Providence Sister Carolyn (Ann Carolyn) Kessler, 91, died July 7 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Born in Indiana, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1954 and professed final vows in 1962. After teaching in high schools in Illinois and Indiana for 10 years and earning a master’s degree from Georgetown University, she was awarded a Fulbright lectureship at the University of Rome, after which she earned a doctorate in linguistics at Georgetown.

She taught at the University of Texas at San Antonio for 25 years and remained in Texas for another 15 years, consulting in the area of bilingual education.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Marywood High School, Evanston (1957-1964).

Father Milan Cyril Nemecek, 88, died June 4. He was pastor emeritus of Mater Christi Parish in North Riverside.

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

He served as assistant pastor of St. Denis; Our Lady of Lourdes; Our Lady of the Mount, Cicero; and Mary, Queen of Heaven, Cicero. He was pastor of St. Mary of Celle, Berwyn, from 1979 to 1992, and of Mater Christi from 1992 to 2004.

He also served as assistant director of the archdiocese’s Office of Urban Affairs and assistant secretary of the Commission on Human Relations and Ecumenism, and as a delegate to the Interreligious Council on Urban Affairs, a member of the steering committee of the priests’ senate, a member of the compensation committee for Catholic school personnel, a consultant to Catholic Cemeteries and a member of the pastors’ review board.

Father Patrick Tucker, former pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Palos Hills, had known Nemecek since 1972. “He was very pastoral and empowered the people he worked with,” Tucker said. He recalled that Nemecek would give a note to couples getting married. In the note, he promised to take the engaged couple out for pizza on their first wedding anniversary.

Father John Mulvihill, 83, died June 25. He was a former pastor of St. John Bosco Parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Mulvihill attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome before being ordained in 1964.

He served as assistant pastor of St. John Bosco Parish before returning to Rome to continue his studies at the Gregorian University.

From 1972 through 1997, Father Mulvihill served as associate pastor and then pastor of St. John Bosco Parish. He also served as vicar for religious, supporting more than 8,000 religious sisters and 2,000 priests as a canonical and spiritual consultant. Before retiring, he served as judge on the Court of Appeals for the Province of Chicago, for 12 years. He retired from ministry in 2018.

Father Thomas Baldonieri, one of Mulvihill’s closest friends and colleagues, remembered Mulvihill as a wonderful priest. “I always saw him being very caring to parishioners and he was always available to them,” Baldonieri said.

Father Martin “Marty” Zielinski, 71, died June 25. He was a retired associate professor in the Department of Church History at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.

Born in Denver, Father Zielinski attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1978.

His first pastoral assignment was at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish. He then attended Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned a doctoral degree in American Catholic church history in 1989.

He then was assigned to Mundelein Seminary as an associate professor of church history. He spent more than 30 years at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, where he took on spiritual direction, teaching and administrative responsibilities, including one term as academic dean.

Throughout his time at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, he assisted at St. Patrick Parish in Wadsworth (now St. Brigid Parish-Church of St. Patrick). He wrote many scholarly articles published in the U.S. Catholic Historian, the Encyclopedia of American Catholic History and Chicago Studies.

Zielinski also contributed to the collection “Black and Catholic” published by Marquette University Press. In the past three years, he accomplished a special contribution to American Church History, which was a transcription and annotation of the diary of Bishop William Quarter, who was the first bishop of Chicago. Zielinski also wrote the text for the Litany of American Saints, Blessed and Venerables, which was set to a musical composition. It premiered at the seminary on Dec. 8, 2022, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and was recorded in February  2023, sung by the seminary choir.

Deacon Charles P. O’Donnell, 89, died June 18. He was ordained in 1983 and served at Our Lady of Ransom Parish, Niles, and as co-associate director of the archdiocese’s Diaconate Office.

The son of Irish immigrants, Deacon O’Donnell lost his father when he was 2 years old. He was married to his late wife, Lindy, for 64 years.

As a deacon, he officiated at marriages, baptisms and gravesite services, and mentored many younger deacons.

