Providence Sister Lucille Nolan, 94, died Dec. 25, 2023, in Terre Haute Indiana.

She taught music for 33 years in schools in Illinois, Indiana, Texas, Oklahoma and North Carolina. In 1983, she moved from school music to church music, serving as director of music and liturgy at two parishes in the Chicago area for the next 23 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered in church and school music at St. Isaac Jogues, Niles (1983-1985); as director of music and liturgy at St. Dismas, Waukegan (1985-1994); and as director of music and liturgy (1994-2004) and in religious education and children’s music (2004-2008) at St. James, Sauk Village.

After officially retiring, she remained in the Chicago area, ministering to the homebound and persons in hospice.

Beginning in 2022, she dedicated herself totally to the ministry of prayer.

Sister Lucille is survived by a brother, John Nolan, and a sister, Providence Sister Carol Nolan.

Providence Sister Carolyn (John Michael) Glynn, 88, died Dec. 28 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Massachusetts, Sister Carolyn entered the Sisters of Providence in 1953 and professed final vows in 1961. She ministered as a primary teacher for 22 years in Indiana, Massachusetts, California and Illinois. After completing a doctorate in ministry, she served in parish ministry for 12 years in the Archdiocese of Chicago before moving to Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mel (1956-1958); St. Genevieve (1969-1971); St. Athanasius, Evanston (1971-1974); and St. Gregory (1974-1977); was director of religious education at St. Mary, Riverside (1980-1987); and was a consultant on religious education and spirituality (1987-1992).

Sister Carolyn is survived by three sisters: Elizabeth Hannon, Rosemary Baglio and Florence Ryan; and two brothers: Timothy Glynn and Allen Glynn.

Redemptorist Father Ramon “Ray” Dompke, 85, died Jan. 7 in the rectory of St. Michael Parish in Old Town.

Born in Chicago, he was baptized at St. Michael and attended elementary school there before going to St. Joseph’s Preparatory Seminary in Kirkwood, Missouri, and entering the Redemptorist novitiate at Mount St. Clement in DeSoto, Missouri. He professed temporary vows in 1959, perpetual vows in 1962 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1964.

Father Dompke served as associate pastor of parishes in Iowa, Nebraska and Michigan, as well as St. Michael (1982-1993) and St. Alphonsus (Wellington Avenue, 1993, 1995) before being named pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish on the West Side (1995-2005).

Father Dompke was named bursar of the Villa Redeemer/North American Novitiate community in Glenview in 2005. He served as rector of the community from 2011 until 2015, when the property was sold.

He returned to the staff at St. Michael’s, where he felt blessed to be near his family, especially his elderly mother, whom he visited every week until she died at the age of 105 in 2019.

In addition to serving the parish community, he volunteered to preach foreign mission appeals throughout the Midwest until his health began to decline.

Resurrection Sister Mary Florence Schultz, 92, died Nov. 17, 2023.

Born in Minnesota, she entered the Sisters of the Resurrection in 1950.

She began her ministry as a second grade teacher at St. Mary of the Angels. Four years later, she began training as a nurse, and went on to receive bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing. She had additional training in caring for alcoholic patients and patients with infectious diseases, which led to her ministries in the alcoholic rehabilitation and infectious disease programs at Resurrection Hospital.

Sister M. Florence also served as director of nursing at Resurrection Nursing Pavilion, became a licensed nursing home administrator and served as the administrator of Resurrection Life Center at its opening. She went on to serve as regional performance improvement director for 11 nursing homes that were part of Resurrection Health Care.

Sister M. Florence’s final ministry was to care for the senior members of the congregation.

Felician Sister Mary Alodia (Mary Barbara) Stozek, 100, died Nov. 26, 2023, at Mother of Good Counsel Convent.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. John of God and St. Joseph schools, then joined the Felician Sisters aspirancy, where she attended Good Counsel High School. She entered the Felician Sisters postulancy in 1942 and professed her final vows in 1949. 

She ministered in Illinois elementary schools as a teacher and served as a psychologist at Good Counsel High School. Later, she worked as a college instructor and director of the Psychoeducational Center at Felician College. She held a leadership position with the Felician community and was the provincial archivist from 1998 to 2015.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at Holy Innocents (1941-1942, 1960); St. Mary Magdalen (1943-1945); St. Hedwig, Niles (1945-1953); St. Stanislaus, Posen (1953-1954); Sts. Peter and Paul (1954-1957); St. James (1957-1960); Felician College (1965-1982); and Good Counsel High School (1988-1992).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Jeri (Mary de Paul) Cashman, 76, died Dec. 9, 2023, in Muskego, Wisconsin.

