Sister of the Living Word Virginia Thoen-nes, 89, died Dec. 8 in Chicago.

Born in Chicago, Sister Virginia was a Sister of the Living Word for 44 years, and a Sister of Christian Charity before that. She taught in the Chicago area and was principal of St. Gregory High School from 1976 to 1981.

She served in leadership for her community, and later as pastoral associate at various parishes in the northern suburbs. She was very involved in Church Women United and other justice works at St. Edna Parish in Arlington Heights. She lived the past eight years at Resurrection Life Center in Chicago.

She is survived by her siblings Martha Kastens and Richard Thoennes.

BVM Sister Mary Christine (Christophil) Athans, 87, died Dec. 7 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Sister Mary Christine was born in Joliet, Illinois, and entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1955. She made final vows in 1963.

She was an adjunct professor at Loyola University Institute of Pastoral Studies and Catholic Theological Union, both in Chicago. She was assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Illinois in Champaign. She also taught at universities in Minnesota and California. She began her ministry by teaching high school and elementary school, including St. Eugene School.

Sister Mary Christine wrote extensively on Jewish-Christian relations, including her book “In Quest of the Jewish Mary: The Mother of Jesus in History, Theology and Spirituality.”

She served on more than 20 boards and committees, including the Chicago-Jewish Scholars Dialogue sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Chicago Board of Rabbis and the United Jewish Federation of Greater Chicago.

She is survived by siblings Catherine Athans and Cyril Athans.

Father George H. Clements, 87, died Nov. 25. He was pastor emeritus of Holy Angels Parish.

Born in Chicago, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, becoming its first African American graduate, and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1957.

After ordination, Father Clements was assistant pastor of St. Ambrose and St. Dorothy parishes. He served as pastor of Holy Angels from 1969 to 1991 and later ministered in the Diocese of Nassau in the Bahamas, West Indies, and the Archdiocese of Washington. He retired in 2006.

Father Clements was active in the civil rights movement, marching with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Chicago, Alabama and Mississippi.

Father Clements, an advocate for adoption, is survived by his four sons, 15 grandchildren and his sister.

He requested that his body be donated to the Loyola University School of Medicine. A memorial service is scheduled for Jan. 26, 2020, Clements’ 88th birthday, at St. Sabina Church.

Sister of the Living Word Rosaria (Margaret Anna) Schlechter, 89, died Nov. 13 in Chicago.

Born in Minnesota, she made her final vows in 1954. She was a Sister of the Living Word for 44 years, and before that, a Sister of Christian Charity.

Sister Rosaria taught at St. Martha, Morton Grove, for nine years; was a teacher of the blind at Holy Trinity School; and served for 22 years at St. Raphael School in Englewood, where she also was the principal. She also served in Minnesota.

She lived her last few years at the Living Word Center in Arlington Heights and at Resurrection Life Center in Chicago in the ministry of prayer and presence.

Adrian Dominican Sister Lila Watt, 90, died Nov. 21 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Elmhurst, Illinois, she graduated from Josephinum High School. She was in the 68th year of her religious life.

Sister Lila ministered in Michigan, Florida, the Bahamas and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Queen of Apostles, Riverdale (1966-1968); St. Kilian (1968-1969); Aquinas High School (1969-1972); Immaculata High School (1972-1973); St. Casimir High School (1976-1979); St. Procopius (1981-1983); and St. Barbara (Throop Street) (1983-1987). She was assistant director at Metropolitan School of Business (1973-1976), parish secretary at St. Rita of Cascia (1988-1989), secretary for the Catholic Youth Office (1989-1990); and executive secretary for the St. Joseph Carondelet Child Center (1990-1991) and the Midwest and Upper Midwest Mission Chapters, Hometown (1991-1995).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Susan Ostrowski, 65, died Nov. 15 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Susan made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1979 and her perpetual profession in 1984.

She taught for 35 years in New York, Florida, Illinois and California. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Epiphany (1989-1993).

She is survived by a sister, Sharon Ostrowski; and three brothers, Bruce, Michael and Mark Ostrowski.

Deacon Thomas Ryan, 94, died Oct. 31. He was ordained in 1992 and served at St. Christina Parish.

Deacon Ryan was a U.S. Navy World War II veteran, worked for 32 years for People’s Gas, was a former secretary of the 19th Ward Democratic Organization and was a past Man of the Year of the Mount Greenwood Civic Association.

He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Connie; his children Constance Ryan, Thomas E. Ryan, JoEllen Martin, Martin Ryan and Patrick Ryan; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Divine Word Father Andrew Biller, 87, a missionary in the Philippines for four decades, died Nov. 2 in Techny.

Born in Missouri, he entered Divine Word Seminary at East Troy, Wisconsin, in 1949. He professed religious vows in 1953. Following ordination to the priesthood in 1961, Father Biller was sent to the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., to take graduate courses in guidance and counseling. He then served at Divine Word colleges and seminaries and as a pastoral minister in the Philippines from 1963 to 2002.

After returning to the United States, he was semi-retired but provided pastoral care for the Vietnamese community of St. Thomas of Aquinas in St. Louis. Father Biller moved to Techny in 2012.

He is survived by four sisters: Ruth Athay, Mary Searcy, Alberta Cooper and Rita Ward.

School Sister of St. Francis Lorraine (Aquinette) Quella, 97, died Oct. 5 in Milwaukee. She ministered in education for more than 75 years.

Born in Hammond, Indiana, she was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1938 and made her final vows in 1946.

Beginning in 1942, Sister Lorraine ministered in Nebraska and Illinois for more than seven decades. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Holy Angels School in Chicago for 65 years, from 1946-2011.

Benedictine Sister Eleanore (Rita) Hillenbrand, 95, died Oct. 29 at St. Joseph Court-St. Scholastica Monastery.