He is survived by his children Charles Patrick O’Donnell Jr., Stephen Gerard O’Donnell, Kathleen Guzman and Patricia Ann Patke; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and his sister, Patricia Ann Holochwost.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Pat Marcos, 104, died June 11 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Before entering the community, as Patricia Zimbriski, she served in the U.S. Air Force from 1943 to 1946, stationed in Florida and the Pentagon, where she held a top-secret position. She also worked for United Artists Corporation, Milwaukee, for 12 years before entering religious life.

Sister Mary Pat made her first religious profession in 1962 and her perpetual profession in 1968. She was a teacher and support staff member and worked in social services in Illinois, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Texas and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Pat served as secretary at Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest (1962-1965, and as secretary to the dean at DePaul University (1970-1973). She taught at Epiphany (1969-1970); St. Vincent Ferrer, River Forest, (1973-1976); and Trinity High School, River Forest, 1978-1982.

Adrian Dominican Sister Elizabeth Ann (Marie Berge) Demirgian, 91, died May 2 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in New York, she was in the 64th year of her religious profession.

Sister Elizabeth Ann ministered in education and as a physician’s assistant in Michigan, Florida, Illinois and Tennessee.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Regina Dominican High School.

Adrian Dominican Sister Kathryn “Kate” (Michael Ellen) Hartnett, 88, died May 11 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she was in the 70th year of her religious life.

Sister Kate ministered in elementary education, as a development director and hospital volunteer in Michigan and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Queen of Apostles, Riverdale (1957-1960); St. Rita (1960-1965); St. Columbanus (1965-1968); and St. Mary Star of the Sea (1968-1972). She was principal (1972-2004) and director of development (2004-2006) at St. Ailbe, and a volunteer at Trinity Advocate Hospital (2007-2013).

School Sister of St. Francis Patricia (Antonildis) Bates, 92, died at Sacred Heart Convent in Milwaukee on May 18.

Born in Aurora, Sister Patricia was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1948, made her first profession of vows in 1949 and made her final vows in 1956.

Beginning in 1950, Sister Patricia ministered in Illinois, Wisconsin and New York. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Patricia taught at St. Mary, Buffalo Grove (1950-1958); Sts. Cyril and Methodius (1962-1963); St. Matthias (1963-1966); St. Nicholas (1966-1967) and Corpus Christi (1971-1973). She also served as director of personnel for her congregation’s Holy Name Province (1973-1975) and was a pastoral associate at Columbus Hospital in Chicago (1979-1982).

In her retirement, sister served as a volunteer at St. Joseph Convent Motherhouse in Milwaukee (2006-2015) and served in the ministry of prayer and presence at Sacred Heart in Milwaukee from 2015 until the time of her death. 

Dominican Father Benedict T. (Thomas Michael) Viviano, 83, died May 25 at Resurrection Life Center. Father Viviano was internationally renowned as a scholar of sacred Scripture, particularly of the Gospel of St. Matthew.

Born in St. Louis, he entered the Dominican novitiate in 1959 and made his first vows the following year, when he began his studies in River Forest. He made his final vows in 1963 and was ordained a priest in 1966.

After his ordination, Father Viviano studied at the Pontifical Institute of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.; and the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome; and Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, earning several advanced degrees in Scripture.

He taught at the university and post-graduate levels at the Aquinas Institute of Theology in Dubuque, Iowa, and in St. Louis and the Dominican Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem, while serving as editor of the Revue Biblique. Following his time at the Ecole, he moved to become professor of New Testament at the Dominican University of Fribourg, Switzerland.

He wrote and edited several books and commentaries on Scripture, and contributed to almost every major biblical journal.

Following his retirement from the University of Fribourg in 2011, Father Viviano divided his year between the Dominican community in Vienna and St. Dominic Priory in St. Louis. In 2019, he moved to St. Pius V Priory because of his health.

He is survived by his sister, Patricia Viviano Tecu.

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.

Adrian Dominican Sister Barbara J. (James Denise) Carroll, 91, died April 7 in Adrian, Michigan.