Born in Minneapolis, Sister Jeri professed vows in 1967.

Sister Jeri served as a justice and peace campus minister, a social worker, a teacher and a pastoral minister in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. Sister Jeri served as a justice and peace campus minister at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She served as pastoral minister in the Diocese of Chilpancingo, Mexico, with a ministry team on behalf of the Archdiocese of Chicago, ministering with 23 communities in the parish of Santiago Apostol in Quechultenango. She also ministered in Bolivia.

She is survived by her brother, Thomas Cashman, and her sister, Carol Rosendahl.

Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary Sister M. June (Alphonse Marie) Hoffman, 98, died Dec. 13, 2023, in Rockford.

A former member of St. Gall Parish, Chicago, Sister June entered the congregation in 1942 and made final vows in 1945.

She taught at St. Gall School, as well as in schools in the Joliet diocese.  She served her religious congregation as formation director and provincial superior, and was the founding administrator of St. Anne Center in Rockford, where she lived and ministered in various capacities from 1993 to her death.

Sister of Christian Charity Therese (Nelwyn) Fields, 98, died Dec. 14, 2023, at Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette.

Born in Louisiana, she entered the congregation in 1938, made first vows in 1943 and made perpetual vows in 1949.

She taught at St. Aloysius School and at St. Martha, Morton Grove, in the 1940s and 1950s, before being sent to New Orleans.

She returned in 1967 to St. Theresa School, Palatine.

In the 1970s, she ministered at the House of Prayer in Steger, then in Calumet City, and as retreat director at St. Margaret Mary Convent.

In the 1990s, Sister Therese served as the local superior of the motherhouse in Wilmette, directress of junior sisters and novice directress. Then she moved to the St. Joseph Convent and served at the St. Joseph Parish Prayer Center. She also did prayer ministry at St. Mary of Celle Convent in Berwyn before moving to Sacred Heart Convent in Wilmette as a patient in 2015.

Sister of St. Joseph Maria Hill, 85, died Dec. 16, 2023.

Sister Maria earned master’s degrees in educational administration and religious education, as well as a certificate in spiritual direction.

Sister Maria taught and was principal of schools in Minnesota before going into religious education.  As a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille, she served on various congregational leadership teams for 20 years. 

She also worked as a facilitator and consultant to other religious communities.  At the Congregation of St. Joseph in La Grange, Sister Maria continued to work as a facilitator and spiritual director, as well as a member of the leadership team.

She is survived by her sister, Helen Hill.

Father Bernard J. Pietrzak, 68, died Nov. 29, He was pastor of St. Anne Parish, Barrington.

Born in Hammond, Indiana, Father Pietrzak attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College of Loyola University, and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1981.

He served as associate pastor of St. Victor, Calumet City; Holy Cross, Deerfield; and Church of the Holy Spirit, Schaumburg. He was pastor of St. Raymond de Penafort, Mount Prospect, from 1996 to 2009 before being named pastor of St. Anne Parish in 2009.

Father Jerome Jacob got to know Father Pietrzak when he served as his associate pastor at St. Raymond de Penafort.

“Bernie was a good mentor and friend. He always saw the best in people. He would encourage young priests and welcome them,” Jacob said. “The Sunday assembly was very important to him. …  He was very dedicated to adult formation, marriage preparation, etc., to help people grow in their spirituality.”

Father Joji Thanugundla and Father Rodolfo Ramirez, associate pastors of St. Anne, wrote a tribute to Pietrzak on the parish’s Instagram account and said: “Father Bernie served our St. Anne community with unwavering dedication, compassion, and a profound commitment to his faith. He touched the lives of many with his inspiring homilies, guidance, and selfless service.”

Deacon N. Arthur Metallo, 86, died Dec. 3. He was ordained in 1974 and served at St. Martha Parish, Morton Grove.

Deacon Metallo worked as a Jewel Foods grocery store manager before becoming pastoral care director at St. Francis Hospital, Evanston, and Resurrection Hospital. He was honored as National Chaplains Association Chaplain of the Year when he retired.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, and his children Cheryl Bischoff, Susan Metallo and Lou Metallo; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and siblings of Carole Metallo, Fran Falcone and Bobby Metallo.

