Deacon Kevin Hill, 72, died April 21 after battling ALS. 

He was ordained in 2009 and previously served at St. John Brebeuf Parish, Niles. He also was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Deacon August “Gus” E. Jeffery, 91, died June 22. He was ordained in 1994 and served at Divine Savior Parish, Norridge.

Born in Chicago, Deacon Jeffery graduated from Loyola University and did much of his graduate work there. He taught at St. Rita High School for 35 years and served as a full-time deacon at Divine Savior Parish, Norridge.

He is survived by his brother, Joseph.

Deacon Carlos Nazario, 84, died June 23 in Florida, where he lived for a number of years. He was ordained in 1989 and previously ministered at Our Lady of Grace Parish.

He was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Chicago in 1955. He lived in Chicago for 46 years.

He worked for Newmann Family Services, an organization that served mentally disabled children, and for the City of Chicago’s Department of Human Services.

He is survived by his wife, Susana; his children Carlos May Nazario and Wanda Ivette Nazario; his stepson Manuel Vargas; and two grandchildren.

Holy Family of Nazareth Sister M. Annella Kipa, 92, died June 12.

Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in 1951 and professed final vows in 1960.
 
In Chicago, she taught at Holy Trinity School and Immaculate Heart of Mary School. She also served at Holy Family Health Center (later Holy Family Nursing and Rehab) in Des Plaines for 24 years as receptionist, medical records assistant, housekeeping manager and other jobs that she took on as needed. She volunteered at Casa San Carlo Retirement Community in Northlake for nine years before retiring to the provincialate in Des Plaines at the age of 90.

Sister of the Living Word Genevieve Shea, 98, died June 19.

Sister Genevieve, who was known as Sister Camilla after joining the Sisters of Christian Charity, taught elementary and high school in Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri and Iowa for 20 years, was a principal for eight years and served as a librarian at Mallinkrodt College in Wilmette. She later ministered as a chaplain and ministered to the elderly for 10 years.

After retiring, she served as community archivist for the Sisters of the Living Word for 16 years, and began to develop the community’s website during that time. In her mid- to late 80s, she volunteered with the Over 50 Group at St. James Parish in Arlington Heights.

She later moved to the Resurrection Life Center.

Conventual Franciscan Deacon Francis Patrick McGann Jr., 77, died June 22.

Deacon McGann was a devoted Conventual Franciscan friar dedicated to promoting the witness and life of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Prior to taking his solemn vows, Deacon McGann shared 37 years of marriage with Lois McGann, who he had known since grade school. 

Born and raised in Moorestown, New Jersey, where he owned a liquor store and an Irish pub, he was ordained a permanent deacon in 1983 and served at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Moorestown until he decided to pursue his lifelong vocational calling by beginning his postulancy. 

Deacon McGann is survived by his former wife, Lois McGann; their three daughters, Kathleen McGann, Kelly Hébert and Karen McGann-Smith; and their son, Kyle Francis McGann; his sister Margaret Aeillio; and five grandchildren.

Adrian Domican Sister Ann Seraphim (Doris) Schenk, 100, died June 24 in Adrian, Michigan. She was 100 years of age and in the 81st year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

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

She ministered in elementary and music education in Michigan, Illinois and Arizona.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was an elementary and music teacher at St. James, Maywood (1947-1950) and an elementary teacher at St. Denis (1972-1973).

Sister of St. Casimir Evelyn Vichuras, 96, died June 25. 

A native of Gary, Indiana, Sister Evelyn entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1939.  She made her first profession of vows in 1942 and made her final vows in 1947. 

After a few years teaching in the elementary grades, Sister Evelyn spent well over 50 years in health care.  In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as a teacher at Our Lady of Vilna School (1942-1945) and Nativity BVM School (1947-1949).  She served in health care ministries at Holy Cross Hospital from 1954 to 2007.

BVM Sister Maurine Therese Thiel, 86, died June 28 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Chicago, she entered the community from Our Lady of Angels Parish in 1949.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Maurine was an elementary teacher at Annunciation, Holy Name, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Angels, St. Bartholomew, and St. Constance schools in Chicago; a primary teacher aide at Divine Savior, Norridge; and volunteered as a catechist at St. Dismas Parish, Waukegan.

She also ministered in other communities in Illinois and in Missouri and Iowa.

Adrian Dominican Sister Georgina (Dorothy) Luznicky90, died June 30.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Lourdes High School. She was in the 71st year of her religious life. She held master’s degrees in education and history from DePaul University.