Sister Barbara was born in Detroit, she was in the 74th year of her religious life.

Sister Barbara ministered in education, as a religious education director and pastoral minister and as an artist. She served in Indiana, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Kilian (1951-1959) and Santa Maria Del Popolo, Mundelein (1965-1967).

She is survived by a brother, John Carroll.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Catherine (Mary Cronan) Perkins, 93, died April 16 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Oak Park, Sister Mary Catherine made her first religious profession in 1954 and her perpetual profession in 1957. She taught French and sometimes Spanish, served as in administration, ministered in adult faith formation for 14 years and volunteered in faith groups in the District of Columbia, Illinois, Connecticut, Iowa, Wisconsin and Oregon.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Catherine taught at Visitation High School (1955-1957) and volunteered at the Church of the Holy Spirit Parish, Schaumburg (2007-2013).

She is survived by a sister, Patricia Perkins-Lundeen.

Providence Sister Patricia (Anna Marie) Geis, 88, died in Terre Haute, Indiana, on April 17. 

Born in Chicago, Sister Patty entered the Sisters of Providence in 1952 and professed final vows in 1960. She taught in Indiana, Illinois, California and North Dakota. After retiring from teaching in 2005, she served as an adult literacy tutor for the School on Wheels in the Chicago suburbs for another 13 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Francis Xavier, Wilmette (1972-1973); St. Agnes (1973-1976); Our Lady of Hope, Rosemont (1979-1980); St. Cornelius (1980-1981); Santa Maria Del Popolo, Mundelein (2000-2001) and Divine Savior, Norridge (2004-2005).

She also served as director of St. Columbkille Day Nursery (1981-1983) and ministered at Mount St. Joseph, Lake Zurich (1999-2000).

Sister Patty is survived by two sisters, Mary A. Rachupka and Rosemary Schiefer.

Sister of St. Joseph Laurina Kahne, 89, died April 19.

Born in Chicago, Sister Laurina was in her 70th year of religious life.

She taught elementary school and high school for 26 years at Our Lady of Bethlehem, La Grange Park; St. Anthony; St. Cletus, La Grange; St. Francis Xavier, La Grange; St. Margaret Mary; St. Mary, Riverside; St. Victor, Calumet City; and St. Paul High School.

She also worked in Hispanic Ministry at St. Cletus, La Grange, and in the Diocese of Joliet. She is survived by her sisters Joyce Rodriguez and Rita Mischler.

Sister of St. Joseph Mary Peter McGinty, 98, died April 20.

Born in Chicago, she was in her 75th year of religious life.

She earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in theology from Marquette University in Milwaukee. According to information published on her congregation’s website, she was the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in theology from an American university.

She taught at Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park; Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest; Marquette University, Milwaukee; the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary; Loyola University Chicago; St. Francis Xavier School, La Grange; St. Cletus School, La Grange; St. John Fisher School; and St. Leonard School, Berwyn.

Viatorian Father John M. Palmer, 81, died April 2 at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.

Born in Nova Scotia, he entered the novitiate in the United States in 1965. He made his first religious profession in 1966 and was ordained a priest in 1971.

He earned a master’s degree in music at Northwestern University, Evanston; a performance diploma for organ at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto; and a licentiate in piano and a fellowship in organ from Trinity College of Music in London. He also studied with Jean Langlais in Paris.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he was director of music at Christ the King Parish and St. Viator Parish (1971-1972). He also was a music professor at Benedictine University in Lisle for more than 30 years, and did weekend sacramental ministry in the Diocese of Joliet.

In 2022, Father Palmer moved to the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights.

In addition to teaching and doing parish work, Father Palmer gave numerous organ recitals in Europe, Canada and the United States, and served as an examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Leonius Skaar, 85, died April 3 in Footville, Wisconsin.

Born in Minneapolis, Sister Leonius made her first profession in 1957 and her perpetual profession in 1960.