Divine Word Brother John DeBold, 89, a missionary who helped people with disabilities overcome isolation, died on Oct. 13.

Born in Pittsburgh, he began to develop bilateral profound deafness as a teenager but continued to learn with the help of hearing aids and sign language.

A Divine Word confrere once asked about his journey to missionary life, and Brother John responded, “I had the urge to become a priest or missionary since age 17 or so. I knew I was handicapped and knew what it meant and felt like. I had the call to help those in the world who were similar to [me].”

After graduating from high school, Brother John worked in Nabisco’s baking and mixing departments for 17 years. In his mid-30s, he yearned for more, and he entered the Society of the Divine Word in 1973.

He graduated from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., in 1984 and the following year he was assigned to work for the deaf ministry of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. He later was transferred to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and continued working in deaf ministry in the Diocese of Biloxi.

After returning to Pittsburgh to care for his mother, Brother John volunteered at the Pittsburgh Deaf Center, which focuses on deaf clients with developmental disabilities, and worked in Goodwill Industries’ wood shop training program, where he assisted deaf and developmentally disabled clients.

Adrian Dominican Sister Mary Catherine (Ann Virginia) Gagliano, 85, died Nov. 27 in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Mary Catherine ministered in education, pastoral care and campus ministry, and as a volunteer in Michigan and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita School (1963-1967); Our Lady of Knock, Calumet City (1967-1969); St. Philip Neri (1969-1971); St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1971-1974); Trinity High School, River Forest (1980-1981); and Mother Guerin High School, River Grove (1991-1992); did vocation outreach for the Adrian Dominican congregation (2008-2010); volunteered in the food pantry at St. Germaine Parish, Oak Lawn (2010-2015) and tutored in the Sister of St. Joseph School on Wheels (2010-2017).

She is survived by a brother, Frank Gagliano, and a sister, Virginia La Marca.

Deacon George Brooks, 83, of Tinley Park, died Nov. 15. He was ordained in 1991 and served at Infant Jesus of Prague in Flossmoor and as a chaplain at Cook County Jail.

Deacon Brooks is survived by his wife, Patricia; his children Karen Hyma, Donna Lanigan and Patrick Brooks; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by one child, Georgie Brooks.

Deacon John J. Debnar, 93, formerly of Brookfield and Countryside, died Nov. 22. He served for 40 years at St. Barbara Parish, Brookfield.

Deacon Debnar was an Air Force veteran and worked as a barber.

His wife, Mary Ann, predeceased him. He is survived by his children Steven Debnar, Jack Debnar, Mary Ann Debnar, Tim Debnar and Chris Debnar; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and siblings Mike Debnar and Helen Benway.

Adrian Dominican Sister Mary J. (Clare Olivia) Beaubien, 95, died Oct. 25 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Adrian, she was in the 78th year of her religious life.

Sister Beaubien ministered in all levels of education years in Illinois, Michigan, Florida and Ohio, and in community development and teacher training in Mogwase and Kroonstad, South Africa.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Celestine, Elmwood Park.

She is survived by her sister, Margaret Simonis.

Adrian Dominican Sister Marlene (Anthony Irene) Kuhnlein, 89, died Oct. 28 in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Marlene was a teacher; residential home staff member, case worker and social worker; pastoral counselor and bereavement companion; and secretary in Michigan, Illinois, Florida, New Mexico and Arizona.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Albert the Great, Oak Lawn (1962-1966); Queen of Apostles, Riverdale (1966-1967); St. Laurence (1967-1969); St. James, Maywood (1969-1972); and Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1972-1974).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Dorothy (Rita Cascia) Victor, 93, died Oct. 28 in Milwaukee.

Born in Rockford, she made her first religious profession in 1950, and her perpetual profession in 1953. She was a teacher and principal, and spent seven years as a missionary in Cochabamba, Bolivia. In the U.S., she ministered in Illinois, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Dorothy taught at St. Philip Benizi (1950-1956), St. Jarlath (1963-1966) and St. Basil (1978-1980).

Daughter of Charity Sister Marillac (Mildred Elizabeth) Grabinski, 94, died Oct. 30 in Evansville, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Good Counsel High School in 1947 and entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis in 1951.

