School Sister of St. Francis Jesse Marie Mortimer, 91, died in Milwaukee on March 16.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Jesse Marie was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1954, made her first professions of vows in 1956 and perpetual vows in 1962.

Beginning in 1957, Sister Jesse Marie ministered in the archdioceses of Chicago, Omaha and Milwaukee. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Benedict High School from 1983 to 1989.

Sister Jesse Marie is survived by her brothers, John and Eugene Mortimer.

Providence Sister Joan Mary (Mary Ann) Schaefer, 95, died March 20 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Cicero, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1948 and professed final vows in 1956. In her 76 years as a Sister of Providence, she taught for 46 years in schools in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Massachusetts, including 21 years as a principal. Retiring from full-time teaching in 1998, she continued to substitute in the Chicago area.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Sorrows (1968-1969), was principal of Immaculate Conception (1975-1989), taught at St. Francis Borgia (1990-1992) and at Providence-St. Mel (1992-1998).

In 2017, she moved to the motherhouse, where she served in a variety of ways, the foremost being Providence Hall receptionist.

Felician Sister Mary Theophilia (Theresa) Tworzydlo, 92, died March 24, in Swedish/North Shore Hospital.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. John of God School and Lourdes High School.  She entered the Felician Sisters Postulancy in 1951 and professed her final vows in 1959.  She ministered as an elementary teacher in  Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin for a total of 20 years. Later, she

served in a variety of positions at St. Andrew Life Center in Niles.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Mary Magdalene (1953-1957), Good Shepherd (1957-1959, 1977-1978), St. Bruno (1960-1965), Holy Innocents (1967-1971), St. Stanislaus, Posen (1973-1977) and St. Andrew Life Center, Niles (1978-2014).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Diane (Mary Alana) Kennedy, 91, died March 30 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Oak Park, she entered the Sininsawa Dominican congregation in 1957, and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Rosary College. She later earned master’s degrees in English and theology and a doctorate in ministry.

Sister Diane’s ministry was dedicated to teaching, preaching and administration. She served her congregation as director of initial formation and as vicaress of the congregation. She was executive director of the Parable Conference for Dominican Life and Mission; director of ministry at St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota; academic dean at Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis.; and associate provost and vice president for mission and ministry at Dominican University. Sister Diane concluded her public ministry as promoter for the cause of Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP.    

She is survived by a sister, Jane Gelinas.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Virginia (John Martha) Helmann, 89, died April 1 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin. 

Born in Wisconsin, she professed vows with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1955.

She taught at Visitation and schools in Chicago as well as in other cities in Illinois and in Minnesota, New York and Wisconsin. She also ministered in spiritual direction in New York and as a holistic health therapist at the Dominican Motherhouse in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.