Father Richard J. Lo Bianco, 70, died Feb. 23. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Deerfield.

Born in Chicago, Father Lo Bianco attended 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.

He served as associate pastor of St. Denis, St. Walter Parish and St. Germaine Parish, Oak Lawn. He then served as pastor of St. Gerald, before becoming associate pastor of St. Alexander, Palos Heights, and Our Lady Mother of the Church, Willow Springs.

Father Lo Bianco became pastor of Divine Savior, Norridge, in 2009, and then pastor of Holy Cross in 2021. He retired in 2024.

Father Gregory Sakowicz, one of Lo Bianco’s classmates, recalled his friend’s zest for life, how he “had a love for life and was very passionate about what he did and what he believed.”

Deacon Edward Patrick DeLorenzo, 84, died Feb. 21. He was ordained in 1975 and ministered at St. Edmund Parish, Oak Park, and Divine Providence Parish, Westchester.

He taught for 10 years at St. Patrick High School, and as a deacon, presided at many family and friends’ baptisms, weddings and funeral services.

School Sister of St. Francis Gloria Fews, 94, died Jan. 9 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Greenfield, Wisconsin.

Born in Aurora, she was received into the community in 1951, made her first vows in 1953 and made her final vows in 1955.

Beginning in 1953, Sister Gloria ministered in Illinois, Colorado, Tennessee and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Holy Angels School from 1953 to 1970.

In retirement, Sister Gloria ministered through prayer and presence at Sacred Heart in Milwaukee from 2016 to 2018, and at Our Lady of Angels from 2018 until her death. 

Sister Gloria is survived by her sisters, Diana Burbridge and Charlotte Pointer.

Redemptorist Father Thomas Franciscus, 85, died Feb. 13 in Arizona.

Born in Nebraska, he entered the Redemptorists’ St. Joseph College in Kirkwood, Missouri, in 1957. He professed temporary vows in 1960. In 1963, at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, he professed permanent vows and in 1965 he was ordained a priest.

After ordination, he served for one year in St. Louis before being assigned to St. Michael Parish in Old Town. He earned a master’s degree in theology from Loyola University Chicago while in full-time ministry. In addition to providing Spanish-language catechesis, he worked with members of youth gangs and engaged in government redevelopment programs.

He later ministered in Missouri and Colorado, before moving to California’s Central Valley, always working in Hispanic ministry. During that time, he earned a licentiate in canon law and began working in the tribunal in the Diocese of Stockton before serving as judicial vicar in the Dioceses of Reno, Nevada, and Monterey, California, while also in parish ministry.

He joined the Redemptorist Renewal Center community in Tucson, Arizona, in 2023.

Adrian Dominican Sister Shirley Mary (James Barbara) Heymes, 94, died Nov. 22, 2024, in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 76th year of her religious life.

Sister Shirley ministered 46 years in education in Chicago as well as in Florida, Michigan and Ohio, and she was a volunteer for 11 years at the Dominican Literacy Center in Detroit.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita of Cascia School.

She is survived by two brothers, Paul Heymes and James Heymes, and a sister, Barbara DeCrick.

Adrian Dominican Sister Miriam Joseph (Josephine Bernadette) Lekan, 101, died Nov. 23, 2024, in Adrian, Michigan.

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

She ministered in education and nursing in Illinois, Michigan, Florida and Ohio.

Adrian Dominican Sister Mary Katherine (Sean Marie) Dolan, 85, died Dec. 4, 2024, in Adrian, Michigan. She was in the 66th year of her life.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Academy of Our Lady in Chicago and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history and a master of divinity degree in pastoral ministry from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California.

Sister Mary Katherine ministered in education, community organization, administration and as a pastoral associate in California, Arizona, Missouri and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a pastoral associate at St. Martin de Porres Parish (1992-1993) and administrator of Grace House women’s residence (1994-2011).

She is survived by two brothers, Thomas Dolan and Lawrence Dolan.