After initial formation, Sister Marillac taught at elementary schools in Missouri, Alabama, Utah and Illinois. She also served as a docent at the Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg, Maryland; worked in social services and as a parish visitor and as an outreach minister.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Francis de Sales School in Lake Zurich (1980) and worked at Marillac Social Center (1980, 1986-1989) and St. Joseph Hospital (1989-1994).

Providence Sister Loretta Picucci, 82, died Nov. 9 in Providence Health Care in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Sister Loretta was born in Chicago and attended Our Lady of Sorrows School and Providence High School. She entered the Sisters of Providence in 1964 and professed final vows in 1976.

In her 59 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered as a primary teacher, assistant director of a day nursery, outreach minister, family care professional and teacher of English as a second language.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mel (1972-1977); was assistant director of St. Columbkille Day Nursery (1981-1983); and was an aide with Family Care Services (1994-1999).

Sister Loretta is survived by a sister, Josephine Mooney.

Father Thomas A. Moran, 78, died Nov. 8. He was pastor emeritus of Our Lady of the Brook Parish in Northbrook, now known as St. Norbert-Our Lady of the Brook Parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Moran attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1971.

He served as assistant pastor of St. Joseph the Worker, Wheeling, and St. Bonaventure, then as associate pastor of St. Ita; St. Thecla; St. Tarcissus; St. John Brebeuf, Niles; and St. Marcelline, Schaumburg.

He was pastor of St. Hugh, Lyons, from 1995 to 2005, and Our Lady of the Brook from 2005 to 2014, when he became pastor emeritus.

Deacon Peery Duderstadt from St. Norbert-Our Lady of the Brook Parish had been friends with Moran for 60 years.

 “Father Tom was always interested in archaeology, particularly Egyptology. Every year he would go to the Biblical Archaeology Society Convention and in 2006 he and I started going together,” Duderstadt said. Father Moran loved biblical archaeology so much that his sermons were always laced with references to it, Duderstadt said.

Deacon Daniel Troy, 91, died Oct. 27. He was ordained in 1984 and served at Holy Ghost Parish in South Holland.

Deacon Troy, formerly of South Holland, was a professor of mathematics at Purdue University Calumet, a chaplain at Owasippe Scout Reservation and a PADS volunteer.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Anne; his children Leonard Troy, Kathleen Smyser, Joseph Troy, Stephen Troy, Patrick Troy and Jean Swenson; 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Deacon Joseph G. Krakora, 97, died Nov. 3. He was ordained in 1978 and served at St. Mary Parish, Lake Forest. 

Born in Chicago, he was raised in Berwyn. He attended Michigan State University, where he played basketball, and married his wife, Marie, in 1949.

He worked as an auditor for Shell Oil, working in several states, and then joined Payco American, and he and Marie and their six children settled in Lake Forest.

He discerned his vocation to the diaconate after the death of his fourth child, Eileen, in 1975.

He and Marie worked with young couples preparing for marriage and he presided over numerous marriage ceremonies and baptized hundreds of babies, including his grandchildren and some of his great-grandchildren. He also served as associate director of the Office of the Diaconate.

In addition to Eileen, Deacon Krakora was preceded in death by Marie in 2012 and his son Brian four years later. He is survived by his children Janice Krakora-Looby, Susan Krakora, Joseph Krakora and Kevin Krakora; 15 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

Deacon Thomas R. Carvlin, 97, died Oct. 21.

He was ordained in 1977 and served at the former Ascension-St. Susanna Parish, now part of Lord of Mercy Parish, in Harvey.

Deacon Carvlin served in France and Germany during and after World War II, including showing Holocaust footage to German citizens.

He met his wife of 71 years, “Tommy,” after moving to Chicago. At the Chicago Tribune, he was national news editor during the Nixon administration and the 1968 Democratic Convention.

He is survived by his wife, Maureen Evanne (nee Thomas); sister Joyce Murphy; children Mary Carvlin, Peter Carvlin, Anne Bridges, Martha Carvlin, Monica Regan and Elizabeth Carvlin Fuesel; 14 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Marianist Brother Al Kuntemeier, 92, died Oct. 13 in San Antonio, Texas.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Brother Al was in religious life for 75 years.

He taught at Marianist high schools in Missouri and Indiana and served as vocation director for his province before teaching, coaching and serving as a counselor at St. Michael High School in Chicago (1972-1976).

He then taught and coached at high schools in Oklahoma and Texas, retiring from teaching in 2014 at 83 to serve the Marianist Residence Community in San Antonio and as chaplain to the St. Mary’s University tennis team.