She ministered Michigan and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Ascension, Harvey (1953-1957); St. Philip Neri (1960-1961); and Aquinas High School (1961-1962); was principal at St. Philip Neri (1962-1968); was St. Dominic Province Education Coordinator at St. Rita (1968-1969); was councilor and director of education (1969-1970) and administrator of the St. Dominic Province, Hometown; was an executive secretary and student at Catholic Theological Union (1972-1973): was a consultant in the archdiocesan Catholic schools office (1987-1999); and was an administrative assistant in the chapter office, Burbank (1999-2004).

Adrian Dominican Sister Carol Denise (Mary Catherine) Koenig, 85, died July 1 in Adrian, Michigan. Born in Ohio, she in the 67th year of her religious life.

She ministered in Michigan, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico and Ohio.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Santa Maria Del Popolo, Mundelein (1953-1957) and Our Lady of Loretto, Hometown (1979-1983).

She is survived by a brother, Dennis Koenig.

Sister Marylin (St. Robert of Mary) Stack, a member of the Congregation of Notre Dame, died July 2 in Wilton, Connecticut.

Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, she made her first profession of vows in 1959 in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and her perpetual vows in1965 in Montreal.

For more than 50 years she was involved in Catholic education in Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut, Illinois, and South Dakota.  For more than twenty years Sister Stack ministered at St. Jude the Apostle school and parish in South Holland as teacher and administrator.

Father John J. Rochford, 96, died June 1 at Palos Community Hospital, Palos Heights. He was pastor emeritus of St. Emeric Parish, Country Club Hills.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Joachim School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1947.

Father Rochford served as assistant pastor at St. Mark, St. Bartholomew and St. Raymond de Penafort, Mount Prospect between 1947 and 1966.

He was then chaplain at Alexian Brothers Hospital, now Amita Health Alexian Brothers Medical Center, in Elk Grove Village, for six years before being named pastor of St. Emeric Parish in 1972. He was named pastor emeritus in 1991.

BVM Sister Ann Ida Gannon, 103, died June 3, in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Chicago, she entered the BVM congregation in 1932, from St. Jerome Parish and professed final vows in 1940.

Sister Ann Ida was a professor at Mundelein College, Chicago, where she later served as president from 1957 to 1975. In Chicago, she also taught at St. Mary High School and St. Ferdinand and St. Charles elementary schools.

Beyond her academic responsibilities, she participated in the governance processes of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1960 she was the youngest chapter delegate participating in the election of the congregation’s leadership.

She received numerous awards, including the University of Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal, and 26 honorary degrees.

She is survived by a sister, Benedictine Sister Joan Gannon.

Divine Word Brother Patrick Hegarty, 97, who helped to make Ireland’s The Word one of the country’s most successful magazines, died on May 28.

Born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1921, he was the eldest of six brothers. After finishing school, he worked as an apprentice at a general store in Kilsallagh, Galway, before joining the Society of the Divine Word at St. Patrick’s College, Donamon Castle, Roscommon, in 1944. 

Brother Patrick worked in Great Britain during the 1950s, at Divine Word College in Rome in the early 1960s and in the United States thereafter. In Ireland and the United Kingdom, he sold greeting cards and The Word magazine; in the U.S., he sold altar wine produced at a Divine Word winery.

In 2006 at age 85, Brother Patrick moved to Bordentown, New Jersey, to retire. Fluent in German, Italian and Spanish, he volunteered at the Trenton Diocesan Office for Migrants and Refugees in Perth Ambry, New Jersey. While there, he helped hundreds of immigrants from South and Central America navigate the immigration system. 

He moved to Techny in 2009.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Leopold Kaufmann, 95, died May 29 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, she made her first religious profession in 1942 and her final profession in 1945. She taught elementary students for 40 years and served as finance officer for 13 years, secretary to the prioress of the congregation for six years, and sacristan for five years. Sister Leopold served in Illinois, New York, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Leopold taught at St. Sabina (1942-1943); Immaculate Conception, Waukegan (1944-1957, 1968-1970); and St. Vincent Ferrer, River Forest (1965-1968).

She is survived by a brother, Denis Kaufmann.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary (Mary Colum) O’Donnell, 88, died June 6.