Sister Eleanore, a native of Chicago, attended St. Hilary School and St. Scholastica High School. She entered the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago as an aspirant in 1942 and professed her final vows in 1947. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s in English from DePaul University.

She taught at the elementary and high school levels. Sister Eleanore served as St. Scholastica’s English Department chairperson, the Benedictine Sisters’ director of studies, executive secretary to the prioress, and in other community positions. She served predominately in Illinois, but also in Colorado.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Eleanore taught in parish schools at St. Hilary, St. Symphorosa and St. Lambert in Skokie and at St. Scholastica High School (1957-1992).

Mercy Sister Regine Fanning, 96, died Nov. 5 at Mercy Circle.

Born in Utah, she was educated by Sisters of Mercy in Chicago and joined the congregation upon graduation from high school. She began teaching after professing vows in 1942. She taught for 28 years at levels from kindergarten through high school.

She earned master’s degrees from Mundelein College, the University of Illinois and the University of San Francisco.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as religious education coordinator at Sacred Heart Parish in Palos Hills for 15 years, then as a pastoral associate at Christ the King and St. Ethelreda parishes. She later served as a spiritual counselor.

She also wrote several books for adults and children.

Adrian Dominican Sister Margaret Ann (Robert Jean) Roggenbuck, 84, died Nov. 7 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 65th year of her religious life.

She ministered in Illinois and Michigan. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Santa Maria Del Popolo, Mundelein (1954-1958); Our Lady of Knock, Calumet City (1958-1962); St. Kilian (1962-1966); and St. Philip Neri (1966-1969). She was principal of St. Edmund, Oak Park (1969-1972).

Sister Margaret is survived by her sisters, Evelyn Stein and Jean Merkler, and her brothers, Barthol, John, Michael, Robert, William and Joseph.

 

Deacon Louis Francis Barone, 92, of Woodstock, died Oct. 23 at his home surrounded by his family. Deacon Barone was ordained in 1987 and served at St. Ansgar Parish, Hanover Park.

Born in Cicero, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944, after graduating from high school. He graduated from the DePaul University School of Law in 1951.

In 1961, he married his wife, Joan Sweeney, now deceased. He served as a Hanover Park village trustee, village clerk and, for 12 years, village president. He also was active in the Illinois Municipal League and the Northwest Municipal Conference.

He was ordained a deacon after retiring from municipal government, serving in a variety of ministries at St. Ansgar, including as business manager. He started a village-wide food pantry and a police chaplain ministry.

He moved to Woodstock to live with his family after the death of his wife, and was active at St. Mary Parish there.

He is survived by his son, John Barone; daughter, Mary Ann Rizzo; three grandchildren; and a sister, Nancy Gray.

Deacon William D. Maune, 95, died Oct. 24. He was ordained for the Diocese of Rochester in 1982 and began serving at St. Irenaeus Parish, Park Forest, when he moved to Illinois in 1994.

Deacon Maune was a World War II veteran who served in the Army Air Corps as a ball gunner on a B-24 Liberator. He married his high school sweetheart, Winnie, on a furlough in 1944. After the war he worked as a steamfitter, an exterminator and then worked for Kodak. During his career at Kodak, he worked in New York; Chicago; Hartford, Connecticut; Boston and Rochester, New York, where he retired in 1982 to work full-time as a deacon.

He continued his work as a deacon at St. Irenaeus Parish until he retired in 2002, due to his blindness. He continued to serve as a eucharistic minister and volunteer at St. Irenaeus until his death.

He was predeceased by his wife, Winifred. He is survived by his children Bernadette Maune, Mary Fote, William Maune, Anne Bell and Joseph Maune; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Deacon Thaddeus W. “Ted” Czarnecki, 86, died Oct. 26, He was ordained in 1977 and has served at Queen of the Rosary and St. Julian Eymard parishes in Elk Grove Village, where he lived for 59 years.

Deacon Czarnecki was a Navy veteran, a retired accountant/comptroller, served as coach and treasurer for Elk Grove Village Boys Baseball and was a former 10-year member and treasurer for the Lions Club of Elk Grove Village.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Geraldine; children Thaddeus Czarnecki, Karen J. Wolak and Kathleen M. Czarnecki; four grandchildren; and a brother, Leonard Scott.

Deacon Michael Monnelly, 79, died Oct. 27. He was ordained in 1982 and and served at Queen of All Saints Basilica.

Born in Chicago, he grew up in St. Bonaventure Parish and attended DePaul Academy and, later Marquette University in Milwaukee. After serving in the armed forces, he worked as a systems analyst for IBM.

At Queen of All Saints, he enjoyed doing baptism preparation and baptisms. He was a member of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, and he taught computer skills to formerly incarcerated men at St. Leonard’s House.

He is survived by his wife, Louise; children Colleen Neary, Joellen Mendoza, Emily Monnelly and John Monnelly; 11 grandchildren; and siblings Patricia, Frank and Ed Monnelly.

Providence Sister Mary Adrian (Bernadette) Jaroch, 85, died Oct. 3 in Winfield, Illinois.

Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1956 and professed final vows in 1963. 

She served in Indiana, Connecticut and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as a nurse at Whitehall North, Deerfield (1979-1981, 1986-1988); as director of health care at Divine Word Residence, Techny (1989-1991); as a hospice nurse at VNA North, Evanston (1991-1992); as nursing supervisor at Colonial Manor, LaGrange (1992-1993); as a nurse at Brighton Gardens, Prospect Heights (1997-1998); and as a nurse at New Perspective, Wheeling (1999-2002).

Sister Mary Adrian’s experience in hospice care early in her nursing career helped her grow not only in skill but also in compassion. Always willing to help, after her retirement from active nursing, she continued serving her sisters in the Chicago area who needed care when they were ill. 