Benedictine Sister Patricia (Patrick) Crowley, 84, died Oct. 14 at St. Scholastica Monastery.

She was born and raised in Wilmette and attended St. Joseph School. She entered the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago in September 1958 and made her final vows in 1965.

She taught at St. Lambert, Skokie; Queen of All Saints; and St. Scholastica Academy. She also served as executive director of the Howard Area Community Center, Deborah’s Place and Chicago Continuum of Care; prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago; and board president of Bethany House of Hospitality. She was a spiritual director and ministered to homeless women through the Ignatian Spirituality Project.

Franciscan Sister of Chicago M. Diane Marie Collins, 73, died Aug. 4.

Sister Diane Marie entered the congregation in 1968, made her first vows in 1971 and professed perpetual vows in 1977.

She served at Madonna High School from 1973 to 1991, teaching from 1973 to 1986, then serving as the school social worker after earning a master’s degree in social work from Loyola University Chicago. She also served as local superior (1990-1991).

After moving to the Lemont motherhouse, she served as formation director (1991-1994) and formation team member (1995-1999); general vicar (1993-1998); chair of Franciscan Village/Mother Theresa Home Board of Directors (1993-1998); St. Anthony Medical Center board of directors (1993-1999); chairman of Madonna High School board of directors (1994-2001).

She was general councilor and general secretary (1998-2003) while serving as principal of Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond, Indiana. She served in a variety of positions in community leadership, including general minister (2003-2013), chair of Region 3 of the Franciscan Federation (2004-2006); second vice president (2006-2007) vice president (2007-2008) and president (2008-2009).

She also was a campus minister in Chicago (2013-2019) and evangelization director at St. John Berchmans Parish (2019-2023).

Sister Joan (Joseph Elaine) Marconi, 89, died Sept. 14 in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Joan ministered in elementary and secondary education, occupational therapy and administration  in Michigan, Illinois and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Aquinas High School (1961-1967).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Emeric Bauch, 96, died Sept. 21 in Footville, Wisconsin.

Born in Minnesota, Sister Emeric made her first religious profession in 1950 and her perpetual profession in 1953. She served as a culinary artist and as a nurse’s aide and licensed practical nurse in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Wyoming, Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa, South Carolina and Georgia.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Emeric served as culinary artist at St. Vincent Ferrer Convent, River Forest (1957-1959), and Visitation Convent (1967-1968).

Father Albert R. Adamich, 101, died Sept. 21. He was pastor emeritus of Queen of Peace Parish in North Chicago, now part of Most Blessed Trinity Parish in Waukegan, and the oldest priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago when he died.

Father Al, as he was known, was born in Joliet and attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein before being ordained in 1948. He celebrated 75 years of priestly service in May 2023.

After ordination, Father Adamich was assistant pastor of Mother of God, Waukegan; St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates; and St. Symphorosa. He also served as moderator of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women in 1979. Later, he was associate pastor of Most Holy Redeemer, Evergreen Park, and pastor of Mother of God for 20 years. He was named pastor emeritus in 1992.

Father Adamich resided at Most Holy Redeemer after his retirement was a beloved figure in the parish.

Father James Hyland, pastor of Most Holy Redeemer, remembered Father Adamich’s great love of the Mass and the Eucharist.

“He really loved what he did as a priest,” Hyland said, “and even in retirement he continued to minister to the people in the parish.”

“He’s such an inspiration,” Deacon Mark Phelan told Chicago Catholic in 2022, for an article featuring Father Al’s 100th birthday celebration at the parish. He’s a man of God. He prays for everyone. He prays constantly,” Phelan said. “He’s just the most wonderful man I ever met. He really is.”

Longtime parishioner Winnie Ligda said in 2022 that Father Al didn’t want any kind of celebration for his centenary, but parishioners overruled him.

“We all looked at him and said, ‘Too bad for you,’” Ligda joked. “He’s a good man,” she said.

When Ligda’s husband was ill, Father Al visited him in the hospital, in the nursing home and at her own home.

“He came repeatedly, and he was just wonderful. He was that way with all the parishioners. He’s a very kind, loving and compassionate man,” she said.

On the same occasion, Father Adamich said the secret to his long life was intercessory prayer.

“If you have to pay people to pray for you, do so,” he quipped. “Never pass up the chance to ask people to pray for you.”