Born in Massachusetts, Sister Mary made her first religious profession in 1956 and her final profession in 1959. She taught math and physics for 56 years, serving in a high school and colleges. Sister Mary ministered in Nebraska, Illinois, Michigan and Mississippi.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary taught at Rosary College/Dominican University, River Forest (1961-1970, 1971-1980 and 1984-2000). She served as lab instructor at University of Illinois at Chicago (2001-2005) and tutor at Malcolm X College (2001-2015).

She is survived by two sisters, Elizabeth Berry and Annie Burch; and a brother, John O’Donnell.

BVM Sister Jeanne (Suzette) Granville, 90, died June 10 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in St. Louis, she entered the BVM congregation in 1947.

From 1950 to 1982, Sister Jeanne taught elementary school in the Archdiocese of Chicago at St. Callistus; St. Ferdinand; St. Joseph; and St. Dorothy, where she was principal; St. Eulalia in Maywood; St. Joseph in Round Lake; and she was principal at Seven Holy Founders, Calumet Park. 

Father John W. Tapper, 82, died May 20. He was pastor emeritus of St. Ansgar Parish in Hanover Park.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Genevieve School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1961.

He served as assistant or associate pastor at Our Lady of the Wayside, Arlington Heights; Santa Maria del Popolo, Mundelein; St. Francis de Sales, Lake Zurich; St. Alphonsus Liguori, Prospect Heights; St. Ansgar, Hanover Park; and St. Cecilia; Mount Prospect. In 2006, he was given the title of pastor emeritus.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Carol Sutter, 80, died May 17 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Carol made her first religious profession in 1957 and her final profession in 1960. 

She was a teacher and religious educator who ministered in Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Carol taught at St. Basil (1958-1961) and St. Thomas More (1976-1978). 

She is survived by two sisters, Jean Sutter and Betty Endres, and a brother, Richard Sutter.

Holy Cross Sister Bernice Marie (M. Josephina) Hollenhorst, 88, died May 16.

A native of Minnesota, she entered the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1949 and professed first vows in 1952.

She ministered for 23 years as a teacher, mostly in Illinois and Indiana, and earned a master’s degree at Rosary College, now Dominican University. She then ministered for 27 years as library director at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. During that time, she sought funding for a new library and oversaw its design and construction. Following her retirement in 2002, she spent 10 years serving as an archivist for her congregation.

Deacon Leonard F. Delisi, 75, of Dyer, Indiana, died May 4. He was ordained a deacon in 1980 and served at St. Victor, Calumet City.

Deacon Delisi was a successful small-business owner, establishing Calumet City Travel, then Excursions/Leonard’s Tours and Viva Las Vegas, before acquiring Royal American Travel.

In addition to serving as a deacon for many years, he participated as a member of the Glory Choir at St. Victor. Deacon Delisi also appeared on a variety of community theatre stages throughout the area.  

Mercy Sister Eleanora Holdgrafer, 93, died April 24.

Born in Iowa, she graduated from high school and worked for five years as a registered nurse before entering the Sisters of Mercy in 1949 in Des Plaines.

She went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing and a master’s degree in health administration.

She served as a nurse at Mercy Hospital (1952-1955) and other hospitals in Illinois and Iowa before becoming a hospital administrator. In 1974, she became a family nurse practitioner and provided health care in eight counties in central Iowa through the Iowa State Department of Health.

She moved to Chicago in 2001 and to Mercy Circle in 2014.

Mercy Sister Dorothy Burns, 84, died April 27.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. Tarcissus School and St. Patrick Academy, Des Plaines, graduating in 1951. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1954 in Des Plaines. 

While working toward her bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Xavier University, she taught at Queen of Martyrs, Evergreen Park, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

After earning a master’s degree in business in 1966, she quickly worked her way up in the health care world, filling a variety of roles in Mercy institutions in Aurora, Illinois, before serving for four years as vice president at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago. 

She returned to Mercy Medical Center in Aurora as chief operating officer in 1988 and eventually became president and chief executive officer.

Jesuit Father Francis P. Chamberlain, 81, a priest from Chicago who served in Peru for most of his life, died April 29. 

Born in Chicago, Father Chamberlain graduated from Loyola Academy, Wilmette, before entering the Society of Jesus in 1955. In 1962, he moved to Peru and lived there for the rest of his life. He was ordained a priest in 1968 and became an official member of the Peru Province of the Society of Jesus in 1985. 

During his ministry, Father Chamberlain was involved in efforts to help those affected by the Shining Path in the 1980s and 1990s. He was involved with the Matteo Ricci House, a place where 26 groups who came to the capital city to avoid the war in the 1980s and 1990s meet once a week to get the reparations they need for having to leave everything they had to save their families from the killing.

Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Jeanine Marie Holthouse, 85, died May 2 in Ohio.

She was born in Ohio and grew up in Indiana. She joined the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati after graduating from the College of Mount St. Joseph in 1954.

Sister Jeanine Marie’s ministries brought her to Michigan, Colorado, Illinois and Ohio. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught math (1969-1970) and then served in administration (1970-1982) at Elizabeth Seton High School, South Holland.

Jesuit Father Robert J. Ochs, 88, died May 4.

Born in Kansas, he moved to Chicago and finished high school at Loyola Academy, Wilmette. He graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 1951 before entering the Society of Jesus in 1952. He was ordained in 1961 in Innsbruck, Austria, and pronounced final vows in 1972 in Chicago.

Father Ochs was best known for his two books “The Death in Every Now” (1969) and “God is More Present Than You Think” (1970), as well as serving as an adjunct professor of theology at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. 

Father Ochs worked as a researcher and writer from 1981 until he moved to Colombiere Center in December 2017 to care for his health. 

Mercy Sister Helen Weinfurter, 97, died May 5.

Born in Wisconsin, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1938 and professed perpetual vows in 1944.

Her first teaching assignments were at Chicago schools: St. Gabriel, St. Mary of the Lake and St. Catherine of Siena. 

After teaching at other Illinois and Wisconsin schools, she spent 30 years as an associate professor at Saint Xavier University, where she received the teacher excellence award in 1982.

Resurrection Sister Lydia Mary Yokiel, 104, died May 7 at Resurrection Life Center.

Born in Minnesota, she was received into the congregation of the Sisters of the Resurrection in 1931 and professed final vows in 1938.

In 1933, Sister Lydia Mary began a lifetime of ministry in Chicago with 54 years in education and 16 years in spiritual services in health care. She taught or was principal at St. Casimir High School (now Our Lady of Tepeyac High School), Resurrection High School, St. Thecla School and St. Mary of the Angels School. 

At 75, Sister Lydia Mary embarked on a totally new ministry in pastoral care and spiritual services at Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center and Resurrection Medical Center. 

In 2004, Sister Lydia Mary retired to Queen of the Resurrection House of Prayer, and this past February moved to Resurrection Life Center. 
She is survived by her sister Angela and her brother James.

BVM Sister Rose André Koehler, 92, died May 8 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Iowa, she entered the BVM congregation in 1943 and professed final vows in 1951.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Rose André taught elementary school at Holy Family, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Gertrude, St. Cornelius and St. Dominic. She also taught in Montana, Nebraska, Iowa, California and Alabama.

Franciscan Sister Mary Dolorine, 100, died May 8. 

Sister Mary Dolorine entered the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago 1932, professed first vows in 1935 and final vows in 1941.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Five Holy Martyrs (1934-1938) and St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr (1940-1952).

She also taught, served as a school administrator and was a local superior in other communities in Illinois, and in Indiana and Ohio.

She retired to the motherhouse in Lemont in 2005. 

Father Dennis S. Riley, 66, died April 15. He was pastor emeritus of St. Angela Parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Riley attended Paul Revere Elementary School, St. Bernard School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary South, Loyola University Chicago and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1979.

According to Father Philip Kiley, who said Father Riley was his best friend, Father Riley also earned a post-graduate degree in African-American Studies. 

After ordination to priesthood, Father Riley was associate pastor at St. Charles Lwanga, St. Margaret of Scotland, Holy Rosary and St. Ambrose. He served as pastor of St. Angela until 2001, when he became pastor emeritus.

Father Gerald F. Mulcahy, 81, died April 23. He was most recently pastor of St. Patricia Parish, Hickory Hills.

Father Mulcahy was born in Chicago and attended St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero, Quigley Preparatory Seminary, and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1962.

He was assistant pastor at St. Edward; St. Louise de Marillac, LaGrange Park; and Queen of All Saints Basilica; and associate pastor at St. Monica; St. Mary, Riverside; and St. Giles, Oak Park. In 1989, Father Mulcahy was named pastor of St. Patricia, where he served until he retired in 2007.

Father James T. O’Connor, 89, died April 27. He was pastor emeritus of St. Hugh Parish, Lyons.

Father O’Connor was born in Chicago and attended St. Francis Xavier School, LaGrange; Quigley Preparatory Seminary; and University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1954.

