Claretian Father Theodore S. Cirone, 93, died Sept. 24 while in hospice care in Niles.

Born in Chicago, he grew up in St. Philomena Parish and entered the Claretians at age 14 at St. Jude Seminary in Momence on the recommendation of a priest who came into his father’s barbershop for a haircut. 

“He was a pastor at St. Peter and Paul Parish on the South Side of Chicago,” Father Ted once recalled, “and in talking to my dad, the priest recommended that I join the Claretians, because he knew the good work that they were doing at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, also located on the South Side. I had been with the Franciscans for about a year, and they did not think I could make it with them, but I still wanted to be a priest.”

Father Ted made his first vows in 1947 and his perpetual vows in 1950, and he was ordained in 1955 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Chicago.

He taught in Claretian seminaries and held leadership positions in his community, including provincial consultor of the U.S. Eastern Province and prefect of formation for the province (1961-1967). He spent 18 years in community leadership in Rome, including two terms as vicar general.

In the United States, Father Ted was province consultor/prefect of formation, director of novices and students and vocation director and spiritual director at Claret Center in Chicago (1980-1985) and provincial superior of the U.S. Eastern Province (1992-1998). He then worked at Claret Center as formation and assistant formation director (1998-1999, 2007-2010 and 2010-2012) and at Casa Romero and Claret House and as director of novices (2005-2007), as well as the province prefect of formation (1998-2004). 

During his time at Claret House, Father Ted served as local superior and was a mentor to many of the students.

Father Ted continued working as a spiritual director at Claret Center until 2017, when he retired and became a resident of the Claretian community in Oak Park. In 2020, he moved to Resurrection Life Center.

Servite Father Thomas M. Greaney, 84, died Sept. 25 at AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center in Hinsdale.

Born in Lisdonagh, County Galway, Ireland, he entered the Servite order in 1961. In 1965, he was transferred to Our Lady of the Forest-Stonebridge Priory in Lake Bluff. He studied at St. Louis University, Catholic Theological Union and Loyola University Chicago.

Father Tom was a professed friar in the Servites USA Province for 59 years and a priest for 51 years. He lived in retirement at our Lady of Sorrows Monastery.

He is survived by his brother, Michael Greaney, and his sisters Sheila Kelly, Bridie Wilson and Columban Sister Mary Greaney.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Dorothea (Guillaume) Snaer, 86, died Sept. 27 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in California, Sister Dorothea made her first religious profession in 1958 and her perpetual profession in 1961. She taught French for 46 years in high schools and a college in Illinois, Wisconsin and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Dorothea taught at Trinity High School, River Forest (1958-1968), and at Queen of Peace, Burbank (1970-1978).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Patricia (Edwina) Cherry, 90, died Sept. 28 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in New York, Sister Pat made her first religious profession in 1953 and her perpetual profession in 1957. She was a teacher and a nurse in Illinois, the District of Columbia, Minnesota, Maryland, New York, Wisconsin, Iowa and Pennsylvania.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Pat taught at St. Sabina (1953-1956).

She is survived by a brother, Francis Cherry.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Philip Mary Reilly, 90, died Sept. 28 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Dixon, Sister Philip Mary made her first religious profession in 1955 and her perpetual profession in 1958. She taught Spanish for 49 years and tutored for seven years in Wisconsin and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Philip Mary taught Spanish at Rosary College/Dominican University, River Forest (1961-1964, 1968-2009), and served as a tutor there (2009-2016).

Father Martin E. Bedoya, 81, died Sept. 25. He was the former associate pastor of St. Mary Parish, Des Plaines.

Born in Colombia, he began studies in the Seminary of Yarumal, graduating with the Friars of Rafael de la Serna.

After arriving in the United States, he earned a bachelor’s degree at Chicago State University and a master’s degree in human service administration from Spertus College. He then began a career in Catholic hospitals, becoming chief cardiovascular technologist and director of cardiology and neurology at Columbus Hospital before working as a public service administrator for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

He became an active parishioner at St. Mary and was encouraged to speak to Cardinal Francis George, who encouraged him to study for the priesthood.

Father Bedoya attended Pope St. John XXIII Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts, which specializes in forming men who discern their priestly vocations later in life. He was ordained in 2003.

Father Bedoya served as associate pastor at St. John the Evangelist, Streamwood, until 2005 and St. Mary until 2013, when he retired.

“He wasn’t ordained until he was 63, but he had a vocation his whole life,” said Father Lawrence Collins, pastor of St. Mary. Father Bedoya and Collins worked together at St. Mary Parish for three years, cherishing their friendship even after Bedoya retired. He would always help those in need, whether clothing and toys for children or food for families, according to Collins.

Father John J. (Jerry) Bresnahan, 86, died Sept. 26. He was pastor emeritus of the former St. Beatrice Parish, Schiller Park.

Father Bresnahan was born in Chicago and attended St. Ailbe School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1960.

Father Jerry, as he was known by his parishioners, was assistant pastor of St. Joseph, Homewood; St. Andrew (Addison Street); St. Germaine, Oak Lawn; and St. Joseph, Libertyville. He was a U.S. Army chaplain for five years before serving as associate pastor of St. Mary of the Woods and as pastor at St. Beatrice Parish for 22 years. He was named pastor emeritus in 2005.

“Father Jerry was well loved and respected by the people he served,” said Father Robert Schultz, pastor of Holy Virgin Martyrs Parish in Schiller Park. “His influence on St. Beatrice Parish was felt for years after his retirement. He was known for being soft-spoken, a gentle soul and a true gentleman.”

Deacon Richard M. Willer, 85, died Sept. 14. He was ordained in 1997 and served at St. Thomas of Villanova, Palatine.

Deacon Willer was also a U.S. Army veteran.

He is survived by his wife of almost 62 years, Mary; his children Christine Hofmann, Charlene Gauer, Carol Nash and Colleen Lee; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Barbara Castronovo.

Providence Sister Laurine (Dorothy Catherine) Haley, 93, died Sept. 6 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. Born in Massachusetts, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1945 and professed final vows in 1953.

She ministered for 45 years in schools in Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Maryland and Washington, D.C., and then ministered to the elderly.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Columbkille Day Nursery and St. Genevieve School.

Viatorian Father Michael P. Keliher, 74, died Sept. 10 at the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights. 

Born in Kankakee, he made his first profession in 1966 and was ordained in 1976.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and pre-medicine in 1970 from Loyola University Chicago and a master’s degree in divinity from Catholic Theological Union.

Father Keliher taught biology and coached both wrestling and golf at St. Viator High School (1970-1972, 1976-1985) and was a parish priest in Illinois and in Las Vegas, including at St. Viator Parish in Chicago.

He moved to the Viatorian Province Center residence when he retired in July 2019.