Dominican Father Peter F. (Francis Leon) Witchousky, 83, died May 27.

Born in Aurora, he entered the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great in 1962. He made his first profession of vows in 1963 and began his studies in River Forest. He made his final vows in 1966 and was ordained a priest in 1969.

He taught at Fenwick High School in Oak Park from 1969 to 1976 and directed the school’s theater program. He served as a pastor in Madison, Wisconsin, for several years before serving on the pastoral staff at St. Vincent Ferrer, River Forest (1983-1984). He then served as promoter of vocations for the province until 1991.

He served as a high school chaplain in Springfield and then as chaplain at the Dominican Sisters of Springfield motherhouse until his health made it in necessary for him to retire. He moved to the St. Pius V Priory assisted living center 12 days before he died.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Helen (Helen Katharine) Glynn, 87, died May 16 at MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center, Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Chicago, Sister Helen made her first religious profession in 1969, and her perpetual profession in 1972. She was a teacher, did family care, was a pastoral associate and was a director of religious education. Sister Helen also ministered with the people of Santa Cruz and Cochabamba, Bolivia, for 17 years as support staff, licensed practical nurse and pastoral agent while providing family catechesis. She served in Illinois, Wisconsin and Bolivia.

Mercy Sister Mary Brian Costello, 98, died May 22 at Mercy Circle.

Sister Brian entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1942 and received her bachelor’s degree from Saint Xavier University and her master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame. 

She served in various educational ministries as both teacher and as a school administrator, including as principal of Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School.  

She served on the Sisters of Mercy Leadership Team from 1973 to 1979. In 1983, Sister Brian was named the first woman and non-cleric superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago.  In 1989, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin named Sister Brian his chief of staff, a pioneering position for a woman and one she held until she retired in 1997.

Throughout her ministry, Sister Brian exhibited a passion for assuring educational opportunities for all children. She was a founding member of the Big Shoulders Fund.

Father Raymond J. Tillrock, 82, died April 27. He was pastor emeritus of St. Barnabas Parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Tillrock attended St. Rita High School, Loyola University and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before he was ordained in 1969.

He served as assistant pastor of St. Francis Xavier, Wilmette, and was on the faculty of Niles College Seminary from 1974 to 1979. Later, Father Tillrock served as associate pastor at St. Mary of Celle, Berwyn, and pastor of St. Barnabas Parish. In addition, he was a long-serving board member of the Priests’ Retirement and Mutual Aid Association. He retired in 2003.  

“He was a very important member of our group (of classmates),” said Father William Zavaski, a classmate of Father Tillrock. “He was a great sailor — he was sailing until this past year.”

Zavaski described Father Tillrock as “a fun person to be with, very kind and loving,” and remembered how much his classmate loved his dog Barney, a close companion for years.

Father Kilian J. Knittel, 88, pastor emeritus of St. Columba Parish, died April 30.

Born in Cicero, Father Knittel attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein before being ordained in 1960.

He served as assistant pastor of St. Louis de Montfort Parish, Oak Lawn; Resurrection Parish (Jackson Street) and St. Jerome Parish. He was associate pastor of St. Hilary; St. Edward; Our Lady of the Wayside, Arlington Heights; Our Lady of Grace; and St. Joseph, Homewood. He later served as pastor of St. Columba Parish for 10 years.

Father Knittel also served as chaplain for the Apostleship of the Sea in Port Everglades, Florida.

Father Daniel P. Coughlin, former director of the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House in Mundelein, remembered that his classmate loved being a priest and served with joy. “People would open their hearts to him about their lives and their issues,” Coughlin said. “He loved listening to them.”

Sister Virginia (Agneta) Ripp, 89, died April 18 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Virginia made her first religious profession in 1958 and her perpetual profession in 1961. She taught and served in administrative and secretarial work in Wisconsin, Illinois and Texas.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Trinity High School, River Forest.

She is survived by four sisters: Margaret Ripp, Elaine Saber, Nancy Scripko and Gail Thoreson.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Rosa Rauth, 96, died April 21 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Oak Park, Sister Rosa made her first religious profession in 1950 and her perpetual profession in 1953.

She taught music and math for 40 years in schools. Sister Rosa taught some form of music, especially piano and vocal, her entire adult life. She also served as a registrar, in transportation and as a director of music   ministry.

She served in South Dakota, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota.

Msgr. Michael J. Adams, 90, died April 23. He was the pastor emeritus of St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish.

Born in Chicago, Msgr. Adams attended St. Catherine of Genoa School, 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. Mary, Evanston; St. Margaret of Scotland; St. Matthias; and St. Francis de Paula.

He was pastor of St. Gall Parish for 12 years and St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish for 11 years. He retired in 2003.

In addition, Msgr. Adams was chaplain at Amundsen High School and executive secretary to the clergy personnel board.

Father Ron Kalas, vicar for senior priests, remembered his classmate as “a very thoughtful man, always ready to do what he was asked to do, and he did that with charm and grace.”

Adrian Dominican Sister Rosalie (David Miriam) Bulanda, 83, died March 27 in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Rosalie ministered in elementary education and nursing and as a volunteer in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, New York and Mississippi.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Queen of Angels.

She is survived by a brother, Warren Hickman.

School Sister of St. Francis Marita (M. Justinia) Zeller, 90, died in Milwaukee on March 31. 

Born in Chicago, Sister Marita was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1950; made her first profession of vows in 1952; and made her final vows in 1958.

Beginning in 1953, Sister Marita ministered in Illinois and Wisconsin for seven decades. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Anne, Barrington (1953-1958); Holy Angels (1966-1970, 1989-2005) and Alvernia High School (1970-1989). She also led Bible study at St. Viator Parish (2007-2018). 

She is survived by a brother, Gerard.