Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Joan (Deirdre) O’Shea, 90, died Dec. 7 in Footville, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, she made her first vows in 1950 and her perpetual vows in 1953. She taught and was a principal; served for 16 years at Rosary College/Dominican University, River Forest; ministered as a chaplain, director of chaplains and in pastoral care; and was the provincial of the Eastern Province of the Sinsinawa Dominicans for four years. She served in New York, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Joan taught at St. Barnabas (1959-1960). She served as assistant professor (1965-1973), dean of students (1965-1973, 1974-1975), promoter of mission integration (2001-2006) and faculty (2006-2008) at Rosary College/Dominican University. She was the provincial for the Eastern Province of the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation while living in River Forest (1988-1992).

She is survived by a sister, Therese Duranso.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Florence (Petra) Gavin, 91, died Dec. 8 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Florence made her first vows in 1950 and her perpetual vows in 1953. She taught and served as director of religious education, nurse’s aide and pastoral care minister. Sister Florence served in Illinois, the District of Columbia, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, California, Iowa, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Hawaii and Tennessee, as well as Cochabamba, Bolivia.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Florence taught at St. Richard (1950-1951), St. Sabina (1964-1965, 1969-1970) and Visitation (1976-1977, 1981-1982).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Christiane Althaus, 86, died Dec. 14 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Mundelein, Sister Christiane made her first vows in 1954 and her perpetual vows in 1957.

She taught in the classroom for 39 years and taught music for one year, with seven more as choir teacher while serving as classroom teacher. Sister Christiane worked and volunteered in the archives at the motherhouse for 20 years. Sister Christiane served in Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Alabama.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Christiane taught at St. Brendan (1968-1970); Immaculate Conception, Waukegan (1970-1974); and Sts. Faith, Hope and Charity, Winnetka (1974-1983).

She is survived by a brother, Lasallian Christian Brother Louis Althaus.

Sister of St. Casimir Mary Philip Ramoska, 100, died Dec. 17 in Lemont.

Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, she completed her high school education at St. Casimir Academy, Chicago. She entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1941, making her first profession of vows in 1943 and her perpetual vows in 1948.

Sister Mary Philip first worked in the dietary departments of Holy Cross Hospital and Loretto Hospital and Holy Family Villa, Lemont. Between 1946 and 1959, she also did dietary work in Nebraska, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. After training as licensed practical nurse, she ministered for 21 years in Pennsylvania, and then for 18 years in the Archdiocese of Chicago at the Sisters of St. Casimir Motherhouse infirmary.

She most recently served in the ministry of prayer and presence at Franciscan Village in Lemont.

Providence Sister Nancy (Jean Paula) Nolan, 84, died on Dec. 20 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Galesburg, Sister Nancy entered the Sisters of Providence in 1955 and professed final vows in 1962.

She taught in elementary schools, worked in administrative and leadership roles and was elected provincial of St. Joseph Province and then general superior of the congregation. After retiring, she served as vocations office coordinator for her congregation and coordinated the Sisters of Providence volunteer ministry at the U.S. Penitentiary Prison Camp in Terre Haute, Indiana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Angela (1965-1971) and was co-provincial of St. Joseph Province, Park Ridge (1975-1983); programs director for the Institute for Spiritual Leadership (1997-1999); and president of Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1999-2008).

Father John J. Kastigar, 94, died Nov. 27. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former United States Air Force chaplain.

Born in Cicero, Father Kastigar attended St. Odilo Catholic School in Berwyn, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1952.

He served as assistant pastor of St. Frances of Rome, Cicero, and Our Lady of the Snows. He then served as an Air Force chaplain from 1961 to 1982. After a sabbatical and assisting at St. Alexander Parish, Palos Heights, for several months, Father Kastigar returned to the military chaplaincy at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, where he served for 30 years.

“He loved the church and was so happy to be a priest,” said Father Jim Kastigar, associate pastor of St. Agnes of Bohemia and Father John Kastigar’s nephew. According to Father Jim Kastigar, his uncle served as a military chaplain in difficult places, such as in Alaska and Germany during the Cold War, in Panama during the transfer of the canal to the Panamanians. However, he used to say that wherever he went God’s people were always good to him.

Father Martin N. Winters, 94, died Nov. 28. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Mundelein Seminary professor and former NBC Chicago television host.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Columbanus School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1952.

After ordination, he served as assistant pastor of St. Barbara, Brookfield, and St. Sylvester. He joined the faculty of Quigley Preparatory Seminary in 1955 and the faculty of Mundelein Seminary, where he taught church history, in 1961. He served as academic dean of Niles College of Loyola University for 18 years.

During Fathers Winters’ teaching years at Quigley Preparatory Seminary in the late 1950s, among the many seminarians was Monsignor Wayne Prist, now pastor emeritus of Queen of All Saints Basilica, who appreciated his professor’s engaging, challenging and playful approach. “I respected his knowledge of history,” Prist said. In the late 1960s, Prist served as a television producer for WMAQ-TV. When he needed a host for the Gamut program, his articulate and confident professor came to mind. As it turned out, Father Winters thrived in that role for 10 years as he interviewed guests on a variety of topics.

Felician Sister Mary Placidia (Hedwig) Kuligot, 98, died Nov. 11 in Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in Chicago, she attended Good Counsel High School and joined the Felician Sisters aspirancy. She entered the Felician Sisters postulancy in 1941 and professed her final vows in 1949. She ministered for 48 years as a teacher and tutor in elementary schools in Illinois and Minnesota. She later served in support services at St. Mary Hospital in Centralia for more than 20 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at Holy Innocents (1941-1942, 1968-1971); Good Shepherd (1943-1944); Sacred Heart (1944-1948, 1959-1965); St. Stanislaus, Posen (1965-1966); and St. Isidore, Blue Island (1971-1994).

Providence Sister Josephine (Louise Joseph) Paolinelli, 84, of Northlake, died on Nov. 17 at Amita Alexian Brothers Hospice in Elk Grove Village.

Born in Chicago, she attended Our Lady of Sorrows School and Providence High School. She entered the Sisters of Providence in 1956 and professed final vows in 1963. She ministered in education and as a business officer and treasurer in Indiana and Illinois. After retiring in 2007, she remained in the Chicago area, where she first cared for her mother and then ministered as a hospital volunteer. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Sorrows (1965-1968) and St. Genevieve (1969-1970) and was business manager at Providence-St. Mel High School; business office administrator at Sacred Heart of Mary, Rolling Meadows (1975-1980); treasurer for her community’s St. Joseph Province, Park Ridge (1980-1989); business manager (1990-1993) and director of finances (1993-2007) at Notre Dame High School for Girls; and volunteered at Guerin College Prep (2007-2008) and Gottlieb Hospital, Melrose Park (2010-2020). 

Providence Sister Mary Lee (Irma) Mettler, 88, died Nov. 24 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1951 and professed final vows in 1959.

She ministered in education, parish work and as a retreat director in Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Texas, Mississippi and Tennessee.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Athanasius, Evanston (1954); and St. Mel (1959-1962).

Sister Mary Lee had many gifts which she shared generously. A woman of considerable artistic talent, she was known for her skill in photography and her beautiful and meticulous craft work. 

She is survived by a sister, Connie Rurka.