she entered the community in 1946 and made her final vows in 1954.

Sister Rita taught elementary school in parish schools in Ohio and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Robert Bellarmine and St. Victor. When Sister Rita retired from formal teaching, she tutored adults and helped them pass their GED and gain computer skills.

Sister Rita is survived by one sibling, Ida Dunkman.

Rabbi Herman Schaalman, 100, died Feb. 1. One of the foremost Reform rabbis in the United States, he was a leader in the movement for interfaith dialogue and one of the founders of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago.

He was a close friend of Cardinal Bernardin and participated in his funeral rites.

Rabbi Schaalman came to the United States from his native Germany to study in 1935. He came to Chicago in 1949 to serve as the Midwest director of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. In 1956, he became the senior rabbi at Emanuel Congregation, 5959 N. Sheridan Road, where he served for 30 years.

According to an article in the JUF News in honor of his 100th birthday, Rabbi Schaalman served as a trustee on the board of the Millennium Institute and a member of the executive committee of the Council for the Parliament of World Religions. In 1991, the president of Germany honored him with the award of the Order of Merit, First Class. The International Council of Christians and Jews gave Schaalman its highest honor, the Interfaith Gold Medallion — Peace Through Dialogue. Among his honorary doctorates was one from Catholic Theological Union in Hyde Park, where he also served on the faculty.

He is survived by his children, Susan Youdovin and Michael Schaalman, and five grandchildren.

Deacon Robert O’Keefe, 88, died Jan. 31. He was ordained in 1984 and served at St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Niles.

He retired as vice president of human resources after 50 years of service at Fel-Pro in Skokie, where he was known as an advocate for all employees.

He is survived by his wife, Joan; children Kevin, Patrick and Timothy O’Keefe; and Mary Walsh, Kathleen O’Neill and Eileen Reisel; 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

BVM Sister Janita Curoe, 87, died Feb. 10 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Iowa, Sister Janita entered the BVM congregation in 1946 and professed final vows in 1954.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Janita taught elementary school at St. Eugene. She also taught in Iowa, Tennessee and Mississippi.

BVM Sister Kathleen Doherty (Patrick Louis), 94, died Feb. 9 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Iowa, she entered the BVM congregation in 1945 and professed final vows in 1953.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Kathleen taught at St. Jerome and St. Mary High School; served as parish secretary and adult education teacher at Holy Family Parish and Westside Employment and Education Center; and was coordinator/treasurer for St. Mary Alumnae Association. She also taught in New York and Iowa.

Sister of the Resurrection Lenore (M. Aquina) Kusek, 96, died Feb. 6.

Sister Lenore was born in Nebraska. She was received into the Congregation of the Sisters of the Resurrection in 1935, and eventually had two sisters in the congregation: the late Sister Bonaventure and Sister Clara Frances.

Sister Lenore ministered for 60 years in education, counseling and fundraising. She taught all grades from kindergarten through high school. In the archdiocese, she served at St. Thecla; St. Mary of the Angels; St. Bede, Ingleside; and Resurrection High School. She also ministered in Indiana, North Dakota and Alabama.

Sister Lenore also served as formation directress and as local superior.

Sister Lenore spent the last 15 years of her life in the ministry of prayer and suffering at the Queen of the Resurrection House of Prayer.

Sister of St. Casimir Clement Mazgelis, 93, died Jan. 31.

A native of Brockton, Massachusetts, Sister Clement attended St. Casimir Academy in Chicago and entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1940. She made her final vows in 1946.

She ministered in elementary and high schools in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Nebraska and Maryland. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Casimir Academy (1944-1946) and Maria High School (1965-2002), Nativity BVM (Marquette Park, 1943-1944), Immaculate Conception (44th Street) (1946-1948) and St. Anthony, Cicero (1952-1957). From 2002 to 2015 Sister Clement supported Maria High Scholarships and the SSC Retirement Fund through many fundraising activities. Most recently, Sister Clement participated in the SSC ministry of prayer (2015-2017) at Franciscan Village in Lemont.

Benedictine Sister Mercedes (Mary Catherine) Moore, 101, died Jan. 25 at St. Scholastica Monastery.

