Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Jessica Slack, 90, died Sept. 30 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin

Born in Nebraska, Sister Jessica made her first religious profession in 1955, and her perpetual profession in 1958. She taught English and social science, served as an assistant registrar and was a support staff member in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Nebraska.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Jessica taught at Visitation High School (1955-1960); Trinity High School, River Forest (1961-1967); and Queen of Peace High School, Burbank (1967-1974). She served as a political science intern at Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest (1975-1976).

School Sister of Notre Dame Joan (Marie Patrice) McGovern, 90, died Oct. 3 at Marian Village in Homer Glen.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. Columbanus and St. Dorothy schools and the Academy of Our Lady before entering the candidature for the congregation in 1949.

She served in Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin as a teacher, librarian and administrator. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she earned a master’s degree in library science from Rosary College (now Dominican University) and served as a librarian at Academy of Our Lady; Mother McAuley High School; St. Benedict, Blue Island; Trinity High School, River Forest; St. Paul; Schwab Rehab Center; in Chicago; the Jesuit-Krauss-McCormick Library; and Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center. She also served for one year as administrator at St. Benedict, a retirement community of School Sisters of Notre Dame in Chicago.

Sister Joan then served as receptionist at the Chicago provincial house in Berwyn before retiring at St. Pius X Convent in Stickney and in 2006 was assigned to prayer and presence at Marian Village.

She is survived by her siblings, Margaret Ann Papie and James McGovern.

Providence Sister Agnes Eugene (Gloria) Cordak, 96, died Oct. 18 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, she attended Maternity BVM School and Providence High School before entering the Sisters of Providence in 1941. She professed final vows in 1950.

She ministered in education and held various administrative positions in her community and its schools in Indiana, Illinois and Washington, D.C.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Angela (1956-1958); St. Leo (1958-1962); St. Andrew (1962-1966); St. Francis Xavier, Wilmette (1966-1968); Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1977-1980, 1991-1996); and Cathedral High School (1987-1991).

Father Edward S. Stockus, 90, died Oct. 9. He was pastor emeritus of St. Hugh, Lyons.

Born in Chicago, Father Stockus attended St. Rita High School, the University of Illinois, University of Dayton, the Illinois Institute of Technology and Loyola University and had a long career as a mechanical engineer. He also served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Father Stockus was married, had three sons and was ordained to the permanent diaconate in 1974.

After his wife died in 1986, Father Stockus entered the seminary at the Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, and was ordained a priest at the age of 60 in 1991.

He served as associate pastor of Divine Providence Parish, Westchester; St. Germaine, Oak Lawn; and St. Catherine of Alexandria, Oak Lawn, and as pastor of St. Hugh, where he was named pastor emeritus in 2001.

Father Stanley Stuglik, associate pastor of St. Gerald Parish, Oak Lawn, who looked up to Father Stockus as a grandfather, described him as a priest who was very dedicated to the Eucharist and Mass. “He really liked celebrating baptisms and Mass,” said Stuglik.

After retirement, Father Stockus would go to hospitals daily to anoint people and was helpful to the priests in the area when they needed support during weekend Masses, Stuglik recalled. 

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.