Adrian Dominican Sister Shirley (Elaine Therese) Boettcher, 94, died Dec. 12, 2024, in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Shirley ministered in education and nursing in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, New York, Iowa and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita of Cascia (1953-1954); St. Carthage (1954-1957), St. Columbanus (1957-1959); Bishop Quarter, Oak Park (1967-1968); and St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1968).

Sister Shirley is survived by a sister, Elaine Marcotte.

Adrian Dominican Sister Margaret Mary (Richard Mary) Heinz, 97, died Dec. 14, 2024, in Adrian, Michigan. She was in the 78th year of her religious life.

Born in Chicago, Sister Marg graduated from Aquinas High School. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English and was licensed in clinical pastoral education.

She ministered in education and pastoral care in Illinois and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1961-1966) and Aquinas High School (1966-1969) and was director of pastoral care at Ravenswood Hospital (1976-1997).

She is survived by a sister, Rita Heinz.

Little Sister of the Poor Josephine Brannan, 79, died Feb. 7 in Palatine after a long illness.

Born in St. Louis, she entered the Little Sisters of the Poor in 1965.

After professing her vows in 1968, and for the next 57 years, she devoted herself to a life of service for the needy elderly in a variety of roles and locations.

She is survived by two brothers and three sisters.

Deacon Thomas Corcoran, 81, died Jan. 23.

He was ordained in 1994 and served at St. Raymond de Penafort Parish, Mount Prospect (1994-2003), and Our Lady of the Wayside Parish, Arlington Heights.

At Our Lady of the Wayside, Deacon Corcoran oversaw the care and outreach ministries, including Respect Life, PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter), Our Lady of Unity (formerly St. Mark) sharing parish activities, ministry of care, bereavement ministries, shawl ministry, special needs ministry and domestic abuse ministry.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Irene.

Providence Sister André (Genevieve Louise) Panepinto, 82, died Jan. 11 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Born in Joliet, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1960 and professed final vows in 1968. During her 64 years in religious life, she ministered in elementary education in Illinois for 22 years, nine of which were as principal. After four years as director of the Learning Resource Center at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana, she taught another 20 years in Massachusetts, retiring in 2012.

In 2015, she moved back to Illinois, giving service as needed to her sisters. In 2018, she moved to the motherhouse where she ministered as a driver. Beginning in 2022, her physical condition required that she dedicate herself totally to the ministry of prayer.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at Maternity BVM (1965-1968) and Mother Guerin Convent, River Grove (2015-2018).

She is survived by a sister, Mary Kay Scholtes, and a brother, Ignatius Panepinto.

School Sister of Notre Dame Donita Mathis, 95, died Jan. 14 at Resurrection Life Center.

Born in Chicago, she was a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 72 years. She served as an elementary school teacher in Chicago and Blue Island and as a registered nurse in Chicago, Oak Park and Des Plaines. She was a minister of prayer and presence at Frances Manor in Des Plaines, Resurrection Life Center in Chicago and Marian Village in Homer Glen.

Servant of the Holy Heart of Mary Sister Agnes (Mary) Cunningham, 101, died Jan. 22 in Clifton, Illinois.

Born in England, she was raised in Chicago and was a parishioner of Visitation and St. Gall parishes in her youth. She entered the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary in 1940 and professed vows in 1943.

Sister Agnes ministered in education, teaching elementary school through post-graduate students. She was a professor of church history and patristics at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary from 1967 to 1991, where she helped to educate and form a generation of lay men, priests and bishops. In addition, she served as a freelance writer, theological consultant and translator for her religious community. She was the first female president of the Catholic Theological Society of America.

On her 80th jubilee, she mused, “I wish that everybody knew that as we are passing through times of darkness, challenge and doubt … God still gives us strength and love to support others.”

Father Thomas E. Lamping, 70, died Dec. 31, 2024. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former associate pastor of St. Bartholomew.

Born in Joliet, he attended Bertha-Hewitt High in Bertha, Minnesota, Crosier Seminary in Onamia, Minnesota; Indiana University in Fort Wayne, Indiana; and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1984.

Father Lamping served as associate pastor of St. Joseph, Summit; St. Philomena (now San José Luis Sánchez Del Río), St. Jerome; Queen of Angels (now part of Queen of Apostles); and St. Bartholomew.