Sister Mary Adrian is survived a sister, Patricia Maher.

Adrian Dominican Sister Ann Romayne (Patricia Joan) Fallon, 91, died Oct. 6 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 72nd year of her religious life.

She ministered in Illinois, Florida, Michigan and Alaska.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Laurence (1957-1958); Infant Jesus of Prague, Flossmoor (1958-1959); and Queen of Angels (1959-1964). She served at Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette as principal (1977-1983), president (1983-1988) and interim president (2000-2002).

She is survived by her sisters, Margaret E. Fallon and Kathleen Fallon.

Jesuit Father Raymond C. Baumhart, 95, died Oct. 10.

Born in Chicago, Father Baumhart graduated from DePaul Academy and attended DePaul University while working as the associate director of the Chicago chapter of the Boys Club (now named Boys and Girls Clubs of America), an organization that provides after-school programs and mentoring for young people. In 1943 he transferred to Northwestern University and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He began his Navy career by studying at Northwestern and, in 1944, studying business administration at the Harvard Business School. He went to sea on the President Polk, a troop transport ship, as a junior officer in 1945. He was honorably discharged from the Navy and entered the Society of Jesus in 1946.

In 1963, Father Baumhart was the first clergyman to earn a doctorate in business administration from Harvard University. His dissertation was on business ethics.

After ordination and the completion of coursework for his doctorate, Father Baumhart spent more than three decades at Loyola University Chicago. He taught personnel management, business ethics and statistics (1962-1966), was assistant dean (1963-1964) and was dean of the School of Business Administration (1964-1966).

He then spent two years (1966-1968) researching and writing at the Cambridge Center for Social Studies (a Jesuit think tank aimed at work on business ethics and social justice). Father Baumhart returned to Loyola as executive vice president (1968-1969) before becoming the acting vice president of Loyola’s Medical Center (1969-1970). He had a major hand in the 1969 opening of the Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois.

In 1970, Father Baumhart became the 21st and longest serving president of Loyola University Chicago (1970-1993). His tenure saw the university grow in both enrollment and physical space. He also oversaw the merging of Mundelein College with Loyola in 1991.

After a sabbatical, Father Baumhart served on Cardinal Joseph Bernardin’s and Cardinal Francis George’s advisory cabinets, became the director of Evangelization and Christian Life for the Archdiocese of Chicago (1994-2000) and served as a personal consultant to Cardinal George (2000-2011). He also served the Loyola University Jesuit Community as superior of the Jesuit residence (2006-2007) and treasurer of the community (2007-2011). In 2011, He moved to the Colombiere Center in Michigan to pray for the Society of Jesus and the church, and care for his health.

Divine Word Father John Rodney, 88, died Oct. 11 in Techny.

Born in Chicago, Father Rodney grew up in St. Elizabeth, Chicago’s oldest African-American parish. As a teenager in 1946, he enrolled in Divine Word Seminary at East Troy, Wisconsin, and professed religious vows in 1952.

After completing his seminary studies in 1960, he was ordained to the priesthood. Father Rodney continued his studies while serving in pastoral ministries. He earned master’s degrees in classical languages and German literature and a doctorate in comparative literature.

During the 1960s, he provided pastoral care for parishes in predominantly African-American communities, including St. Anselm and Our Lady of the Gardens. In 1967, he was assigned to Divine Word seminary in East Troy. He later taught college-level German, Spanish, Latin and Greek at Divine Word seminaries. He also served as a hospital and nursing home chaplain in Washington, D.C.

He is survived by his sister, Marie Davis

Providence Sister Marie Alexis (Elizabeth Clarissa) Geiger, 91, died Oct. 14 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indiana, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1946 and professed final vows in 1953. She ministered in Indiana, Illinois and Washington, D.C.

Sister Marie Alexis, an able administrator, was supportive and appreciative of all with whom she worked. She was also fun-loving, rarely missing an opportunity to be part of a group, whether it was to play cards or just to socialize.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Francis Borgia (1956-1963).

Father Phillip F. Cioffi, 64, died Sept. 17. He was associate pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish (Belmont Avenue) until he retired in July.

Born in Chicago, he attended Our Lady Help of Christians School; Fenwick High School, Oak Park; DePaul University; and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1981.

Father Cioffi served as associate pastor at St. Frances of Rome, Cicero; Our Lady of Mercy; St. Bernardine, Forest Park; Immaculate Conception, Highland Park; and Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Father Jeremiah Boland, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glenview, remembered his classmate as “one of the most beloved members of the class of 1981.” Boland added that “he was bright and had a terrific sense of humor. He was greatly influenced by the spirituality of St. Philip Neri.”

Father James P. Murphy, 80, died Oct. 1. He was pastor emeritus of St. Barbara Parish, Brookfield.

Born in Evanston, Father Murphy attended St. Francis Xavier School, Wilmette; Quigley Preparatory Seminary; and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1965.

Father Murphy was assistant or associate pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes; St. James, Sauk Village; St. Mary, Des Plaines; St. Raymond de Penafort, Mount Prospect; and St. Eugene Parish.

He was pastor of St. Catherine Labouré, Glenview, from 1989 to 2002 and pastor of St. Barbara from 2003 to 2009, when he was named pastor emeritus.

Father Robert Mair, pastor emeritus of St. Catherine Labouré, served alongside his classmate there. He remembered Father Murphy’s contributions to the parish and school. “He was always very generous with his time in terms of liturgies even after he retired,” Mair said.

Resurrection Sister Andrew (Noreen Rose) Donohue, 85, died Sept. 2 at Resurrection Life Center.

Born in Chicago, she was baptized at St. Jerome Parish and entered the congregation in 1950. She professed her final vows in 1958.