She was a teacher, principal, diocesan school administrator, catechetical director and special education director in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Leonius taught at St. Cajetan (1958-1963); St. Patrick, Lemont (1963-1966); and Visitation (1966-1969), where she also served as catechetical director.

She is survived by a sister, Karen Kenny.

Servite Father Conrad M. (William) Borntrager, 88, died April 10.

Born in Chicago, he entered the Servite Order in Hillside and professed solemn vows in 1957. Father Borntrager was ordained a priest in 1960 and served in various educational and parish ministries in the Chicago area, including as associate pastor of his home parish, Our Lady of Sorrows. He later resided at Annunciata Parish for many years while serving as archivist and historian for the Servite Order.

Adrian Dominican Sister Margaret Mary (Agnes Carol) McGill, 97, died Jan. 27 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, she was in the 78th year of her religious life.

She ministered in elementary and secondary education, as a college professor and department head, with the ministry of education and culture in Hungary, and as a paralegal.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel (1946-1948).

Adrian Dominican Sister Patricia (Jean Edmund) Downey, 84, died Jan. 28 in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Patricia ministered in elementary and secondary education and educational administration in Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was president of Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette (1988-1995).

She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2010.

She is survived by a brother, Edmund Downey.

Adrian Dominican Sister John Norton (Catherine) Barrett, baptized Catherine Barrett, 98, died Feb. 7 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 74th year of her religious life.

Sister John Norton ministered in elementary and secondary education for almost 68 years in Michigan, Illinois and Florida. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2016.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mary Mount Carmel (1952-1953) and St. Kilian (1953-1957).

Divine Word Father Derek Simons, 86, died at Techny on March 2.

Father Simons, an award-winning television producer and civil rights champion, used communication and video to promote dialogue among people of different cultural, religious and racial backgrounds.

Born in Swansea, Wales, in 1937 and raised in London, Father Simons served two years in the British Royal Air Force, studied law, worked in broadcasting at the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation in Wellington, and in advertising in Sydney.

Baptized Anglican, he converted to Catholicism after an unlikely encounter. As a young professional, he met Catholics at a party in New Zealand. He then began reading the works of Graham Greene and Cardinal John Henry Newman, accepted an invitation to a Good Friday service and then chose Catholicism.

He entered the Society of the Divine Word in 1964 and professed vows in 1966 in Roscommon, Ireland. Ordained to the priesthood in 1970, Father Simons was employed by the Archdiocese of Chicago as a producer-writer with the Catholic Television Network of Chicago. He produced more than 200 television and audiovisual programs for priests and parishes.

He also served as a creative consultant with Paulist Productions in Hollywood, California, on the Insight television series and after-school specials.

In the 1980s, Father Simons founded and served as executive producer of Ethnic Communications Outlet/Chicago (ECO), a creative production house devoted to the empowerment of various ethnic groups. Through his work with ECO, he collaborated with many notable professionals, including singer Marilyn McCoo, model Beverly Johnson, theologian Martin Marty, actress Helen Hayes and entertainer Steve Allen.

In addition to his work with ECO, he served as creative director for World Alive, a multimedia exhibit about missions at Divine Word International, which later became Techny Towers Conference and Retreat Center.

The quality of his work continued to be noticed in the 1990s and beyond. In 1996, Father Simons received the Silver Dome Award by the Illinois Broadcasters Association and was tapped by ABC News/Nightline as part of a national resource team. He appeared on Nightline with Ted Koppel and co-hosted and produced “The Race Question” radio series on Chicago’s WLIT-FM.

In 2001, Father Simons established Angels Studio, an independent production house that developed and supported programs and resources to promote ethnic equality and understanding.

He also helped to found Catholic Schools Opposing Racism, a student/teacher organization that offered workshops and educational materials to more than 300 schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Ever-evolving projects continued into the new millennium. He launched the annual JustStories Festival. Begun in 2002, JustStories highlighted storytellers dedicated to social justice.

In 2010, Father Simons was awarded an Oracle Award from the National Storytelling Network for his service to the arts and community of professional storytelling. In 2014, he moved to Techny and continued his communication ministry.