Father Michael Gabriel, one of Father Lamping’s classmates, remembered Father Lamping as a great person who “loved life and was incredibly dedicated to the priesthood.”

Gabriel also recalled Father Lamping’s close relationship with his family, how “he was very dedicated to his parents and really loved those around him.”

Father James E. Flynn, 82, died Jan. 5. He was pastor emeritus of Holy Name of Mary Parish.

Born in Chicago, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1967.

Father Flynn was assistant pastor of St. Priscilla, Resurrection (now part of St. Martin de Porres) and Our Lady of the Mount Parish (now part of Our Lady, the Mystical Rose Parish) in Cicero. He served as associate pastor of St. Angela (now part of St. Simon Cyrene) and Holy Name of Mary (now part of Our Lady of Kibeho Parish), where he was named pastor emeritus after he retired in 2012.

He served in retirement at Ascension-St. Susanna in Harvey and St. Gerard Majella in Markham.

Father Thadeo Mgimba, archdiocesan priest and one of Father Flynn’s close friends, remembers Father Flynn as a remarkable person who “was very simple, humble and had a golden heart.”

“He was my spiritual father, my mentor and my friend,” Mgimba added.

Father Stephen F. Kanonik, 68, died Jan. 7. He was pastor of St. Benedict Parish on Irving Park Road.

Born in Chicago, Father Kanonik attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College of Loyola University and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1982.

He served as associate pastor of St. Bruno and St. Louise de Marillac, La Grange Park. He then served as pastor of St. Ladislaus, St. Juliana and St. Benedict Parish. He also served as moderator of the curia and recently had been a member of the Priest Placement Board.

Father Thomas Refermat, associate pastor of St. Benedict, remembered Father Kanonik as “a man who loved the people, cared for the people and wanted to speak up for his parishioners.” “He loved them, and his parishioners loved him, especially the children,” Refermat said. “Working side by side with him, I always saw him as an older brother.”

Father James Kastigar, one of Father Kanonik’s classmates, remembers Father Kanonik as a “very kind, gentle man who really loved other people and he took time to listen to them. He’d always stop what he was doing to talk to people.”

Deacon Robert Boharic, 79, died Jan. 12. He was ordained in 1999 and served at St. Paul VI Parish, formerly at St. Mary, Riverside.

Born at Misericordia Maternity Home in Chicago and then adopted, he attended St. Sabina Parish and Leo High School.

A former U.S. Marine, Deacon Boharic was a prosecutor and a judge in Cook County. He told Chicago Catholic in 2012 that his journey to the diaconate began after his son, Bobby, died of a childhood cancer in 1982.

At that time, he and his wife, Kathleen, began to dig deeper into their faith and became more active in their parish.

Deacon Boharic is survived by his wife, his children Father Thomas Boharic, Marie Schwarzenberger, Margaret Boharic and John Boharic; and seven grandchildren.

Felician Sister Paul Marie (Mary Pulveria, Stella) Pietroczynski, 101, died Dec. 19 in Mother of Good Counsel Convent.

Born in Chicago, she attended Holy Trinity School and Good Counsel High School. She entered the Felician Sisters in 1942 and professed her final vows in 1950. She ministered in various elementary schools as a teacher and principal in Illinois, Wisconsin, Alabama and Minnesota. She also served in the Mercy Home for Boys & Girls Phone Ministry from 2004 to 2017.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Bruno (1942-1943); St. Turibius (1944-1946); St. Bronislava (1946-1947); St. Mary Magdalene (1947-1948); St. Hedwig, Niles (1948-1851); Our Lady of the Gardens (1955-1970); St. Joseph (1985-1986, 1993-1997); Sacred Heart (1988-1990); St.  Wenceslaus (1990-1992); and Our Lady of Ransom, Niles (1997-2004).

Father Joseph C. Taylor, 97, died Dec. 8, 2024. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Born in Chicago, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein before being ordained in 1953.