Father O’Connor was assistant pastor at Resurrection (Jackson Street); St. Francis de Sales (Ewing Avenue); Divine Savior, Norridge; and St. James, Maywood.

He was pastor of Our Lady of Loretto, Hometown; St. Joseph, Libertyville; and St. Hugh, Lyons.

In 1994, he was given the title of pastor emeritus.  

School Sister of St. Francis Theresa Ann (Irita) Brames, 84, died March 28 in Milwaukee.

Born in Indiana, Sister Therese Ann was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1949 and made her final vows in 1957.

Beginning in 1950, Sister Theresa Ann ministered in Wisconsin and Illinois as a homemaker and driver for nearly seven decades. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as a homemaker at St. William Convent (1950-1959). In retirement, Sister Theresa Ann served in the ministry of prayer and presence at Sacred Heart in Milwaukee from 2015 until the time of her death.

Sister Theresa Ann is survived by her sister Louise Sekel and her brother Charles Brames.

School Sister of St. Francis Mary (Violette) Readdy, 83, died April 2 in Schaumburg. 

Sister Mary was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1953 and made her final vows in 1961.

Sister Mary ministered in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska for more than six decades. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as a guidance counselor at Providence St. Mel High School (1984-1985); and taught at Alvernia High School (1985-1989), St. Benedict High School (1989-1990) and Holy Trinity High School (1990-2012). 

Sister Mary retired in 2012 and was serving in the ministry of prayer and presence in Schaumburg.

Sister Elizabeth (St. Laura of Mary) Scully of the Congregation of Notre Dame died April 21 in Wilton, Connecticut.

She entered the Congregation of Notre Dame in Montreal in 1946 and professed her perpetual vows in 1954.

Sister Elizabeth served as principal of St. Jude the Apostle School, South Holland, as well as teacher and principal in New York and Connecticut schools. 

She was mistress of novices and provincial leader in the United States province of her congregation, and she ministered in the Catholic schools office of the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, and the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey.

Adrian Dominican Sister Judith Ann (James Charles) Seefeld, 78, died April 30 in Adrian, Michigan. 

Born in Michigan, she was in the 60th year of her religious profession.

She ministered in Michigan, Florida, Illinois and California. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught elementary school at Queen of Angels (1960-1964), St. Lawrence (1966-1971) and St. Rita (1971-1974).
Sister Judith is survived by four sisters: Janet Seefeld, Joan Yingling, Jean Jackson and Joyce Seefeld.

Father Ronald C. Lewandowski, 80, died April 6. He had been associate pastor at St. Patrick Parish, Wadsworth, until retiring in 2008.

Father Lewandowski was born in Chicago and attended St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr School and Lane Technical High School.

He earned a bachelor’s degree at Wright City College in 1959 and a master’s degree in Divinity at Sacred Heart School of Theology in 1995 in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1995.

Father Lewandowski was associate pastor of Our Lady of the Wayside, Arlington Heights (1995-2000); St. Anne (2000-02); and St. Patrick, Wadsworth (2002-2008).

Father Ronald J. Gollatz, 72, died April 17. He was most recently the pastor of Transfiguration Parish, from 2007 to 2016.

Born in Chicago, Father Gollatz attended Our Lady of Help of Christians School and Quigley North. He earned a bachelor’s degree at DePaul University in 1968 and a master’s degree in at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1972.

He served as assistant pastor at St. Celestine, Elmwood Park, and as associate pastor of St. Bride; St. Martha, Morton Grove; St. Emily, Mount Prospect; and St. Gilbert, Grayslake.

He served as pastor of St. Thaddeus, St. Francis de Sales, Lake Zurich; and Transfiguration.

Monsignor Charles E. Lang, 85, died April 5 in Orange County, California.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Mel High School and Loyola University Chicago, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in chemistry and math. He earned a doctorate in physical chemistry from Iowa State University before entering Mount St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1961. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Dubuque in 1965 and became an assistant professor in the chemistry department at Loras College in 1965.

In 1971, he earned a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Loyola University Chicago and added psychology to his teaching duties. He was named Loras’ dean of students in 1972, vice president for student affairs in 1977 and vice president for college advancement in 1985. 

In 1986, Monsignor Lang was appointed president of Mount St. Clare College in Clinton, Iowa, a post he held until 1991.

At the time of his death, Monsignor Lang served Loras College as a development officer and did pastoral work at many churches in the Archdiocese of Chicago, including St. Celestine, Elmwood Park; St. Constance; St. Cyprian, River Grove; St. Robert Bellarmine; and Our Lady Mother of the Church.