In addition to his work in communication, Father Simons also served as a priest in two of Chicago’s oldest African American parishes, St. Elizabeth and St. Anselm, now merged into Our Lady of Africa.

Father Simons held a master’s degree in film from Columbia College in Chicago.

Adrian Dominican Sister Paul James (Lois Marie) Villemure, 94, died March 11 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 74th year of her religious life.

She ministered in education in Puerto Rico, Illinois and Florida. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2013.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Regina Dominican High School.

She is survived by brothers Joseph, Matthew, Thomas and Peter.

Deacon Willie Foggie Jr., 85, died Feb. 12 in North Carolina. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1986 and excardinated to the Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2002.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Deacon Foggie served at St. Charles Lwanga, St. Ailbe and Holy Angels parishes.

His son Michael A. Foggie Sr. was ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2020.

In addition to Michael Foggie Sr., he is survived by his children Margaret Foggie Kimber, Jacqueline M. Thompson, Christine Brevard, Kenneth L. Foggie Sr., Edward W. Foggie Sr., Martin J. Foggie, Willie Foggie III and Malcolm J. Foggie; 18 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Resurrection Sister Laura Swedowski, 92, died Feb. 10 at Resurrection Life Center.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Laura entered the community in 1948 and professed vows in 1950.

Sister Laura spent 58 years as a teacher in elementary schools. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Casimir (1951-1952), St. Thecla (1956-1960), St. Bede (1964-1966) and Queen of the Rosary (1967-1978). She also taught in Indiana and Florida.

In 1996, she retired as a full-time teacher and served as a substitute teacher at St. Monica, St. Julianna, Our Lady of Ransom, Immaculate Conception (Talcott Avenue), and St. Ladislaus. During this time, she also served as the sacristan in the chapel of the provincial home of the Sisters of the Resurrection.

Marianist Father Francis Walter Schorp, 91, died Feb. 19 in San Antonio.

Born in Texas, Father Schorp entered the Society of Mary in 1951 after attending St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. He professed first vows in 1952 and final vows in 1958. As a scholastic, he taught at high schools, including St. Michael in Chicago.

He began seminary studies in 1960 in Fribourg, Switzerland, and was ordained there in 1964. After short teaching assignments in Texas and St. Louis and several years of graduate studies, he joined the faculty at St. Mary’s University in 1973. He lived and ministered there for the rest of his life.

Felician Sister Joanita Marie Krieter, 79, died Feb. 26 in Mother of Good Counsel Convent.

Born in Evanston, she attended St. Gertrude School, Franklin Park; and Trinity High School, Oak Park; and was a graduate of Rosary College, now Dominican University, in River Forest. She entered the Felician Sisters in 1976 and professed her final vows in 1985. 

Sister Joanita Marie ministered as a nurse at St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee and at St. Mary Home in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. For almost 30 years, she served as an activity aide in the Felician Sisters Care Center in Chicago.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Eileen (Marillac) Scully, 95, died March 1, in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Oak Park, Sister Mary Eileen made her first religious profession in 1950 and her perpetual profession in 1953. She was a teacher, guidance counselor and principal, and served as councilor for the Northwest Province of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa and was a program manager and senior service provider for the visually challenged. Sister Mary Eileen served in Minnesota, Nebraska, Alabama and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Eileen served as guidance counselor at Trinity High School, River Forest (1982-1986), and at Holy Trinity High School (1986-2000). She ministered at Blind Service Association, Chicago, as program manager (2001-2008), and with the senior services for the visually challenged (2001-2012).

She is survived by a brother, Charles Scully.

Dominican Father Jon Alexander, 82, died March 3 in Chicago.

Born in Pennsylvania, Father Alexander earned a bachelor’s degree in history and education from Gettysburg College and a doctorate in history from Temple University before entering the Harvard University Divinity School. There he encountered Dominican Father Thomas O’Meara, who was instrumental in bringing Father Alexander into the Catholic Church, and, after earning a master’s degree from Harvard, into the Dominican Order.