He served as assistant pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Maurice, St. Cajetan, St. Gabriel and St. Joseph the Worker, Wheeling, before serving as pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish (Nelson Avenue).

Later, Father Taylor served as associate pastor of St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy, Oak Park, and St. Edward Parish. He retired in 1997.

Father Dominic Clemente, pastor of St. Edward Parish, remembered Father Taylor as a kind-hearted, humble and faithful priest. “He would attend Holy Mass daily, even when he couldn’t celebrate the Mass,” Clemente said. “He loved hearing confessions, anointing people and offering pastoral counseling. Being with people and celebrating the sacraments are what gave him life.”

Deacon William John Krueger, 90, died Dec. 17, 2024, in his home in Tucson, Arizona.

He served at St. Mary Parish, Buffalo Grove, and retired in 2018.

Born in Chicago, Deacon Krueger grew up in the Wauconda area, and married his wife, Patricia, in 1951.

Deacon Krueger found his greatest happiness in staying connected to his family, always knowing what everyone was up to and ensuring those he loved felt supported and cherished.

He is survived by Patricia and his children Bill, Claudia, Darcy, Kelly, Dan and Ryan; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Deacon Walter Minor, 90, of Park Ridge, died Dec. 21, 2024. He was ordained in 1978 and served at Our Lady of Ransom Parish, Niles.

Born in Bath, Illinois, Deacon Minor attended Knox College in Galesburg, where he served in the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps. Stationed in Chicago after graduation, he met his wife of 67 years, Eleanor.

He worked in sales and coached his children’s teams in Park Ridge Park District.

He is survived by Eleanor; his children Chris Minor-Hubbell, Laurie Citta and Tracy Sernel; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren; as well his siblings Butch Minor and Sharon McNeil.

Felician Sister Mary Ramona (Elizabeth) Dombrowski, 83, died Nov. 14, 2024, in Milwaukee.

Born in Racine, Wisconsin, she joined the Felician Sisters aspirancy in Chicago, where she attended Good Counsel High School. She entered the Felician Sisters postulancy in 1959 and professed her final vows in 1967. 

She ministered in elementary schools as a teacher and principal in Illinois. She also served in leadership positions within the Felician community. Later she ministered in the field of health administration in Milwaukee. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Turibius (1962), St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates (1965-1966), St. Bruno (1966-1967) and Good Counsel High School (1967-1980).

School Sister of St. Francis Antoinette Schreiber, 102, died Nov. 22, 2024, in Milwaukee.

Born in Pierron, Illinois, she was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1940, made her first profession of vows in 1942 and made her final vows in 1948.

Beginning in 1944, Sister Antoinette ministered in Illinois and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught (1944-1965) and was principal (1962-1965) at St. Maurice School.

Sister Antoinette retired in 2011 and served in the ministry of prayer and presence in Wisconsin.

Felician Sister Mary Josetta (Phyllis Prondzinski), 87, died Nov. 25, 2024, in Mother of Good Counsel Convent.

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, she joined the Felician Sisters Postulancy in Chicago in 1955 and professed her final vows in 1967. She ministered in elementary and high schools as a teacher, art instructor and librarian in Illinois, Alabama, Wisconsin and Minnesota. She also served in United Stand Counseling Center as an art therapist and later became an art instructor at the Portage Park  Senior Center in Chicago.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Joseph (1958-1960), Good Shepherd (1960-1961), St. Wenceslaus (1961-1963), St. Linus, Oak Lawn (1963-1968), St. Joseph High School (1979-1991), Good Counsel High School (1996-2004) and St. Ferdinand (2004-2007).

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Mary Bridget (Rosemary Patricia) Murphy, 84, died Dec. 7, 2024.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. Peter Canisius School and Notre Dame High School for Girls before entering the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1957.

She taught at St. Victor, Calumet City (1962-1966), before being assigned to schools in Ohio, where she completed a master’s degree in education.

In 1972, Sister Mary Bridget began serving as a clinical reading instructor at St. Peter Canisius and St. Robert Bellarmine schools in Chicago, supervising the teachers in the area of reading and teaching them skills to help them help their students. In 1975, she became principal of St. Robert Bellarmine, a post she held for six years.

