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Fr. Robert Behnke
Father Robert Behnke, 69, died June 4 at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park. He was a resident of St. Bede the Venerable Parish and former pastor of St. Barbara Parish.
Born in Chicago, Father Behnke attended St. Priscilla and St. Francis Borgia schools and Quigley Preparatory Seminary. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Niles College of Loyola University, and graduated from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1973.
He served as associate pastor at St. Therese of the Infant Jesus (1973-1978); St. Mary Magdalene (1978- 1980); Queen of Martyrs, Evergreen Park (2000); and St. Thomas More (2000-2002). In 1980, Father Behnke was named administrator of Assumption BVM and served in that capacity until 1983, when he was named pastor. The parish eventually merged with St. Catherine of Genoa and Father Behnke remained there until 2000. During his time at Assumption BVM, he was administrator of SS. Peter and Paul Parish for almost three years. Father Behnke then served as pastor of St. Barbara (Throop Street) (2002-2006). From 2006 to 2016, Father Behnke was a resident of St. Thomas More and St. Bede the Venerable parishes.
Father Behnke is survived by a brother, David.
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Fr. Philip Dressler
Father Philip Dressler, 80, died May 26 at St. Juliana Parish Rectory, where he was a resident and pastor emeritus.
Born in Chicago, Father Dressler attended St. Andrew School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1961.
Father Phil, as he was commonly called, was assistant pastor at St. Ita (1961-1965) and St. Anne, Barrington (1965-1972). He was pastor of Immaculate Conception (North Park Ave.) (1979-1985), Queen of Angels (1985-1995) and St. Juliana Parish (1995- 2005).
He also was administrator of St. Anne (1971); Our Lady Help of Christians (1974); St. Juliana (2005); Queen of the Rosary, Elk Grove Village (2007); and St. Mary of Perpetual Help (2008).
Father Dressler is survived by a brother, Joseph Dressler.
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Sr. Mary Declan Foss
Adrian Dominican Sister Mary Declan (Geraldine) Foss, 95, died May 21 in Adrian, Michigan.
Born in Toledo, Ohio, she was in the 67th year of her religious profession.
Sister Mary Declan ministered mostly in education and as a recreational therapist in Michigan, Illinois, California, Ohio and Indiana.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught elementary school at St. Rita (1949-1950) and high school at Aquinas High School (1950-1952).
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Sr. Michael Ellen Green
Providence Sister Michael Ellen (Dorothy Ellen) Green, 86, died May 15 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.
Born in Indianapolis, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1951 and professed final vows in 1958.
In her 65 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered in housekeeping, hospitality and health care.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Columbkille (1954) and St. Sylvester (1954-1958).
Sister Michael Ellen is survived by a sister, Joanne Broden.
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Sr. Veronica Burke
BVM Sister Veronica J. (Timothena) Burke, 95, died May 11 in Dubuque, Iowa.
Born in San Francisco, she entered the BVM congregation in 1939 and professed final vows in 1947.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Veronica taught at St. Gertrude. She also served in Montana, California, Iowa and the Panama Canal Zone.
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Sister Margaret Conroy
Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Margaret “Marge” (John Francis) Conroy, 84, died May 10 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.
Born in Chicago, Sister Marge made her first religious profession in 1951 and her final profession in 1954.
She taught for 50 years and served as an educational administrator and support staff. She served in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marge taught at St. Richard, (1969-1970); Epiphany (1970-1972); St. Giles, Oak Park (1973-1976); St. Barnabas (1980-1981); St. Vincent Ferrer, River Forest (1985-1992); and Queen of All Saints (1992-2007).
She served as support staff at Mercy Hospital (1972-1973), and as director of religious education and assistant principal at St. Joseph Parish and School, Homewood (1976-1980).
She is survived by a brother, Edmund Conroy.
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Sr. M. Eugenia Tremblay
Servite Sister M. Eugenia Tremblay, 94, died May 5 at Addolorat Village in Wheeling. Born in Wisconsin, she entered the Servants of Mary in 1937 and was professed in 1939.
She taught at the elementary, high school and college levels in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Domitilla, Hillside, and St. Philip the Apostle, Northbrook.
She was the youngest and last surviving of seven siblings, four of whom entered religious life.
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Dr. Lucine Mastalerz
Dr. Lucine H. Mastalerz, 66, died with her family around her on May 20.
A lifelong Catholic educator, Dr. Mastalerz began her career as a high school teacher and became a principal in 1988. She had be principal at St,, Ferdinand School for the past 12 years.
Classes at St. Ferdinand were cancelled May 27 for her funeral.
She is survived by her husband Stan, her children Irene Heidelbauer, Rudy and David, and six grandchildren. Two children, Peter and Angeline, preceded her in death.
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Deacon Salvador Cornejo
Deacon Salvador Cornejo, 75, died April 14 in Romeoville, Illinois.
He ministered at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish until he retired 20 years ago, according to his daughter Guille.
Deacon Cornejo was born in Mexico, and married his wife, Teresa, there.
He first came to Chicago in 1967 and worked at Chicago Steel and Wire.
He is survived by his wife and his children Ismael, Ramiro, Guille, Salvador and Teresa. A daughter, Maribel, died as an infant.
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Sr. Vincentia Kaeferstein
BVM Sister Vincentia Kaeferstein, 102, died Jan. 13 in Dubuque, Iowa.
Born in Iowa, she entered the BVM congregation in 1931 and professed final vows in 1939.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Vincentia taught at St. Eulalia, Maywood, and St. Ferdinand. She also ministered in Wyoming and Iowa.
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