She graduated from St. Ambrose School and St. Thomas the Apostle High School. Later, she attended Saint Xavier College for a year before entering the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago in 1933. She professed her final vows in 1938.

She taught at St. Hilary, Queen of All Saints, St. Symphorosa and St. Scholastica Academy and at a number of schools in Colorado. She returned as principal of St. Hilary and St. Symphorosa. She was involved in parish ministry at St. Athanasius, Evanston, served as a chaplain at Evanston Hospital and then was superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Virgin Islands. In her later years, she worked as a tutor with deaf students at Holy Trinity School and served as subprioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago.

Felician Sister Mary Cordia (Veronica) Nowicki, 101, died on Jan. 20 in Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, she entered the Felician Sisters in 1934 and professed her final vows in 1942.

She ministered in elementary schools as a principal, teacher and tutor in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

BVM Sister Louise (Christine) Szkodzinski, 95, died Jan. 16 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Cicero, she entered the BVM congregation in 1947 and professed final vows in 1955.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Louise taught music at Mundelein College, and in later years gave piano lessons at Wright Hall. She also taught music in Iowa and Arizona.

She is survived by a brother, Jerome, and a sister, Christine Pitford.

BVM Sister Gracita Daly, BVM, 92, died Jan. 15 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Iowa, she entered the BVM congregation in 1941 and professed final vows in 1949.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Gracita taught at St. Odilo, Berwyn, where she later served in parish ministry, and also at Blessed Sacrament and Holy Family (Roosevelt Road). She also ministered in Iowa, Nebraska, New York and Indiana.

Deacon James Cozzo, 69, died Feb. 4. He was ordained in 2002 and had served at St. Eugene Parish since 2010.

He previously served at Santa Maria Addolorata.

He is survived by his wife, Mirta (“Mirna”); his children Ryan Cozzo, Nina Annerino and Sara Galiano; his grandchildren Daniel Cozzo; Ava Annerino and Dominic Galiano; and siblings Robert, Jenaro, Jimmy, Tim and Diana.

Father James Francis Moriarty, 91, died Feb. 8 at the Bishop Timothy J. Lyne Residence for Retired Priests in Palos Park. He was pastor emeritus of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Evanston.

Father Moriarty was born in Chicago and attended St. Theodore School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary North and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1951.

He was assistant pastor of St. Ferdinand (1951-1963); St. John the Evangelist, Streamwood (1963-1970); and St. Mary of the Woods (1988-1989). He was pastor of St. Luke Parish, River Forest (1982-1998) before being named pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Evanston in 1989. He served there until he retired in 1995.

He also was a delegate judge for the metropolitan tribunal, and in 1969 he began working with the Catholic Conference of Illinois. Father Moriarty dedicated much of his work to the development of Catholic television, as director of the Catholic Television Network of Chicago from 1973 to 1984. During this time, he was a resident of Holy Name Cathedral Parish.

Father Moriarty is survived by his brothers, Thomas, Robert and Gerald Moriarty.

Adrian Dominican Sister Donna (Frederick Mary) Wencel, 88, died March 3 in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Donna ministered in elementary education in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Matthew (1947-1950) and St. Rita (1958-1962).

BVM Sister Margaret (Laurice) Mollan, 94, died Feb. 26 in Dubuque, Iowa.Born in Chicago, she entered the BVM congregation in 1939 from Presentation Parish. She professed final vows in 1947.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Margaret taught elementary school at St. Aloysius, St. Gertrude and St. Cornelius; and taught English and history at Carmel Catholic High School, Mundelein. She also served in Iowa, California; Hawaii, Nebraska and Montana.

Sister of St. Joseph Joan Gardner, 87, died Feb. 23.

She had been a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of LaGrange for 69 years.

In the archdiocese, Sister Joan taught at St. Francis Xavier, LaGrange; St. Joseph Academy, LaGrange Park; St. John Fisher; St. Leonard, Berwyn; St. Hugh, Lyons; and St. Attracta, Cicero. She was principal at St. John Fisher; St. Leonard, Berwyn; St. Celestine, Elmwood Park and St. Patricia, Hickory Hills. She also served in the library at St. Mary, Riverside.

Augustinian Father Daniel J. Hartigan, 99, died Feb. 17. He was the oldest Augustinian friar in the United States and Canada.