She returned to Ohio to serve in provincial leadership and secondary education. In 1987, she became principal of Notre Dame High School in Chicago at a time of decreasing enrollment and higher costs, due to fewer sisters on the faculty. She spent the remainder of her professional life ministering to the school and its alumnae.

In 1993, she was appointed president of the school, and in 2003, she became president emeritus.

School Sister of St. Francis Mary Alma Mayer, 97, died Dec. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee.

Born in Michigan, she was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1945, made her first profession of vows in 1947 and made her final vows in 1953.

Beginning in 1947, Sister Mary Alma ministered in Illinois and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Martin (1947-1952) and St. Matthias (1956-1979), where she also served as religious education coordinator (1975-1979).

Sister Mary Alma served as the sacristan at St. Joseph Chapel in her community’s Milwaukee motherhouse from 1979 until her retirement in 2015.

Sister Mary Alma is survived by her brother, Rolland Mayer, and her sisters, Janet Wieber and Katherine Coffman.

Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth Elaine Marie (Deodata) Klugiewicz, 94, died Dec. 10, 2024, in Des Plaines.

Born in Chicago, Sister Elaine Marie joined the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in 1947 and professed her perpetual vows in 1956. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Chicago in 1964 and taught at St. Ann, Assumption BVM and St. Michael, as well as at schools in Texas.

After earning her master’s degree in library science from Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest, in 1972, Sister Elaine Marie served as a high school librarian, first at St. Ann and then at Holy Family Academy until 1984.

Sister Elaine Marie was one of the founding core members of the Nazareth House of Prayer in Schiller Park. She also served as director of religious education at St. Patricia, Hickory Hills; and for six years, Sister Elaine Marie was a local superior at Nazarethville Nursing Home. She was part of the formation Community in Grand Prairie, Texas, and later in Chicago. Before retiring to Nazarethville, Sister Elaine Marie ministered as the spiritual guide to the Associates of the Holy Family.

Divine Word Father Frank Drzaic, 90, a missionary in Paraguay and Croatia, died Dec. 17, 2024, in Techny.

Born in Omaha in 1934, he entered the high school seminary in 1949 and professed vows in 1954. He was ordained to the priesthood in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Techny in 1962.

For his first assignment, he was sent to Paraguay. During his time in South America, he was based in Hernandarias in Central Paraguay and in the city of Che’íro Kue (Cheiro-Cue), now known as Juan Emiliano O’Leary. He provided pastoral care, built schools and chapels, and started a medical clinic.

After 12 years as a missionary in Paraguay, Father Drzaic faced health issues and returned to the United States. He served in Texas and Mississippi for a decade.

Knowing that Father Drzaic was the son of Croatian parents and knew the language, his superiors then assigned him to the Austrian Province, where he worked in Croatia for three years. Following that appointment, he became a member of the Western Province and served St. Malachy Parish in Los Angeles.

In 1996, he was transferred back to the Chicago Province, where he served as an associate pastor for three parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago: Holy Trinity Croatian Catholic Church, St. Bronislava and Our Lady of Charity. Coinciding with his pastoral assignments, he was a part-time chaplain at St. Margaret Mercy Health Care Center in Hammond, Indiana; at St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago, Indiana; and Oak Park Hospital in Oak Park.

Father Drzaic moved to Techny in 2013. Even in retirement, his curious nature led him to learn the Hebrew alphabet, delve deeper into Scripture and practice sacred music on the keyboard.

In addition to his seminary training, Father Drzaic held a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

School Sister of St. Francis Dorothy Sinibaldi, 91, died Dec. 23, 2024, in Milwaukee.

Born in New York State, Sister Dorothy was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1953, made her first profession of vows in 1955 and made her final vows in 1961.

Beginning in 1955, Sister Dorothy ministered in Illinois, New York, and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Joseph School, Waukegan (1964-1967 and 1970-1974); and at St. Peter School, Skokie (1967-1970).

In retirement, Sister Dorothy ministered as a volunteer and through her prayer and presence in New York and in Wisconsin.