Father Richard J. Lo Bianco, 70, died Feb. 23. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Deerfield.

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

He served as associate pastor of St. Denis, St. Walter Parish and St. Germaine Parish, Oak Lawn. He then served as pastor of St. Gerald, before becoming associate pastor of St. Alexander, Palos Heights, and Our Lady Mother of the Church, Willow Springs.

Father Lo Bianco became pastor of Divine Savior, Norridge, in 2009, and then pastor of Holy Cross in 2021. He retired in 2024.

Father Gregory Sakowicz, one of Lo Bianco’s classmates, recalled his friend’s zest for life, how he “had a love for life and was very passionate about what he did and what he believed.”

Deacon Edward Patrick DeLorenzo, 84, died Feb. 21. He was ordained in 1975 and ministered at St. Edmund Parish, Oak Park, and Divine Providence Parish, Westchester.

He taught for 10 years at St. Patrick High School, and as a deacon, presided at many family and friends’ baptisms, weddings and funeral services.

School Sister of St. Francis Gloria Fews, 94, died Jan. 9 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Greenfield, Wisconsin.

Born in Aurora, she was received into the community in 1951, made her first vows in 1953 and made her final vows in 1955.

Beginning in 1953, Sister Gloria ministered in Illinois, Colorado, Tennessee and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Holy Angels School from 1953 to 1970.

In retirement, Sister Gloria ministered through prayer and presence at Sacred Heart in Milwaukee from 2016 to 2018, and at Our Lady of Angels from 2018 until her death. 

Sister Gloria is survived by her sisters, Diana Burbridge and Charlotte Pointer.

Redemptorist Father Thomas Franciscus, 85, died Feb. 13 in Arizona.

Born in Nebraska, he entered the Redemptorists’ St. Joseph College in Kirkwood, Missouri, in 1957. He professed temporary vows in 1960. In 1963, at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, he professed permanent vows and in 1965 he was ordained a priest.

After ordination, he served for one year in St. Louis before being assigned to St. Michael Parish in Old Town. He earned a master’s degree in theology from Loyola University Chicago while in full-time ministry. In addition to providing Spanish-language catechesis, he worked with members of youth gangs and engaged in government redevelopment programs.

He later ministered in Missouri and Colorado, before moving to California’s Central Valley, always working in Hispanic ministry. During that time, he earned a licentiate in canon law and began working in the tribunal in the Diocese of Stockton before serving as judicial vicar in the Dioceses of Reno, Nevada, and Monterey, California, while also in parish ministry.

He joined the Redemptorist Renewal Center community in Tucson, Arizona, in 2023.

Adrian Dominican Sister Shirley Mary (James Barbara) Heymes, 94, died Nov. 22, 2024, in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 76th year of her religious life.

Sister Shirley ministered 46 years in education in Chicago as well as in Florida, Michigan and Ohio, and she was a volunteer for 11 years at the Dominican Literacy Center in Detroit.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita of Cascia School.

She is survived by two brothers, Paul Heymes and James Heymes, and a sister, Barbara DeCrick.

Adrian Dominican Sister Miriam Joseph (Josephine Bernadette) Lekan, 101, died Nov. 23, 2024, in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Cleveland, she was in the 81st year of her religious life.

She ministered in education and nursing in Illinois, Michigan, Florida and Ohio.

Adrian Dominican Sister Mary Katherine (Sean Marie) Dolan, 85, died Dec. 4, 2024, in Adrian, Michigan. She was in the 66th year of her life.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Academy of Our Lady in Chicago and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history and a master of divinity degree in pastoral ministry from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California.

Sister Mary Katherine ministered in education, community organization, administration and as a pastoral associate in California, Arizona, Missouri and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a pastoral associate at St. Martin de Porres Parish (1992-1993) and administrator of Grace House women’s residence (1994-2011).

She is survived by two brothers, Thomas Dolan and Lawrence Dolan.

Adrian Dominican Sister Shirley (Elaine Therese) Boettcher, 94, died Dec. 12, 2024, in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 77th year of her religious life.

Sister Shirley ministered in education and nursing in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, New York, Iowa and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita of Cascia (1953-1954); St. Carthage (1954-1957), St. Columbanus (1957-1959); Bishop Quarter, Oak Park (1967-1968); and St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1968).

Sister Shirley is survived by a sister, Elaine Marcotte.

Adrian Dominican Sister Margaret Mary (Richard Mary) Heinz, 97, died Dec. 14, 2024, in Adrian, Michigan. She was in the 78th year of her religious life.

Born in Chicago, Sister Marg graduated from Aquinas High School. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English and was licensed in clinical pastoral education.

She ministered in education and pastoral care in Illinois and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1961-1966) and Aquinas High School (1966-1969) and was director of pastoral care at Ravenswood Hospital (1976-1997).

She is survived by a sister, Rita Heinz.

Little Sister of the Poor Josephine Brannan, 79, died Feb. 7 in Palatine after a long illness.

Born in St. Louis, she entered the Little Sisters of the Poor in 1965.

After professing her vows in 1968, and for the next 57 years, she devoted herself to a life of service for the needy elderly in a variety of roles and locations.

She is survived by two brothers and three sisters.