Sister Andrew taught at St. Mary of the Angels; St. Casimir (now Our Lady of Tepeyac); and Queen of the Rosary, Elk Grove Village, as well as in Nebraska and Indiana. She taught and was librarian at St. Casimir High School (now Our Lady of Tepeyac High School) and ministered at Resurrection Day Care.

Sister Andrew is survived by her sister, Sister Emmanuel Joseph, a Little Sister of the Poor.

Divine Word Father Arnold Lang, 93, died Sept. 26 in Techny. He was an educator and missionary in Appalachia.

Born in Ohio, Arnold Langenkamp, who later changed his surname, began his studies with the Divine Word Missionaries in 1940, professed vows in 1946 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1953.

He taught biology to Divine Word seminary students in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Iowa.

In 1985, Father Lang was called to West Virginia, a relatively new mission for the Society of the Divine Word. He served in the state for 23 years.

Father Lang moved to Techny in retirement in 2008.

Sister of Christian Charity Rosemary (Coronata) Schwer, 87, died Aug. 27 at Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette.

Born in St. Louis, she entered the convent in 1946 and made her first vows in 1951.

She began her nursing training at St. Elizabeth Hospital in 1953, and then resided at St. Teresa Convent while taking classes at DePaul University (1956-1957).

She served as a nurse and organist at Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette (1957-1963); served as a nurse and taught biology and health in Maria Immaculata Academy and in Mallinckrodt College (1967-1971).

She taught biology at the college again while living in Wilmette starting in 1979. In 1993, she moved to New Mexico to serve as a pastoral minister. She returned to Wilmette in 2005 and served in the leadership of her congregation.

She had served since 2012 in the ministry of care and bereavement at St. Joseph, Wilmette, and she was a member of the church choir.

Adrian Dominican Sister Theresia (Mary Susan) Scheuer, 88, died Sept. 6 in Adrian, Michigan. 

Born in Adrian, Michigan, she was in the 71st year of her religious life. She ministered in Michigan and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Ascension, Harvey (1954-1960).

She is survived by a sister, Jo Ann McKelvey.

Providence Sister Camille Neubauer, 79, died Aug. 14 in St. Mary of the Woods, Indiana.

Born in Washington, D.C., Sister Camille entered the Sisters of Providence in 1961 and professed final vows in 1969.  She taught in schools in Missouri, Maryland and Illinois, then served as music director in parishes in Maryland and Virginia.

In 2002, she returned to the motherhouse in St. Mary of the Woods to serve as director of liturgy and music, and later was a volunteer receptionist at Woods Day Care and Providence Conference and Spirituality Center. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1975-1980).

Claretian Father Raymond E. O’Connor, 81, died Aug. 17 in Park Ridge.

Born in Chicago, Father O’Connor attended Claretian seminaries and Catholic University of America before being ordained in 1964.

He had brief assignments at Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Francis of Assisi parishes before serving as assistant vocation director at the Claretian House of Studies in Washington, D.C., in 1966. He also ministered in New York, Virginia, Missouri and Georgia.

He returned to Chicago in 2005 and became the director of the National Shrine of St. Jude at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.  In 2008, he retired and became a resident of the Claretian community in Oak Park, but continued as codirector of the shrine for another 10 years. In 2019, he moved to the Sheridan at Park Ridge nursing home, his final place of residence.  

Jesuit Father Robert C. Thul, 89, died Aug. 25.

Born in Cincinnati, Father Thul was a Jesuit for more than 70 years.

He taught math and religion at St. Ignatius College Prep, at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati and at Colegio San Jose in Arequipa, Peru.

In the 1990s, Father Thul co-authored “Math for Change,” a teaching curriculum which incorporated social justice themes into math problems, and which has gone through multiple reprints. 

After 2006, he did pastoral ministry in Lexington, Kentucky; and in Cincinnati before moving to the Colombiere Center in Michigan in 2016.

Adrian Dominican Sister Carol Louise (Elizabeth June) Hiller, 97, died Aug. 24 in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Carol Louise ministered in Illinois, New York, Michigan, Florida, Nevada, Alaska and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita (1943-1944); St. Kilian (1944-1948); St. Kevin (1948-1951); and St. Albert the Great, Oak Lawn (1958-1959); and she was a librarian at Aquinas High School (1962-1966).

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Mary (Carmen Therese) Milano, 87, died July 21 in Cincinnati.

Born in Chicago, she was baptized at St. William Parish. She was in religious life for 70 years.

Sister Mary taught every elementary grade from second to eighth. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Robert Bellarmine (1954-1958) and St. Victor, Calumet City (1963-1966). She also taught in other Illinois cities; in Ohio, Michigan and Arizona; and in Kenya.

She was at the Institute for Spiritual Leadership at Loyola University Chicago from 1979 to 1980. After training in spiritual direction, she served as novice director, then spiritual and retreat director for 26 years.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marie Patrice O’Donnell, 91, died July 26 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Nebraska, Sister Marie Patrice made her first religious profession in 1947 and her perpetual profession in 1950.

She served in Illinois, Wisconsin, Alabama, Colorado and Nebraska.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marie Patrice taught at Visitation (1947-1950) and St. Cajetan (1958-1962, 1971-1972).

Sister of St. Casimir Maureen Juozapavicius died July 29.

A native of Chicago, Sister Maureen entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1943.  She made her first profession of vows in 1946 and made her final vows in 1951.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Maureen taught at Immaculate Conception (44th Street) (1946-1947, 1964-1968); St. Joseph, South Chicago (1952-1954, 1956-1957, 1969-1970); Nativity BVM (1956-1957, 1961-1964); St. Norbert, Northbrook (1958-1959); Sts. Peter and Paul (1959-1961); Our Lady of Vilna (1968-1969); and Maria High School (1973-1981), where she also provided guidance counseling.  From 1981 to 1993, Sister Maureen served in pastoral care at Holy Cross Hospital.  She also taught in elementary schools in New Mexico, Michigan and Florida.

