Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Jane (Querin) Herlik, 91, died April 4 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Mary Jane made her first religious profession in 1950, and her perpetual profession in 1953. She taught and was a coprincipal, and served in pastoral ministry and HIV/AIDS ministry.

She noticed in the early 1980s that medical personnel and clergy were afraid to enter hospital rooms of those dying of AIDS, so she responded to their needs, saying, “I felt I was being called to minister to those dying with AIDS,” according to an article in the Tampa Bay Times. She served in Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Jane taught at Visitation (1950-1955) and Trinity High School, River Forest (1964-1969, 1973-1978).

She is survived by a sister, Rosalyn Simonar, and a brother, Querin “Quin” Herlik.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Arturo Cranston, 91, died April 10 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Washington, D.C., Sister Arturo made her first religious profession in 1956, and her perpetual profession in 1959. She taught music for 24 years and then studied recreation and natural resources and combined all her passions as director of Camp WeHaKee in Winter, Wisconsin, for 24 years, followed by three years of consulting. Sister Arturo dedicated herself to building up the physical camp and developing young women who were confident and compassionate.

She served in Illinois, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Arturo taught at St. Cajetan (1956-1958) and Sts. Faith, Hope and Charity, Winnetka (1975-1982).

She is survived by a brother, James “Ray” Cranston.

Sister of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis Dolores Fisher, 93, of Bartlett, died April 12.

Born in Chicago, she entered her religious community in 1946.

She was a teacher, principal and special education teacher. She served at St. Mary of Perpetual Help, St. Roman, Queen of the Universe, St. Mary Star of the Sea, St. Clare of Montefalco, Transfiguration and Bartlett Learning Center and Immaculata Congregational Home.

She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Source.

Father Edward G. Corcoran, 91, died March 28. He was pastor emeritus of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus Parish, also known as Little Flower Parish.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Margaret of Scotland School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1956.

He was assistant pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland; Sts. Faith, Hope & Charity, Winnetka; and Our Lady of Grace. He was associate pastor of St. Agnes, Chicago Heights; St. Fabian, Bridgeview; and St. Leonard, Berwyn. He was pastor of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus Parish for 14 years.

In addition, Father Corcoran served for 11 years as spiritual director of the North America Indigenous Ministries.

Father William Corcoran, current pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton, Orland Hills, first met Edward Corcoran at St. Therese of the Infant Jesus Parish where they worked together. Despite the 26 years age gap, they became close friends. “He was very kind and patient with others,” William Corcoran said. “He loved his parishioners and was a great cheerleader for their betterment.”

After retirement, Father Edward Corcoran went to the Diocese of San Diego to help in the Native American missions. 

School Sister of St. Francis Sister Joseline (Florentina) Valdes, 87, died March 1 at Nazarethville Place in Des Plaines.

Born in the Philippines, Sister Joseline was received into the Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception in the Philippines in 1957 and made her final vows in 1965. She was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1976.

Beginning in 1976, Sister Joseline ministered in Illinois for four decades. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a teacher at Holy Angels (1976-1977), assistant principal at St. Philomena School (1977-1978) and teacher at Our Lady of Victory School (1978-1980). She was a caregiver at Life Style Options in Des Plaines (1995-1997) and Community Care System in Oak Park (1996). She served as pastoral minister at St. Peter Canisius Parish (1986-1990) and was assisted living coordinator at Our Lady of Fatima Center in Des Plaines (1997-2013). She also served as the director (1990-1991) and spiritual director (2014-2021) of Fatima Prayer Community in River Grove. In retirement, Sister Joseline served in the ministry of prayer and presence at Fatima Prayer Community from 2021 until the time of her death.  

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Rosemary (Aemilia) Empen, 88, died March 2 in Footville, Wisconsin.

Born in Rochelle, Sister Rosemary made her first religious profession in 1957 and her perpetual profession in 1960. She was a teacher, principal, missionary, pastoral minister and director of a cultural center, and she served in Illinois, New York, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Mississippi, and in Bolivia.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Rosemary taught at St. Basil (1957-1962).

She is survived by three sisters: Shirley Modjallal, Phyliss Gibson and Carol Glenn; and two brothers:  Joseph Empen and Ronald Empen.

Daughter of Charity Cecile Matushek, 81, died in Bridgeton, Missouri, March 14.

Born in Chicago, Sister Cecile graduated from Aquinas High School in 1958 and entered the Daughters of Charity in 1959.

Sister Cecile served in education for the next 28 years in Missouri and Louisiana, during which she earned a master’s degree in education administration.

After completing another master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University in New Orleans, Sister Cecile began working in health care in Texas.

She is survived by her sister, Elissa Rose Oldaker.

Sister of St. Casimir M. Concetta Petrauskas, 101, died March 14 in Lemont.

Born in Pennsylvania, Sister Concetta made her first profession of vows in 1943 and her perpetual vows in 1948. She ministered for 64 years in Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio and Pennsylvania as a teacher and guidance counselor.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Concetta taught at Providence of God (1943-1945), All Saints (1951-1952) and Maria High School (1956-1962). 

Beginning in 2014, her final ministry was that of prayer and presence at Franciscan Village, Lemont.

Adrian Dominican Sister Helen Diane (Ina Marie) McGuirt, 82, died March 18 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Aquinas High School and was in the 64th year of her religious life.

Sister Helen Diane ministered in education, as a religious education coordinator, pastoral minister and counselor in Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Virginia and Kentucky.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Queen of Angels (1965-1966); Bishop Quarter, Oak Park (1966-1968); and St. Columbanus (1968-1972).

She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2012.

Sister Helen Diane is survived by a sister, Mary Ina Otten.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Kathleen (Mary Bernard) Conlin, 89, died March 19 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Kathleen made her first religious profession in 1953 and her perpetual profession in 1956. She was a teacher, support staff member and pastoral minister in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and Indiana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Kathleen taught at St. Barnabas (1956-1960).

She is survived by two sisters, Mary Ries and Patricia Thiesenhusen, and a brother, Bernard “Joe” Conlin.