Father Richard Joseph Dempsey, 83, died Feb. 4 in Bonita Springs, Florida, where he was retired. Father Dempsey was pastor emeritus of Most Holy Redeemer Parish, Evergreen Park.

Father Dick Dempsey, as he was known, was born in Chicago and attended St. Christina and St. Cajetan schools, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1958.

Father Dempsey was assistant pastor at Our Lady of Grace (1958- 1965); St. Sebastian (1965-1966); Holy Family, North Chicago (1969-1980); and St. Victor, Calumet City (1989-1991).

During this time, he served as chaplain of the Area 7 Catholic Youth Organization and Kelvyn Park High School (1960- 1964). In 1966, Father Dempsey was commissioned as a Navy chaplain. His tours of duty included Vietnam; Okinawa; the Philippines; the USS Constellation aircraft carrier; San Diego and Monterey, California; and the Great Lakes Naval Training Station.

In 1991, he was named pastor of Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Evergreen Park, until his retirement in 2003.

Father Dempsey is survived by his brothers, Msgr. Thomas Dempsey of the Rockford Diocese and Donald Dempsey, and his sisters Deanne O’Toole, Sally Dempsey, Kathleen Moyer and Dominican Sister Dorothy Dempsey.

Adrian Dominican Sister Joyce (Mary Cherubim ) Banks, 85, died Feb. 1 in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Joyce taught music and was a music director in Michigan, Virginia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and in Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Aquinas High School (1966-1973) and was music director at Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, Westchester (1980- 1998).

Sister Joyce is survived by a sister, Jean Griffin.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Jean (Honoria) Richter, 88, died Jan. 30 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, Sister Jean made her first religious profession in 1948 and her final profession in 1951. She taught elementary school and was a college teacher and administrator in Wisconsin, Illinois, New York and Italy.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Jean taught at St. Vincent Ferrer, River Forest (1950-1953), and served as the dean of Rosary College School of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy (1975-1980).

She is survived by a sister, Margaret “Peggy” Wolfe.

BVM Sister Sarah Ann Braig, 72, died Jan. 29 at Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Iowa, she entered the BVM congregation in 1965 and professed final vows in 1975.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Sarah taught first grade at St. Peter, Antioch. She also ministered as a teacher and in health care in Iowa, Oregon and Missouri.

She is survived by brothers Thomas and James Braig and sister Betsy Ann Cerutti.

Resurrectionist Father Fred Ciesla, 93, died at Maryhaven in Glenview Jan. 28. He was a member of the Congregation of the Resurrection since his first vows in 1942 and a priest since 1949.

Father Fred spent his entire apostolic career as a teacher in Chicago, serving as an instructor of theology for more than 50 at Archbishop Weber and Gordon Tech high schools.

He also served as an assistant principal. His greatest love was music and his devotion was directed to the school choir, band and glee club.

He is survived by his sister Irene.

Resurrectionist Father Casimir Tadla, 95, died Jan. 25 at Nazarethville Nursing Home, Des Plaines.

He professed his first vows as a member of the Congregation of the Resurrection 75 years ago and was a priest for 68 years.

He served in parishes in Illinois, northern and southern California, Maryland, Ontario (Canada), Florida and Mexico.

He is survived by his sister Genevive.

Jesuit Father Robert Grib, 75, died Jan. 25 in Clarkston, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, he attended Five Holy Martyrs School and St. Ignatius High School before entering the Jesuits in 1958. He made first vows in 1960.

He served in India from 1965-1996, returning to Chicago to be ordained at St, Thomas More Church in 1972. He taught high school and seminary students in India, teaching English to Hindi speakers and Hindi to English speakers, served in Jesuit formation and as a parish priest and youth director.

After returning to the Chicago area, Father Grib served as pastor at St. Ignatius Parish and associate pastor at Our Lady of the Brook, Northbrook, before directing retreats at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House, Barrington.

