Mercy Sister Patricia Illing, 90, died Dec. 18.

Born in Milwaukee, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1945.

During her 72 years as a Sister of Mercy, Sister Pat was an educator in Illinois and Wisconsin, at many grade schools as well as at McAuley High School, Mercy/Unity High School and several community colleges in Chicago. She also founded and served as director of a day care center and was a co-director of the McAuley Little School until becoming archivist for the Sisters of Mercy Chicago Regional Community, which she did until her retirement in 2000.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Stephana Garvey, 91, died Dec. 28 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Stephana made her first religious profession in 1947, and her final profession in 1950. She taught, was a religious education coordinator and volunteered with young children in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and Florida. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Stephana taught at St. Barnabas (1957-1966); St. Philip the Apostle, Northfield (1970-1975); and St. Vincent Ferrer, River Forest (1977-1982). She served as religious education coordinator at Sts. Faith, Hope, and Charity Parish, Winnetka (1986-1993), and as a volunteer at the Rose K. Goedert Center for Early Childhood Education at Dominican University, River Forest (2001-2006). 

She is survived by a sister, Margaret Nedzi, and a brother, Kay Garvey.

School Sister of Notre Dame Jutta Maria (Julie, Joachim Marie) Wiegard, 92, died Dec. 28 at Resurrection Life Center.

Born in Germany, she moved to Chicago with her family as an infant. She attended St. Alphonsus School before becoming an aspirant at the Academy of Our Lady (Longwood Ave.), and then became a candidate in Milwaukee on her 16th birthday.

Sister Julie professed vows in 1944.

She taught and was a principal in Wisconsin and Illinois, including assignments at St. Margaret of Scotland and St. James, Highwood. 

Sister Julie was postulant director for the Chicago province and served in pastoral care at St. Joseph the Worker, Wheeling (1981-1985).

She later served as local leader for retired Sisters at St. Benedict Convent and the Academy of Our Lady (1990 to 2001) and nursing home advocate and in community service provider at Resurrection Life Center and Marian Village, Homer Glen.

Capuchin Friar Brian Braun, 83, died on Dec. 29.

Born in Wisconsin, Father Brian was invested in the Capuchin habit in 1953, perpetually professed in 1957 and ordained a priest in 1960. He served in parochial ministry and seminary positions in Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana.

In 1983, he was assigned as pastor at St. Justin Martyr Parish, and in 1989 he served as pastor of Our Lady Gate of Heaven. In 1995, Brian was appointed co-director of the Cap Corps Volunteer Program, and served in that capacity until 2004. 

Father Brian is survived by his sister, Kathryn.

Adrian Dominican Sister Mary Adelaide (Marie Henry) Eiden, 99, died Dec. 29 in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Mary Adelaide ministered in education in Michigan, Illinois and Florida. She was also a co-provincial of her congregation, hospital chaplain and volunteer pastoral minister.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Queen of Angels (1937-1940, 1946-1948), St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1940-1943), St. Philip Neri (1943-1946) and St. Joseph, Homewood (1948-1951).    

BVM Sister Mary Paul Francis Bailey, 91, died Jan. 1 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Springfield, Illinois, she entered the BVM congregation in 1947 from St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Chicago. She professed final vows in 1955.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Paul Francis taught at Holy Cross and St. Tarcissus, served as treasurer at Immaculata High School and was assistant professor of economics at Mundelein College and Loyola University, where she was also adjunct professor.

Sister of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate M. Nicholas (Pauline) Tosseng, 89, died Jan. 24, 2017.

Sister Nicholas grew up on Chicago’s East Side and was educated at St. Francis de Sales grade school and high school before entering the Joliet Franciscans in 1947. She professed vows in 1950.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Francis de Sales (1953-1967), Assumption (1968-1984), and St. Ludmilla (1984-1987). She was a receptionist, secretary and clerk at St. Tarcissus (1989-2009) and served there as a volunteer from 2009-2016.

She was also known for her skill as a cook and baker and a seamstress, and a driver for the sisters.

Father Theodore C. Stone, 91, died Jan. 4 at Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge. He was most recently  associate pastor of Mary, Seat of Wisdom Parish, Park Ridge. He retired in 2002, but continued to serve the parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Stone attended Western Springs Public Schools, Our Lady of Bethlehem Academy in La Grange, Faulkner Public School in Chicago and St. Ferdinand School. He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained to the priesthood in 1952.

He served as assistant pastor at St. Tarcissus (1952-1957) and St. Cornelius Parish (1966-1969). During his first years as a priest, he became aware that children in non-Catholic elementary schools had little Catholic education and served as associate director and director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine from 1957 through 1969. 

In 1969, Father Stone requested a leave to pursue his vocation to the sacrament of marriage. He and his wife had two children, Bethanne and Timothy Stone. After his wife died in 1981, Father Stone petitioned to return to the active priesthood, and was accepted under Cardinal Bernardin. 

He served as associate pastor at Our Lady Mother of the Church (1991-1992) and at Mary, Seat of Wisdom Parish (1992-2002).

He is survived by his daughter, Bethanne Stone, his son, Timothy Stone, and his sisters, Mary Lippa and Dorothy Moore.

Marianist Brother Anthony Pistone, 82, died Dec. 6 in California.

Born in Chicago, Brother Tony attended St. Michael Central High School. He entered the Society of Mary in 1952 and professed perpetual vows in 1959. 

He taught at Marianist high schools in St. Louis, Milwaukee and Belleville, Illinois.

He was assistant provincial for the Marianist Province of St. Louis (1987-1992).

Later he served the poor in Bangalore, India, and was regional superior for the Marianists in that country. 

Providence Sister Margaret Ann (Gerard) Wilson, 89, died Dec. 7 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Oklahoma, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1946 and professed final vows in 1953.

She ministered in Indiana, Illinois and Oklahoma.  

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at Our Lady of Sorrows (1948-1953), Immaculate Conception (1962-1971) and St. Angela (1973-1997).