Claretian Father Thomas P. Joyce, 85, died April 6 in Arcadia, California.

Born in Chicago, he entered St. Jude Seminary in Momence, made his first religious profession in 1951 in California and was ordained a priest in 1959 in Chicago.

TJ, as he was known, served as a teacher and campus minister.

In 1972, he returned to Chicago as superior of the Claretian Provincial Residence in Oak Park. Over the next 30 years, TJ served at Holy Cross/IHM and Our Lady of Guadalupe parishes, as director of the pre-novitiate program and vocations and superior of Claret House, the Claretian formation house. From 1975 to 1997, TJ served as a staff member at the 8th Day Center for Justice.

In 2002, his missionary work called him to Kingston, Jamaica, where he served until 2006. He served in various local Claretian communities until he retired in 2016.

He is survived by the last of his five brothers, John Joyce.

Mercy Sister Rita Corkery, 86, died at Mercy Circle April 10.

Born in the Pullman area of Chicago, she was taught by Sisters of Mercy at Holy Rosary School and Mercy High School. After high school, she entered the community in 1949. 

She began her career in teaching at St. Mary of the Lake School in 1952 and continued in the ministry of education for almost 40 years. She held a variety of teaching and administrative positions from primary grades through college level.  

Following her retirement from education, Sister Rita changed careers, working as a part-time hospital chaplain at St. Francis Hospital, Blue Island, while she cared for her mother. After her mother’s death, Sister Rita continued her work in chaplaincy, taking on a position at Little Company of Mary Hospital, Evergreen Park, for 10 years.

In 2006, Sister Rita retired once again due to declining health. In 2011, she began living at Smith Village, a residential care facility in Chicago where she could receive more assistance, and she came to be known there as a volunteer chaplain and friend. She moved to Mercy Circle in 2017.

Adrian Dominican Sister Marie Amada (Marie Concepta Apodaca) Garcia, 98, died April 10 in Adrian, Michigan. 

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she was in the 78th year of her religious life.

Sister Marie Amada ministered in Illinois, Arizona, New Mexico, Iowa, Michigan, California and Nevada.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1940-1941, 1944-1945).    

Sister Marie Amada is survived by a sister, Rita Lawrence.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Margaret Ellen (Brice) Brennan, 91, died April 17 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. Sylvester School. She made her first religious profession in 1947 and her final profession in 1950. 

She served as a culinary artist and as a nurse in Oklahoma, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Wyoming and Iowa, as well as Florence, Italy.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Margaret Ellen served as a culinary artist at Trinity Convent, River Forest (1948-1952) and at Visitation Convent, Chicago (1965-1967). She ministered as a licensed practical nurse at Misericordia Home South (1978-1979); Queen of Peace Convent, Burbank (1989-1992); and Trinity Convent, River Forest (1989-2001). Sister Margaret Ellen served as prioress at Queen of Peace Convent, Burbank (1986-1989).

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Mildred “Micki” Flynn, 80, died Jan. 24 in Cincinnati.

She was in her 64th year of religious life.

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Sister Micki attended Notre Dame High School. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Victor, Calumet City; St. Mary, Des Plaines; and St. Anne, Barrington. 

She also taught college courses in Illinois, Missouri and South Dakota, and was a spiritual director in South Dakota and Illinois.
Sister Micki is survived by her siblings Mary Holland, Patty, Robert, William and John.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Anne (Monica Marie) McCarrick, 87, died Feb. 6 in Cincinnati.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, she was in her 70th year of religious life.

Sister Anne spent many years as an elementary school teacher in Chicago and in Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio. Sister Anne was a specialist in Montessori education. She was also vice-chancellor for the Diocese of Columbus for eight years. In 1992, Pope Paul II awarded Sister Anne the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (For Church and Pope) Medal for her service to the church of Columbus. 

Sister of the Living Word Joyce Roehl, 80, died March 9 in Arlington Heights.

Born in Hamtramck, Michigan, she entered the Sisters of Christian Charity in Wilmette in 1962 and was one of the founding members of the Sisters of the Living Word in 1975. 

She ministered as teacher or principal at St. Isaac Jogues, Niles, and at St. Jerome, St. Priscilla and St. Cornelius schools in Chicago. Once she retired from teaching and administration, Sister Joyce volunteered as the receptionist at the Living Word Center in Arlington Heights.