Born in Boston, he graduated from trade school in 1934 and worked for two years as a printer before entering Augustinian formation in 1936.

He professed temporary vows in 1938 and permanent in 1941, and he was ordained a priest in 1945.

He was assigned in 1946 to St. Rita High School as a teacher. When Mendel Catholic High School opened in 1951, Father Hartigan was among its original faculty.

In 1960 he was transferred to Tolentine College, Olympia Fields, as a teacher and counselor, and at the same time he was named superintendent of schools for the Augustinian Secondary School system. From 1963 to 1968, while continuing to serve as superintendent, Father Hartigan was principal of Mendel. He served as prior of Mendel Monastery from 1968 to 1974 and he was inducted into the Mendel Hall of Fame in 2001.

Father Hartigan became a certified alcoholism counselor and a psychologist in Illinois. Beginning in 1974 he was employed by the City of Chicago as a clinical psychologist, and from 1976 to 1993 as a psychologist and director of the city’s Mid-South Mental Health Center. He resided at Mendel Monastery until 1988, then at St. Rita Monastery.

He retired from the Bureau of Mental Health in 1993 and resided at St. Clare of Montefalco Parish, where he also was prior (1993-2002). He moved in 2002 to St. Monica Monastery and was named prior at St. Monica in 2006. He served in that office until 2010.

He then was assigned briefly to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Monastery, Olympia Fields. When Blessed Stephen Bellesini Friary was established at Franciscan Village, Lemont, in July, 2010, Father Hartigan was assigned there.

In 2014, Blessed Stephen Bellesini Friary moved to Indiana, but Father Hartigan chose to go to Mercy Circle, a health care facility on Chicago’s South Side, to be nearer to his close friends.

Felician Sister Carole Mary (Carole Mae, Mary Kenneth) Capoun, 77, died Feb. 13 in Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in Chicago, she attended Noble Elementary School and Good Counsel 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 vice principal in Illinois. She served as director of Felician Associates for 30 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Turibius (1960-1961), St. Joseph High School (1965-1969), Good Counsel High School (1969-1992), Holy Innocents (1992-2002) and Santa Maria Adolorata (2002-2004).

BVM Sister Therese Mary (John Francine) Waughon, 86, died March 15 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Chicago, she entered the BVM congregation in 1948 from Mary Queen of Heaven Parish, Cicero. She professed final vows in 1956.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Therese Mary taught elementary school at St. Eulalia, Maywood; St. Joseph, Round Lake; St. Ferdinand; St. Dorothy; St. Gertrude; and Mary Queen of Heaven, Cicero. She also taught elementary school in Iowa and New York and was a hospital volunteer in Chicago.

School Sister of Notre Dame John Martha (Dolores Lorraine) Knybel, 92, died March 14 at Presence Holy Family Long Term Acute Care Hospital in Des Plaines.

She was a vowed member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 70 years.

Sister John Martha was born in Chicago and was baptized and went to school at St. John Cantius before attending St. Stanislaus Kostka High School. After high school, she worked for a year in an office and attended evening classes at De Paul University.

She entered the congregation in 1944 and took final vows in 1953.

She taught in Milwaukee before coming back to Chicago in 1958 to serve as a teacher and librarian at Cardinal Stritch High School. She served at Chicago schools, including St. Stanislaus Kostka and the Academy of Our Lady, until 1997. She then served as receptionist at Resurrection Life Center for 14 years.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Catherine (Marie Edmund) Lyons, 88, died March 13 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, Sister Catherine made her first religious profession in 1948. She made her final profession in 1951. She served in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and California.

In the Archdiocese Chicago, Sister Catherine taught at Sts. Faith, Hope and Charity, Winnetka (1963-1968).

She is survived by a sister, Frances Wasowicz.

Viatorian Father Thomas Kass, 70, died March 13.

Born in Chicago, he graduated from St. Patrick High School in 1964 and entered the Clerics of St. Viator novitiate that year. He professed first vows in 1965 and final vows in 1973. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1977 at St. Hedwig Church.

He earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in English language and literature, specializing in the life and works of Samuel Johnson.