She was a minister of prayer and presence from 2014 to 2019 at Franciscan Village in Lemont.

Daughter of Charity Sister Ursula Cazalé, 93, died Aug. 5 in Bridgeton, Missouri.

Born in New Orleans, Sister Ursula was a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul for 72 years.

She received her nursing diploma from St. Joseph School of Nursing in Chicago in 1950; the following year, she earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing education from DePaul University.

Sister Ursula served as nursing supervisor at St. Joseph Hospital (1947-1951). She also served at other hospitals in Illinois and in Alabama, Texas and Louisiana, and at the Marillac Provincial House in St. Louis.

Adrian Dominican Sister Patricia (Francis Kevin) Brady, 80, died Aug. 6 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she attended Aquinas High School and was in the 61st year of her religious life.

Sister Patricia ministered in Michigan, Florida, Illinois and Louisiana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was associate principal at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Westchester (1977-1987); taught at Mother McAuley High School (1988-1991); was chapter prioress of the Upper Midwest Chapter (1991-1997); was coordinator/liaison for Dominican Youth/Young Adult Ministry in Westchester (1998-2008) and was executive director of the Dominican Association of Secondary Schools in Westchester (2008-2009).

She is survived by her sisters, Mary Quinn Brady and Colleen McGuire.

Jesuit Father Richard W. Anderson, 84, died Aug. 10.

Born in Chicago, he was a Jesuit for more than 65 years.

He ministered as a spiritual director and community superior at Loyola University Chicago and Milford Spiritual Center. He also served as chaplain at various locations, including St. Ignatius College Prep and the John Felice Center of Loyola University in Rome.

Father John C. Hergenrother, 79, died July 8. He was pastor emeritus of St. Louise de Marillac Parish, La Grange Park.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Laurence School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1966.

He was chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago and a judge of the Metropolitan Tribunal. He also served as associate pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Ferdinand and St. Monica. He became pastor of St. Louise de Marillac in 1985 and was named pastor emeritus in 2010.

Father Michael Bradley, adjutant judicial vicar who worked with Father Hergenrother for more than 20 years, said Father Hergenrother wrote about the spirit of joy as the Second Vatican Council was unfolding during his final years in the seminary. Father Hergenrother felt that same “spirit renewed with Pope Francis challenging us to live the joy of Jesus’ merciful Gospel and the documents of Vatican II being implemented,” Bradley said.

Father Joseph Nam Dao, 65, died July 10 in Ohio. He was associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Highland Park.

Born in Vietnam, he attended Blessed Phung Minor Seminary and St. Theresa Major Seminary in Vietnam and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 2000.

Father Dao served as associate pastor at St. Margaret Mary; Sts. Faith, Hope and Charity, Winnetka; and Immaculate Conception.

Father Claudio Diaz, classmate and pastor of St. Aloysius, remembered Father Dao as “a mixture of an old soul with a child’s twinkle in his eyes.” He added that Father Dao “endured many hardships in Vietnam and came to Chicago with the sole purpose of serving the people of God in the archdiocese.”

Deacon Frank DeVita, 97, died July 10. He was ordained in 1974 and served at Divine Providence Parish, Westchester.

Deacon DeVita served as a combat medic in World War II and attained the rank of staff sergeant. After the war, he continued to serve in the reserves and National Guard, where he attained the rank of first lieutenant. He worked for 31 years as an insurance agent and manager.

As a deacon, he assisted in hospital and parish ministry.

His wife, Blanche DeVita, predeceased him. He is survived by his children Maria Burg, Anthony DeVita, Michelle Fong and Jean Ferri; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Deacon Mario Avila, 68, died July 10. Deacon Avila, who lived in Westchester, was ordained in 1992 and served at St. Malachy-Precious Blood Parish, where he was a pastoral associate.

He is survived by his wife, Juanita, the director of religious education at St. Malachy-Precious Blood; children Mario Jr., Wendy Ruth and Christine Olivia Avila; and brothers Jose Castulo, Alejandro and the late Julio Avila.

Sister of St. Casimir Genevieve Kripas, 94, died June 25 in Lemont.

Born in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago, Sister Genevieve was in the 75th year of her religious life. She made her first religious profession in 1944.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Genevieve taught at Nativity BVM (1944-1946); St. Bartholomew, Waukegan (1946-1947); and Holy Cross (1947-1950). She was a nurse at St. Theresa Hospital, Waukegan (1950-1953); and a registered nurse at Holy Cross Hospital (1953-1954) and Loretto Hospital (1954-1958). Sister Genevieve was a nursing home administrator at Holy Family Villa, Palos Park, from 1984 to 1993. She also ministered as a nursing home administrator in Nebraska and Pennsylvania for over 20 years.

Sister Genevieve served as moderator of the SSC Auxiliary from 1999 to 2012.

She was a minister of prayer and presence from 2014 to 2019 at Franciscan Village in Lemont.

Mercy Sister Mary Ralph Orlinski, 101, died June 25. She was a Sister of Mercy for 82 years.

Born in Chicago, Sister Ralph entered the community in Des Plaines in 1936 and professed perpetual vows in 1942.

She ministered first as a nurse in Aurora, Illinois, then started a 60-year teaching career in Elgin, Illinois, in 1940.

She taught at Our Lady of Mount Carmel; Resurrection; St. Finbarr; Precious Blood; St. Joseph, Libertyville; St. Stephen, Des Plaines; St. James; and, for 35 years, at St. Catherine-St. Lucy, Oak Park.

When Sister Ralph retired from St. Catherine-St. Lucy in 2000, the pastor, Father Dan Whiteside, said, “Sister Ralph has laid the foundation of not only our education, but also of our lives. She taught thousands of children about trying their hardest always, about sharing and being nice, about helping others and saying our prayers every day. And she called each one, ‘Honey.’”