He then served as associate pastor at St. Juliana Parish (2002-2009), took a semester sabbatical, and spent the next year in residence at St. Francis Borgia Parish, where he also assisted with music ministry. After that, resided at St. Eugene, where his brother, Jesuit Father Phil Grib, is a priest in residence. In 2015, Father Grib moved to Michigan to care for his health.

Father William Dennis Mannion, 78, died Jan. 20. He was pastor emeritus of Our Lady of Hope Parish, Rosemont, and was a resident at the Presence St. Benedict Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Niles.

Born in Chicago, he He attended St. Dorothy School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1963.

Father Mannion served as assistant pastor of St. Emeric, Country Club Hills (1963- 1967); Holy Name Cathedral (1967-1975); St. Christina (1975-1977); and St. John of the Cross, (1977-1988). During this time, Father Mannion served as defender of the bond at the Metropolitan Tribunal, as well as a member of the Diocesan Clergy Personnel Board (Priests’ Placement Board). He was named pastor of St. Athanasius Parish in Evanston in 1989.

Ten years later, Father Mannion became pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish and served there until his retirement in 2008, when he was named pastor emeritus.

Father Mannion is survived by his brother, Robert Mannion.

Viatorian Father Robert Erickson, 75, died Jan. 15 at Alden Estates of Evanston. Born in Springfield, Illinois, he made his first vows in Arlington Heights in 1959 and was ordained in 1967.

He taught at St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights (1967-1973) before serving as a teacher and administrator at other high schools in Illinois. In 1994, he returned to the Archdiocese of Chicago to serve as treasurer of the Viatorian Province of Chicago. After his retirement in 2010, he continued to minister at Holy Family, Inverness, and other parishes in Arlington Heights area.

He also served as a retreat director, leader of Scripture studies and spiritual director.

He is survived by his brother Thomas Erickson.

Deacon Raymond Ward, 65, died Jan. 15. He was ordained in 1989 and served at St. Jerome Parish.

He worked as sound man for Chicago’s Wilderness Road and other bands.

He is survived by his wife, Kathryn, his children Raymond, Joanna, Nathaniel, Elizabeth and Kathleen Ward; grandchildren Evelyn and Liliana Ward; and siblings Donna Ward, Mark Ward, Andrea Johnston, Paula Ward and Matthew Ward.

Father Robert George Herne, 93, died Jan. 14. He was pastor emeritus of Our Lady of the Brook Parish, Northbrook, and was recently a resident at the Bishop Timothy J. Lyne Residence for Retired Priests in Palos Park.

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

Father Herne served as assistant pastor at St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1947-1952); Holy Name Cathedral (1952-1960); St. Joseph, Wilmette (1960-1964); and St. Richard (1964-1968). He was pastor of Our Lady of the Brook Parish (1968-1991), and was named pastor emeritus there. Before moving to the Bishop Lyne Residence, he was a resident of Sacred Heart Parish, Palos Hills.

Because of his great devotion to the Blessed Mother, Father Herne was an active member of the Legion of Mary throughout most of his life as a priest.

Dominican Father George John Dominic Reynolds, 84, died Jan. 13 at Resurrection Life Center in Chicago.

Born in Chicago, he attended Ascension School, Oak Park, and St. Eulalia School, Maywood.

After attending one year of high school at Quigley Preparatory Seminary, he transferred to Fenwick High School in Oak Park, graduating in 1948.

He studied at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, for two years before entering the Dominican Order in 1951. He professed his first vows in 1952 and was ordained in 1959.

Father Reynolds taught high school at Fenwick and in Texas. He also served in pastoral ministry of parishes and Newman Centers in Minnesota, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Louisiana, Georgia and Wisconsin. In 2014, Father Reynolds moved to Chicago and lived at St. Pius V Priory on limited service.

He is survived by two sisters, Margaret Sallade and Sandy deBlaker.