He taught in Springfield, Illinois; served as a deacon at St. Viator Parish (1976-1977); and then taught at St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights (1977-1979). He taught at St. Anselm College, New Hampshire, from 1984 to 2008, then served the Viatorians as director of pre-novices, novices, priestly formation and as the formation team chair from 2008 to 2015.

Glenmary Brother Terry (James Michael) O’Rourke, 82, died March 10 in Cincinnati.

Born in Chicago, he entered the Glenmary Home Missioners in 1958.

He was a former Glenmary second vice president, served as an assistant prefect of brothers in Cincinnati, assistant director of the Glenmary House of Study in Washington, D.C., and a missioner in Aberdeen, Mississippi. During that assignment, he helped train service dogs for the disabled.

For 15 years, he worked on the brothers’ building crew, helping to construct dozens of houses, churches, rectories and other structures.

Brother O’Rourke is survived by his sister Loretta Coogan, and his brother, Columban Father Robert O’Rourke.

School Sister of St. Francis Mary Magdalene Stroeder, 94, died March 9 in Milwaukee.

Born in Saskatchewan, Canada, she was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1944 and made final vows in 1952.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Peter, Skokie (1948-1954), and at St. Beatrice, Schiller Park (1954- 1957).

Sister Mary Magdalene is survived by two sisters, Mary Lavery and Sally Muench, and a brother, George Stroeder.

Father Daniel Mallette, 85, died March 27 at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park. He was pastor emeritus of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Mallette attended St. Mary Magdalene School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary North and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1957.

He was assistant pastor of St. Agatha (1957-1968) and Visitation (1971-1975) and associate pastor of St. Norbert Parish (1975-1977). In 1977, Father Mallette was named pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland and remained there until he became its pastor emeritus in 2012.

In addition to serving in parishes, Father Mallette was chaplain for Harrison High School in 1963 and assistant dean at the Lincoln Center College of Fordham University in Brooklyn, New York (1968-1971). He also was known as a civil rights activist, participating in demonstrations and anti-war protests in Chicago and across the country.

In December 2011, Father Mallette was assaulted and seriously injured by two burglars who broke into St. Margaret of Scotland Parish. He responded by becoming increasingly involved in prison ministry.

BVM Sister Maxine Marie (Rupert) Rummelhart, 89, died April 25 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Iowa, she entered the BVM congregation in 1943 and professed final vows in 1951.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Maxine Marie taught elementary school at Annunciation, Our Lady Help of Christians, St. Vincent and St. Jerome, and she served as home health aide for the Neighbor’s Program in Chicago.

She is survived by a sister, Marceline Schiefelbein.

Adrian Dominican Sister Joanne (Helen Susan, Mary Joannes) O’Connor, 96, died March 8 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she was in the 78th year of her religious profession.

Sister Joanne ministered in education in Florida, Michigan and Illinois, and as a medical technician, tribunal advocate and congregational leader in California. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Philip Neri School.

Sister Joanne is survived by a sister, Joan Panaro.

Columban Father Charles Duster, 82, died March 7 in Bellevue, Nebraska.

Born in Iowa, he attended Regis University in Denver and Marquette University in Milwaukee before entering the seminary. He completed his studies and was ordained a priest of the Missionary Society of St. Columban in 1961.

He served in Japan from 1962 to 1968. He was based in Omaha, Nebraska, while he served as Midwest vocation director for his congregation from 1969-1972, a position he continued while residing at the Columban House in Chicago.

After lengthy assignments in Fiji and in Rome, he returned to Chicago. He was assigned to the Columban Magnolia house, where he worked on mission promotion and vocations (2005-2011) and served as house superior (2008-2011).

He returned to Omaha in 2011 and worked in planned giving and development and served as superior of the Omaha community (2012-2016).

He is survived by his brother, William Duster, and his sister, Katie Enns.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Kathryn Guenther, 87, died March 4 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in South Dakota, Sister Mary Kathryn made her first religious in 1949 and her final profession in 1952. She taught, was an activity director and did pastoral ministry in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Kathryn taught at Immaculate Conception, Waukegan (1949-1956); and St. Richard (1958-1962).

Benedictine Sister Joanna (Jean Ann) Trapp, 90, died on March 3 at St. Scholastica Monastery.