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Jeanette (Guinevere) Landuyt, 89, died July 3 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Peoria, Illinois, Sister Jeanette made her first religious profession in 1950 and her perpetual profession in 1953.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Jeanette taught at Visitation (1951-1960), served as supervisor of student teachers at Dominican University, River Forest (2000-2002), and was director of personnel for the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation while living in River Forest (1986-1988).

Adrian Dominican Sister Patricia (Kevin Patrice) Dolan, 85, died July 8 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Aquinas High School and was in 67th year of her religious life.

She ministered in Michigan, Illinois and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Santa Maria Del Popolo, Mundelein (1956-1962), and Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1962-1967); was an editor at Scott Foresman, Glenview (1988-1989) and a freelance editor (1989-1990); and was data resources coordinator at Galvin Library, Illinois Institute of Technology (1991-1993).

She is survived by a sister, Maureen Silver.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Mary (Mary Ellen) Buckley, 93, died July 17. She was in her 76th year of religious life.

A native of Chicago, Sister Mary attended St. Peter Canisius Parish and Notre Dame High School for Girls, where she was educated by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. She entered religious life in 1943 at Mount Notre Dame in Cincinnati, Ohio, and taught for 43 years. Thirty-one of those years were spent at Notre Dame High School for Girls in Chicago.

She is survived by her siblings, Therese Buckley Mulvihill and John Buckley.

 

Father John P. Finnegan, 90, died June 16. He was pastor emeritus of St. Mary of Vernon Parish, Indian Creek.

Born in Chicago, Father Finnegan attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1954. He also earned postgraduate degrees at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, Loyola University Chicago and the University of Chicago.

Father Finnegan’s younger brother, Father William J. Finnegan, a retired priest and former pastor of Our Lady of the Woods Parish in Orland Park, remembered that his older brother saw himself as a parish priest from the very beginning and he was able to fulfill his dream for two years by working with the people of Our Lady of Loretto Parish, Hometown, a few months after ordination to priesthood. Father John Finnegan was then asked to become a full-time teacher at Quigley Preparatory Seminary and later at St. Mary of the Lake Junior College in Niles.

In 1978, Father Finnegan became founding pastor of St. Mary of Vernon Parish, where he served until retirement. His brother added that “even after retirement he continued to offer liturgies there (St. Mary of Vernon Parish) and also always considered himself one of their family.”

Father Lawrence J. Malcolm, 74, died unexpectedly on July 4. He was pastor of St. Gerald Parish in Oak Lawn.

Father Malcolm was born in Chicago and attended Immaculate Conception School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1970. He also earned a post-graduate degree at Loyola University in Chicago.

He was assistant pastor of St. Bonaventure and St. Theresa, Palatine; associate pastor of St. Bede the Venerable and St. Daniel the Prophet; and then pastor of St. Daniel the Prophet. In 2008, he was named pastor of St. Gerald Parish, where he served until his death.

Father Louis J. Cameli, cardinal’s delegate for formation and mission, had known Father Malcolm since their time at Quigley Preparatory Seminary. “He really was a very generous person with a good heart who always reached out and welcomed everyone, especially those in need,” Cameli said.

Adrian Dominican Sister Jane Irene (Irene Jane) Hutton, 92, died June 24 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Aquinas Dominican High School. She was in the 69th year of her religious life.

Sister Jane Irene ministered in Michigan, Illinois, California, South Carolina and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mary, Star of the Sea (1954-1957).

Adrian Dominican Sister Marie (Madonna Joseph) Quenneville, 83, died June 25 in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Marie ministered in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Ascension, Harvey (1953-1960), and St. Denis (1960-1965), and taught and was assistant principal at Santa Maria Del Popolo, Mundelein (1965-1966).

She is survived by a brother, Donald Quenneville.

Adrian Dominican Sister Marcelline (Jeanne Henry) Fouchey, 90, died June 27 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 73rd year of her religious life.

Sister Marcelline ministered in Michigan, Illinois and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Carthage (1947-1951); taught and was treasurer at Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1965-1966); and taught at Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, Westchester (1983-1986).

Sister of Christian Charity Margaritis (Catherine) Kullowitch, 81, died early in the morning of May 23 at NorthShore Hospice in Skokie Hospital in Skokie.

Born in Chicago, she was received into the novitiate in 1955. She made her first vows in 1957 and her perpetual vows in 1963.

She taught at St. Theresa, Palatine; St. Martha, Morton Grove; and St. Gregory School, as well as at schools in other states. She also helped with the SCC Literacy Program at Josephinum Convent and the religious education program at St. Mary of Celle, Berwyn.

In 2014, Sister Margaritis was assigned to Sacred Heart Convent in Wilmette.

Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Rose William Herzog, 90, died June 2 in Ohio.

Born in Ohio, she was a Sister of Charity for 68 years.

After serving in Ohio and Michigan, she taught at Holy Ghost, South Holland (1966-1982).

She then returned to Ohio.

Adrian Dominican Sister Dorothy Jeanne (James Marie) Burns, 98, died June 6 in Adrian, Michigan. Born in Michigan, she was in the 80th year of her religious life.

Sister Dorothy Jeanne spent 50 years ministering in education in Michigan, Illinois and Ohio.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Columbanus (1940), Our Lady of Good Counsel (1949-1941) and St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1942-1945).

Adrian Dominican Sister Lorraine (Johneda) Pepin, 84, died June 8 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 64th year of her religious life.

She ministered in Illinois, Michigan, Iowa and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel (1953-1954), St. Columbanus (1955-1957) and St. Carthage (1957-1958).

Deacon Miguel Valle died from a heart attack on May 19. He was ordained in 1996 and served at St. Wenceslaus Parish.

Deacon Valle was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and was the eldest of five children.