Adrian Dominican Sister Ruth Anne (Mary Ralph) Kelly, 77, died Jan. 10 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 61st year of her religious profession. She ministered in elementary and secondary education for 44 years in Illinois and Michigan.

She taught at Queen of Angels (1955-1956) and St Celestine, Elmwood Park (1956-1967)

Sister Ruth Anne is survived by a brother, Francis P. Kelly Jr., and sisters: Margaret Rose Kelly, Barbara Kelly and Patricia Kelly.

BVM Sister Frances (Alberic) Wohn, 80, died Dec. 30 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Iowa, she entered the BVM congregation in 1955 and professed final vows in 1963.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Odilo, Berwyn; Holy Name School; Cathedral High School; and St. Benedict High School. She also taught high school and college in Iowa.

She is survived by her sisters Margaret Edwards and Rose Holm.

Adrian Dominican Sister Ethel (Nicholas Marie) Detz, 69, died Dec. 29 while visiting her brother Michael in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Born in Detroit, she was in the 50th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Ethel ministered in elementary and pre-school education and as a spiritual director in Chicago. She also served in South Africa, Canada and New York.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught elementary school at Queen of Angels (1967- 1971), St. Laurence (1972-1975) and Little Flower (1975- 1979); preschool at St. Clare of Montefalco (1979-1986); kindergarten and elementary school at Our Lady of the Westside (1986-1994); kindergarten at St. Basil (1994-1995); and was a preschool master teacher at Visitation (1999-2000). She was a spiritual director in Chicago from 2002 to 2008.

Sister Ethel is survived by her brothers Michael, Nicholas and Richard Detz; and her sister, Dolores Dolecki.

Adrian Dominican Sister Mary Rita (Ann Catherine) Gleason, 96, died Dec. 26 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in New York, she was in the 79th year of her religious life.

Sister Mary Rita ministered in Illinois, Florida, California, Michigan and Kentucky. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Aquinas High School (1942-1944).

Sister Mary Rita is survived by one sister, Patricia Jean Ferrin.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary (John Mark) Woods, 93, died Dec. 22, 2015 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

A Missouri native, she made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1949 and her final profession in 1952. She served in Illinois and Wisconsin and she taught science and chemistry for 46 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary taught at Trinity High School, River Forest (1949-1953) and Rosary College/Dominican University, River Forest (1953- 1957, 1960-1997). She also served at Dominican University as an adviser (1997-1998) and tutor (1997-1998 and 2004-2011).

Dominican Father Giles A. Klapperich, 94, died Dec. 19 in Chicago.

He was born in South Dakota and survived all 15 of his siblings.

He entered the Dominican novitiate in 1946 and made his first profession of vows the next year at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1953.

He did parish ministry and was a chaplain in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Wisconsin before serving as a missionary in Nigeria. He went on to serve in Louisiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Colorado, including an assignment as associate pastor at St. Vincent Ferrer, River Forest. He moved to St. Pius V Priory, the Dominican assisted- living community in Chicago, in 2005 and relocated to Resurrection Life Center in 2014.

Dominican Father Robert Alexius Goedert, 89, died Dec. 19 in Palos Park.

Born in Oak Park, Father. Goedert attended St. Giles School and was a 1943 graduate of Fenwick High School in Oak Park.

He entered the Dominicans in 1944 and was given the religious name Alexius and professed first vows the following year at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest.

He was ordained to the priesthood in 1951 at St. Pius V Church.

He served in New Orleans and then as an active duty chaplain for the U.S. Air Force (1960-1965). He served as a reserve chaplain until 1988. He held various provincial administrative jobs, and from 1990 until his retirement he was involved in preaching ministry across the country and abroad.

Father Goedert lived in the assisted-living community at St. Pius V Priory for many years until he needed 24-hour care. The last few months of his life he lived at the Holy Family Villa in Palos Park, where he died.

He is survived by his brothers, Bishop Raymond Goedert and William Goedert, and his sister, Caroline Doyle.