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Sr. Richelle Schmitz
Born in Chicago, she Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Richelle (Marirose) Schmitz, 95 died Oct. 25 in Muskego, Wisconsin.
Sister Richelle professed vows with Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1951. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin, and a master’s degree in education from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Her ministry was dedicated to teaching and educational administration. Sister Richelle taught in New York, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught and served as principal at St. Giles, Oak Park; and was principal at St. Mary of the Woods.
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Sr. Ellen Mary Schwaiger
School Sister of St. Francis Ellen Mary Schwaiger, 94, died Sept. 25 at Sacred Heart in Milwaukee.
Born in Milwaukee, Sister Mary Ellen was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1952; made her first profession of vows in 1954; and made her final vows in 1960.
Beginning in 1955, Sister Ellen Mary ministered in Illinois and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a musician at Alvernia High School (1955-1963) and St. Benedict High School (1963- 1979). In retirement, she ministered through her prayer and presence in Milwaukee from 2019 until her death.
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Fr. John Price
Father John R. Price, 85, died Sept. 11. He was the former pastor of Mary, Queen of Heaven Parish, Cicero.
Born in Chicago, Father Price attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1966.
He served as assistant pastor of St. Celestine, Elmwood Park, and St. Peter, Skokie, before serving as associate pastor of St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates; St. Eulalia (now part of Sacred Heart and St. Eulalia Parish), Maywood; and St. Ann. He served for 12 years as pastor of Mary, Queen of Heaven, and as chaplain at Northeastern Illinois University for six years.
Father Leroy A. Wickowski, retired archdiocesan priest, remembers Father Price as a “good friend, strong in his beliefs and convictions.”
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Fr. David B. Krolczyk
Father David B. Krolczyk, 78, died Sept. 16. He was the former pastor of St. James Parish, Sauk Village, now part of All Souls Parish.
Born in Chicago, Father Krolczyk attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1972.
He was assistant pastor of Our Lady of the Mount, Cicero, and associate pastor of Sacred Heart, Melrose Park; St. Mary of Czestochowa, Cicero; and St. Jude the Apostle, South Holland. He was pastor of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr, Posen, from 1988 to 2002, and then served as pastor of St. James Parish until he retired in 2021.
After his retirement, he celebrated Masses at St. Joseph Church in Dyer, Indiana, and St. Liborius Parish in Steger.
“He was a very good priest,” said Father John W. Clemens, retired archdiocesan priest. Clemens remembered his classmate as “very faithful, dedicated and very loyal to his people.”
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Deacon John Smith
Deacon John “Jack” Smith, 83, of Mount Prospect, died Sept. 15. He was ordained in 1997 and served at St. Zachary Parish, Des Plaines.
Born in Chicago, Deacon Smith attended St. Viator School and St. Patrick High School. He worked in Jewel food stores for nearly 20 years before opening independent grocery stores in Chicago starting in 1975.
In addition to his parish ministry, he offered pastoral care and comfort to patients and residents at area hospitals and nursing homes.
Deacon Smith is survived by his wife of 59 years, Linda; their children Kelley Dettloff, Jeanine Stantesly, Kristine Wise and Thomas Smith; six grandchildren; and his brothers William Smith and Robert Smith.
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