Born in Detroit, she moved to Chicago with her family and attended St. Ignatius Parish and St. Scholastica High School. She entered the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago in 1946, a year after graduation, and professed final vows in 1951.

She taught at St. Hilary and St. Lambert, Skokie, and at elementary and high schools in Colorado. She returned to Chicago and taught for the next 42 years at St. Scholastica Academy.

She is survived by her sister, Norene Mahoney.

BVM Sister Margaret (St. Leonard) Haas, 84, died March 1 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she entered the BVM congregation in 1953, from St. Paul of the Cross Parish, Park Ridge, and professed final vows in 1961.

In Chicago, Sister Margaret taught at Immaculata High School and Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein. She ministered as curriculum consultant for the Archdiocese of Chicago; was director of connections for the adult education center at Malcolm X College; served in donor relations for the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls; and worked in parish ministry at St. Gertrude Parish. She also was a teacher in Iowa, California and Nebraska.

She is survived by her sisters Marilyn Haas (her twin), Monica Michelau, Mary Kathryn Amaya, Carolyn Thompson, Mary Beth Fitt and Patricia Bougher; and her brothers John, Thomas and Robert Haas.

Felician Sister Mary Joanne (Agnes) Maslowski, 91, died Feb. 25 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, she entered the Felician Sisters in 1943 and professed her final vows in 1951. For most of her religious life, she ministered in elementary and high schools as a teacher and principal in Illinois and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at Good Shepherd (1945-1947, 1960-1962), Holy Innocents (1947-1952), St. Cyril and Methodius, Lemont (1952-1957), Holy Rosary, North Chicago (1957-1960), St. Wenceslaus (1968-1969), St. Turibius (1969-1970), St. Joseph High School (1970-1978), St. Bruno (1984-1985) and Good Counsel High School (1992-2002).

Resurrection Sister M. Loyola Reszka, 95, died Feb. 24 at Resurrection Life Center. Born in North Dakota, she was received into the Congregation of the Sisters of the Resurrection in 1941.

Sister M. Loyola taught at St. Casimir, St. Thecla, St. Mary of the Angels and Resurrection Academy in the Archdiocese of Chicago and at schools in Florida. She also spent 32 years teaching at Resurrection High School.

After leaving the high school, she served as directress of novices, local superior, archivist and librarian at the provincial home of the Sisters of the Resurrection.

Redemptorist Father Charles Bueche, 89, died Feb.16 in Liguori, Missouri.

He spent the first 30 years of his priesthood as a missionary in Thailand. Returning to the United States, he served as a parish priest at St. Alphonsus (Wellington Avenue) during the 1970s before undertaking various assignments in Colorado, Kansas and Missouri.

Redemptorist Father Henry Novak, 92, died Feb. 11 in Liguori, Missouri.

Stationed in the Archdiocese of Chicago for more than 50 years, he served at Old St. Michael (Old Town) from 1957 to 1967 and was pastor of St. Alphonsus (Wellington Avenue) from 1967 to 1972. He then directed the Villa Redeemer Retreat House in Glenview for several years before serving as province treasurer until 1996. He remained there until 2011, frequently saying Mass at neighboring parishes, convents and nursing homes.

Father George Francis Cerny, 81, died Jan. 24. He was pastor emeritus of St. Bartholomew Parish and was a resident at the Franciscan Village/ Mother Theresa Home in Lemont.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. John Nepomucene and St. Rita schools and Quigley Preparatory Seminary before graduating from DePaul University with an accounting degree.

He then served in the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant (1956- 1957) before entering the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained in 1964.

Father Cerny served as assistant pastor of Our Lady of the Mount, Cicero 1964- 1973); St. Peter Canisius Parish (1973- 1978); Holy Ghost, South Holland (1978- 1979); and St. Bartholomew (1986-1991). He was pastor of St. Teresa of Avila (1980- 1986) and St. Bartholomew (1991-2004). He was named pastor emeritus after his retirement.

Father Cerny is survived by his sister, Irene Kucharski.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Margaret (Aimee Julie) Michael, 100, died in Cincinnati Jan. 11. Born in Ohio, she entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1934 and made final vows in 1943.

