Deacon John A. Henricks, 79, died March 6. He was ordained in 1993 and ministered at Sacred Heart Parish (Melrose Park) and St. Giles, Oak Park.

Born in Ohio, he moved with his family to Baltimore, then Indiana, before arriving in Oak Park, where he attended Fenwick High School. During his time there, he did service work with Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly, which inspired a lifetime of social justice work and caring for others.

He earned a master’s degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago and worked as a licensed clinical social worker at Chicago-Read Mental Health Center and Rush University Medical Center.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Lois; three daughters, Rebecca, Jennifer and Elizabeth; and one grandchild.