He was a longtime collaborator with Chicago Católico, writing notes and articles, and he hosted a radio show called “Compartiendo Nuestra Fe Católica.” He was known for organizing prayer groups, courses and workshops for the Hispanic Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Chicago, and he organized trips to the Holy Land.

Deacon Valle owned Nazareth, a bookstore that specialized in religious material where, with the archdiocese’s approval, he opened a small chapel.

“I lost one of the wisest people I ever met,” said Deacon Jaime Ríos of Valle. “Sometimes, instead of looking through my books to search for a quote or a story, I would call Miguel and he would say ‘Oh, it’s in such and such book, in such and such chapter.’”

Ríos added that Deacon Valle was a “walking library.”

“He had a tremendous knowledge of the Bible. He taught me so much,” he said.

Deacon Valle is survived by his mother and his four siblings.

Sister of St. Casimir Therese Bernadette Zebrauskas, 91, died May 10 in Lemont.

Born in Chicago, she made her first religious profession in 1949 and her perpetual profession in 1954. 

She taught for 47 years at elementary schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Therese Bernadette taught at Immaculate Conception School, Brighton Park (1949-1952); Nativity BVM School (1952-1954, 1963-1965, 1992-1996); St. Joseph School, South Chicago (1955-1956); St. Michael School, North Side (1956-1958); St. Norbert School, Northbrook (1968-1971, 1975-1977); All Saints School, Roseland (1971-1973); Sts. Peter and Paul School, West Pullman (1973-1974, 1977-1979); St. George School, Bridgeport (1974-1975); Providence of God School (1979-1985); and St. Anthony School, Cicero (1985-1992). She also served as assistant principal while at Providence of God School and at St. Anthony School.

Sister Therese Bernadette also ministered as a receptionist at Maria High School, Chicago, from 1996 to 2011.

She was a minister of prayer and presence from 2014 to 2019 at Franciscan Village in Lemont.

Felician Sister Mary Christella (Joan) Butrymowicz, 90, died on May 11 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Chicago.

Born in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, she joined the Felician Sisters aspirancy in Chicago, where she attended Good Counsel High School. She entered the Felician Sisters postulancy in 1945 and professed her final vows in 1953. 

She ministered in elementary schools as a teacher and principal in Illinois and Wisconsin. She also served in areas of religious formation and leadership within the Felician community and later ministered in the International Cord Rosary Center.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at Good Shepherd (1947-1953); St. Mary Magdalen (1953-1957); St. Wenceslaus (1957-1960); St. Linus, Oak Lawn (1960-1966); and St. James (1983-1987).

Providence Sister Michaela (Arline Clare) Galvin, 94, died May 15 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. 

Born in Massachusetts, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1943 and professed final vows in 1951.

She ministered in Indiana, Illinois, Texas, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Mel-Holy Ghost (1946); Maternity BVM (1946-1950), St. Leo (1951-1954), St. Andrew (1958-1962) and Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1988-2000).

Adrian Dominican Sister Irene Marie (Mary Louise) Kerich, 94, died May 27 in Adrian, Michigan. She was 94 years of age and in the 77th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican congregation.

Born in Minnesota, she ministered in Michigan, Illinois, New Mexico and Ohio.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Kevin and St. Clare of Montefalco.

Claretian Missionary Father Thomas R. Brummel, 88, died May 29 in Chicago.

Born in Chicago, Father Brummel attended Dominguez Seminary and Loyola University in California and Gregorian University in Rome before being ordained in 1959. 

Father Brummel served as a teacher and professor at various educational institutes in California, New York, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. He also was a professor at the Claretian Institute of Philosophy and the Spiritan International School of Theology, both in Nigeria.

Until his retirement in 2009, he also served part-time at the Chicago parishes of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Paul.

Deacon Robert LaCosse, 80, died May 1 in Marquette, Michigan. He was ordained in 1990 and served at St. Mary Parish, Buffalo Grove, before returning to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where he was born and raised, in 1999.

He served in the Marine Corps from 1957 to 1960 and returned home and married his wife, Janet, in 1962. The couple moved to Chicago the same year. Five years later, they moved to Buffalo Grove.

Deacon LaCosse was an accountant and financial planner for several Chicago-area companies.

He is survived by his wife, Janet; his children Jeffrey LaCosse, Scott LaCosse, Robert Michael LaCosse and Lee Ann LaCosse; six grandchildren; and his brothers Gene LaCosse and Stanley LaCosse.

Deacon Robert A. Banet, 92, died May 7. He was retired and had been living in Crown Point, Indiana. He was ordained in 1977 and ministered at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Calumet City, where he lived at the time.

Deacon Banet was also a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He taught English literature and composition at Calumet College of St. Joseph and Bellarmine University.

He is survived by his children, Kevin Banet, Christopher  Banet, Eva Lambert, David Banet and Jane Zatorski; nineteen grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a sister, Mary Ann Kruer. His wife, Mary, predeceased him.

School Sister of Notre Dame Mary Bruce (Patricia Ann) Wright, 82, died March 1 at Resurrection Life Center.

Born in Chicago, she was baptized at St. Michael Church and attended St. Bonaventure School and St. Michael High School.

She entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1955 and professed final vows in 1963.

Sister Mary Bruce taught intermediate grades at schools in Wisconsin and locally at St. Rosalie, Harwood Heights; and St. Paul. She became an administrator at St. Paul, and later at St. Margaret of Scotland, also in Chicago, after teaching junior high at St. Margaret for several years.

In 1997, Sister Mary Bruce became medical payments coordinator for the Chicago Province, and eventually for the Chicago area of the Atlantic-Midwest Province.

School Sister of Notre Dame Julita (Stella) Jelen, 102, died at Resurrection Life Center on April 18.