Father Alexander taught history, religious studies and American studies in Iowa and Rhode Island before being ordained a priest in 1986. He served in Newman Centers and campus ministry and as a parish priest in New Mexico and Minnesota. From 1998 to 2014, he taught history and religious studies at Providence College in Rhode Island.

After two more years in New Mexico and a year in Minnesota, he moved to St. Pius V Priory in Chicago due to declining health.

Providence Sister Rosemary (Rose Cecile) Borntrager, 90, died March 6 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. Jarlath and Our Lady of Sorrows schools and Providence High School before entering the Sisters of Providence in 1950. She made final vows in 1958. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education and master’s degrees in fine art and in educational administration.

She taught and was a school principal and diocesan school administrator in schools in Indiana; Illinois; Washington, D.C.; Missouri and California. After retiring from education, she served in congregation archives and as general secretary of the congregation. Retiring from that position in 2006, she volunteered both in the business office and medical records of Providence Health Care for another six years, before volunteering her services at Linden Leaf Gifts and designing several Christmas Cards that were sold there. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught and was assistant principal at Marywood, Evanston (1966-1970).

Sister Rosemary is survived by her brother, Servite Father Conrad Borntrager.

Benedictine Sister of Chicago Vivian Ivantic, 109, died Feb. 11 in St. Joseph Court Infirmary.

Sister Vivian (Rosalie M.) was born in Waukegan and attended Mother of God Parish with her family.

She became an aspirant of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago while attending St. Scholastica High School. She spent her senior year at and in 1932 graduated from Holy Child High School in Waukegan to be closer to family.

She entered the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago in 1932 as a postulant and was received as a novice the following year. In 1934, she professed her first vows and almost immediately began her long career as an educator.

Through years of after-school, Saturday and summer courses, she finally received a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University and a master of library science degree from Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Vivian taught at St. Hilary, St. George, St. Joseph, St. Symphorosa and St. Scholastica High School, as well as her home parish, Mother of God in Waukegan. She also taught in Arizona and Colorado.

In 1952, she was assigned to Mother of God to be the house superior while serving as the teaching principal.

After more time in Colorado, she returned to St. Scholastica in 1958 to be both teacher and librarian, a position she held for 17 years. In 1978, Sister Vivian established the archives for the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago.              

She is survived by her only living sibling, Bill Ivantic.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Betty (Erneste) Smith, 83, died Feb. 11 at the Dominican motherhouse in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Washington, D.C., Sister Betty made her first religious profession in 1959 and her perpetual profession in 1964. She served in the culinary arts and as a teacher and pastoral minister.

In Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, South Carolina, the District of Columbia and Georgia.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a culinary artist at Queen of Peace Convent, Burbank.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Virginia (Angelique) Kinsella, 83, died Feb. 14 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, Sister Virginia made her first religious profession in 1959 and her perpetual profession in 1964. She was a teacher, principal, pastoral minister and chaplain and served as a support staff member in the District of Columbia, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Virginia taught at St. Richard (1968-1969); St. Thomas More (1986-1987); St. John de la Salle (1987-1988); and the Academy of St. Benedict the African, Laflin Campus (1988-1990). She ministered as chaplain at Alexian Brothers Medical Center and Home Health, Elk Grove Village (2001-2002).

Deacon Eugene Kummerer Jr., 62, died Feb. 2. He was ordained in 2019 and served at St. Pascal, now part of Holy Rosary Parish.

Deacon Kummerer was active in many ministries at the parish, including the liturgy and art and environment committees.

“If Gene saw something that needed to be done, he did it,” said Betty Arena, administrative assistant for the parish. “Nobody knows everything he did.”

He was the moderator for women’s club, past president and a member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and led adoration and Benediction every Thursday. Friends said he would pull out his wallet to give money to homeless people as soon as he saw them.

He is survived by his parents, Margaret and Eugene Kummerer Sr.; and his siblings Brian, Jeff and Richard Kummerer and Mary Pat Lunkes.

