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.