She was a vowed member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 84 years.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. John Cantius School and St. Stanislaus Commercial High School. She was received into the novitiate in 1934 and was professed the following year. She taught first grade for 31 years at many schools, including St. Therese Chinese Catholic School. She opened a new school in Wisconsin with two companions before returning to the Archdiocese of Chicago to teach at St. Alphonsus; St. Anthony; and St. Benedict, Blue Island.

In 1975, Sister Julita became principal at St. Michael School in Old Town. Sister Julita was the last principal there; the school closed in 1981.

She was then principal of St. Columba School for 10 years. Following retirement, she remained at St. Columba, ministering to the homebound and elderly and volunteering as librarian and tutor in the school.

She moved to Resurrection Life Center in 2015.

Servite Sister Bridie Kelly, 88, died May 14 in Wheeling.

She retired after many years of service at St. Domitilla School, Hillside.

She is survived by her sisters Kathleen Shanley, Mary Duggan, Nora Doherty and Margaret Callaghan.

Father Edward J. McKenna, 79, died April 11. He was most recently the  Catholic chaplain at St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights.

Father McKenna was born in Chicago and attended St. Dorothy and St. Philip Neri schools, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1965.

He was assistant pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas and associate pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Glenview; St. Bridget; and St. Paul (22nd Place).

In addition, McKenna served as a Catholic chaplain at Maryhaven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center; at Holy Family Medical Center, Des Plaines; and St. James Hospital, Chicago Heights.

Rev. David P. Dowdle, 65, died April 18. He was senior priest and former pastor of St. John of the Cross Parish in Western Springs.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Bernardine School, Forest Park; 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.

Father Dowdle served as associate pastor of St. Marcelline, Schaumburg; St. Mary of Celle, Berwyn; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glenview. He was pastor of St. Gall (1992-2000), then became director of spiritual formation for the Deacon Formation Program.

In 2007, Dowdle was appointed pastor of St. John of the Cross in Western Springs, Illinois, and served in that role until 2018. As his health declined, he continued to serve as a senior priest.

Deacon Mathews VellurattilDeacon Mathews C. Vellurattil, 69, died April 22.

He was ordained in 1999 and served at St. Ladislaus Parish.

He is survived by his wife, Kunjoonjamma (Kay), his son Sijin; two grandchildren; and his siblings Father George Vellurattil, Lizy, Joseph, Alex and Shiny.

Providence Sister Mary Jo (Joseph Maureen) Stewart, 91, died April 20 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indiana, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1945 and professed final vows in 1952. She ministered in education and health care in Indiana, Illinois, California and Mississippi. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Sorrows (1947-1948); St. Genevieve, (1948-1952) and St. Francis Borgia (1952-1954).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Patricia Ann “Pam” (Marie Job) Miller, 78, died April 25 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Kansas City, Sister Pam made her first religious profession in 1967 and her perpetual profession in 1970. She was a teacher, pastoral minister and congregation leader who served in Minnesota, Illinois, Montana, Alaska, Washington and Oregon.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Pam taught at Trinity High School, River Forest (1976-1978).

She is survived by a sister, Cathy Colver, and two brothers, James Miller and Thomas Miller.

Adrian Dominican Sister Beverly (Marie Neal) McEachin, 90, died April 26 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in her 72nd year of religious life,

Sister Beverly ministered in education and school counseling in Illinois, Arizona and Michigan. She also worked in finance and in the sisters’ development office.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Nicholas of Tolentine School (1948-1951, 1962-1965).

She is survived by her sisters Marilyn Helhowski and Susan Nichol and her brothers Patrick McEachin and Robert McEachin.

Viatorian Father Robert T. Bolser, 74, died April 28 in Las Vegas.

Born in Urbana, Illinois, he professed his first vows as a Viatorian in 1964, his final vows in 1967 and was ordained a priest in 1995 in Chicago.

Father Bolser held master’s degrees in religious studies, educational psychology and divinity.

He taught in Springfield and Rock Island, Illinois and in Colombia.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he served as director of affiliates and in campus ministry at St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights (1983-1989); as a pastoral associate at St. Bartholomew Parish, Waukegan (1989-1991); and parochial vicar at St. Viator Parish (1995-2000, 2001-2006). He also ministered in Las Vegas. He moved to the Province Center retirement residence in Arlington Heights in 2016.

He is survived by his brothers Viatorian Father Charles Bolser, John Bolser and Joseph Bolser; and his sisters Mary Catherine Bolser and Colleen Von De Bur.

Providence Sister Mary (Marie Anita) Leahy, 84, died April 30 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1952 and professed final vows in 1959.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1968-1971); was the coordinator of secondary schools for the St. Joseph Province, based in Chicago (1971-1973); taught at St. Genevieve (1972-1973); was principal at St. Jerome (1973-1979); and was finance and development director at Sacred Heart of Mary High School, Arlington Heights (1980-1985).

She ministered in education and development in Indiana, Illinois and Washington, D.C. In 1997, she was named director of the National Religious Retirement Office, an office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that coordinates fundraising for the retirement of members of all religious congregations.

Sister Mary is survived by two sisters, Sheila Ruskauff and Margaret Frederick.

Father John P. Smyth, 84, died April 16. He served at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines for more than 40 years.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Genevieve, DePaul Academy and Quigley Preparatory Seminary. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1957 and turned down an opportunity to play in the National Basketball Association to pursue a vocation to the priesthood. He received a bachelor’s degree in theology from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in 1962 and was ordained the same year.

Following ordination to the priesthood, Smyth was assigned to Maryville Academy in Des Plaines and served there in a variety of roles for more than 40 years. During his time at Maryville, Smyth also served as the director of the Office of Catechesis and Youth Ministry from 1992 until 1995. In 2007, Smyth was appointed president of Notre Dame College Prep, Niles. He  served until 2014.