Providence Sister Maureen Abbott, 84, died Jan. 26 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Buffalo, New York, she joined the Sisters of Providence in 1956 and professed final vows in 1964.

She ministered as a teacher, principal, councilor to the provincial, provincial and director of ministries and vicar of education in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. She also worked in the marriage tribunal in the Diocese of Portland, Oregon, and wrote a history of her congregation.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove.

Sister Maureen is survived by five sisters: Patricia Ashton, Liz Karchmer, Christine Wisian, Jean Wood and Kathy Oxford; and one brother, John Abbott.

Felician Sister Mary Susan (Mary Doreen) Holbach, 76, died Jan. 26, at Mother of Good Counsel Convent.

Born in Wisconsin, she joined the Felician Sisters aspirancy in Chicago, where she attended Good Counsel High School. She entered the Felician Sisters postulancy in 1964 and professed her final vows in 1972. She ministered in elementary schools as a teacher and principal in Illinois and Wisconsin. She also ministered as an infant care lead teacher at St. Joseph Academy and as a receptionist at Villa St. Francis in Milwaukee.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Bruno (1967-1968); Our Lady of Ransom, Niles (1968-1970); St. Isidore, Blue Island (1970-1971, 1994-1999); St. Damian, Oak Forest (1971-1974); St. Mary Magdalene (1974-1975); Our Lady of the Gardens (1975-1979, 1982-1986); St. Bronislava (1979-1980); St. Joseph High School, Westchester (1986-1990); Good Shepherd (1990-1992); St. Helen (1993-1994); and Holy Innocents (1999-2002).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Janette (Juditha) Wicker, 91, died Jan. 29 in Footville, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Janette made her first religious profession in 1954 and her perpetual profession in 1957. She was a teacher, co-principal and principal, as well as a religious education coordinator, liturgist, pastoral associate and librarian. She served in Illinois and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Janette taught at St. Cajetan (1954-1963).

Father Charles W. Watkins, 78, died Jan. 27. He was the former pastor of St. Columba Parish.

Born in Florence, Alabama, Father Watkins attended Coffee High School and the University of North Alabama, both in Florence, and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.

Before entering the seminary, Father Watkins spent more than a quarter century working in health care. In the early 1980s, he was coordinator of the cardiac surgery section and a research clinician at the University of Chicago.

He was ordained in 2003 at age 58.

After being ordained, Father Watkins was associate pastor at Our Lady of the Ridge, Chicago Ridge, and St. Cletus, La Grange. He became pastor of St. Columba Parish in 2012, and served there until he retired in 2020. Watkins was also chaplain of the Circus and Traveling Show Apostolate and served as dean of Vicariate IV-C.

Father Michael Novick, ordained in 2001 and associate pastor of St. Cletus Parish, was a close friend of Father Watkins. “He became part of my family here in Chicago, since his was in Alabama.”

Deacon Wolfgang Walter Kunath, 82, of Hudson Oaks, Texas, died Jan. 16. He was ordained in 1977 and served at St. Catherine Laboure Parish in Glenview before moving to Texas.

Born in Germany, Deacon Kunath moved to Chicago with his family when he was a child. He married his high school sweetheart, Bonnie, in 1965, after serving for six years in the U.S. Air Force.

Deacon Kunath studied at IIT Technical Institute and the University of Illinois at Chicago before working for 27 years at AT&T.

As a deacon, he taught religious education, and served in prison, hospital and nursing home ministries. He was also a fourth degree Knight of Columbus.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; children Eric Kunath, Gwen Hasty, Perrin Kunath and Marrika Schumann; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Adrian Dominican Sister Helen (Denis Margaret) McAllister, 83, died Dec. 17, 2022, in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Evergreen Park, Sister Helen attended Aquinas Dominican High School. She was a member of her community for 64 years.

Sister Helen ministered in education in Michigan and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was campus minister at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Westchester (1985-1989) and a teacher at St. Cyprian, River Grove (1989-1995); St. Benedict, Blue Island (1995-1997) and Queen of Peace High School, Burbank (1998-2009).