Sister Margaret taught every grade from first through eighth. In the Archdiocese of Chicago she spent nine years in three schools. Her special passion was serving in inner-city schools where she understood the importance of teaching all children the skills they needed to succeed.

Sister Margaret officially retired in 1994, but remained very active in gardening and other volunteer work.

She is survived by one niece, Kevin Ann Ford.

Sister of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis Regina Wachowski, 84, died Dec. 6 in Manaus, Brazil.

A member of her religious community for 68 years, she taught at St. Roman and St. Mary of Perpetual Help before embarking on a 44-year ministry in Brazil. She was a medical missionary in the Esperanca Project, traveling down the Amazon River on a hospital ship. She spent many years in the medical field before serving as a pastoral care worker in Manaus.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Virginia (Michael of the Trinity) Lacy, 85, died Dec. 1, 2016, in Ohio.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, she was a sister of Notre Dame de Namur for 67 years. She entered the community in 1949 and made her final vows in 1957.

She taught and served as principal of elementary schools in Chicago and Ohio, and later was a pastoral minister. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Peter Canisius (1953-1960, 1965-1973).

Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul Sister Joanne Whalen died April 30 in Bridgeton, Missouri.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Josephinum High School in 1949 and earned a bachelor’s degree in French from Rosary College, River Forest, in 1953.

Sister Joanne worked several years before entering the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in 1962. She taught regular and special education in New Orleans, Missouri and Texas.

She is survived by her brother, Robert Whalen, and her sister, Mary Whalen.

Springfield Dominican Sister Mary Ventura died on April 26 at Sacred Heart Convent in Springfield, Illinois.

She was born in Bradley, Illinois, in 1928. She made her profession of vows in 1947 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield.

She taught primary school in Chicago, Mt. Sterling, Odell and Springfield, Illinois. In Aurora and Morrisonville, Illinois, she was a principal and junior high teacher.

She also taught in East Alton and Rantoul, spent 14 summers in Mendota administering a federally funded program for migrant children, and served part-time on the staff at Alfred Fortin Villa, Bourbonnais.

After teaching Vietnamese refugees in Peoria from 1985-1986, Sister Mary moved to St. Bernadette Parish in Evergreen Park, where she served for 30 years. She taught fourth grade, and in 1996 started Essential Learning Solutions, a computerized learning program for children and adults with learning difficulties.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Catherine Rita (Thomasina) Palmisano, 86, died April 17 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Champaign, Illinois, Sister Catherine made her first religious profession in 1949 and her final profession in 1952. Sister Catherine lived her entire religious life ministering in Illinois and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Catherine taught at Visitation (1949-1958) and St. Giles, Oak Park (1966-1968). She taught (1977-1999), was administrative assistant (1999-2005) and volunteered (2005-2010) at St. Thomas More.

She is survived by a sister, Mary Spradley.

=Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marcella (Baptista) Connolly, 88, died April 13 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Sister Marcella founded the Apostolic Volunteer program in 1973, which is now Dominican Volunteers USA, and served in the leadership of the congregation.

Born in Iowa, she made her first religious profession in 1949, and her final profession in 1952.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marcella taught at St. Brendan (1949-1951) and Holy Trinity High School (1994-2003), where she also served as campus minister (1987-1994). She served as principal at Epiphany (1976-1987); campus minister at Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest (1994- 1996); and pastoral minister at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital (2003-2006), and she was coordinator for the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation’s Preaching for the Foreign Mission Fund (2006-2007).

She is survived by a sister, Mary Alice Hansen and a brother, William Connolly.

Sister of Christian Charity De- Lourdes (Evelyn) Bragg, 104, died Dec. 4 at Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette.

Born in Michigan, she was received into the novitiate in 1930, made first vows in 1932 and perpetual vows in 1937.

She taught in schools in Missouri, Louisiana and Iowa as well as at Mallinckrodt High School, Wilmette, where she taught ninthgrade religion, English and Latin (1942-1943).

She returned to the motherhouse in Wilmette in 1985 and began teaching art at Mallinckrodt College. When she came to Sacred Heart Convent in 1999 a group of former students followed her; they would continue to meet until 2012 in the basement of Sacred Heart Convent to paint, talk and enjoy refreshments twice a week.