Springfield Dominican Sister M. Brendan (Mary Bernadette) Gibbons died April 9 at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield.

She was born in Gridley, Illinois, in 1934, and made her profession of vows in 1954 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield.

Sister M. Brendan taught grades one through six at schools in Illinois and California, including St, Lawrence O’Toole, Matteson. In 2016, she retired to Sacred Heart Convent. For the past three years, she was a tenacious assistant in the congregational archives, where she relished organizing records and unearthing minute historical facts.

She is survived by her sisters, Julie Martinez, Jane Smith, Helen Brandon and Rose Crosby; and her brother, Jim Gibbons.

Viatorian Father James E. Michaletz, 87, died April 10 at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. He had been a Viatorian for 67 years.

Born in Chicago, he graduated in 1949 from St. Mel  High School in Chicago and attended Northwestern University before making his first vows as a Viatorian in 1952 in Arlington Heights. He entered the Viatorian Seminary in Evanston in 1956 and was ordained a priest in 1960.

Father Michaletz was on the founding faculty of Saint Viator High School, serving as a chemistry teacher (1961-1964), assistant principal (1964-1968) and principal (1968-1972). From 1972 to 1975, he was superintendent of Sacred Heart of Mary High School in Rolling Meadows, before serving as assistant superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago (1973-1975). He served as co-director of the Office of School Planning (1975-1976) and Director of Planning (1976-1977) for the archdiocesan school system. He was an assistant professor of education at Dominican University, River Forest (1991-1998).

He retired to the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights, in 2011.

He is survived by his sisters Geraldine Roller and Roberta Michaletz.

Adrian Dominican Sister Ellen (Marie Aquino) Murphy, 82, died April 11 in Adrian, Michigan.

Sister Ellen was born in Detroit, and she was in her 64th year of religious life.

She ministered in Illinois and Indiana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel (1954) and St. Joseph, Homewood (1959-1963); was principal at Queen of Angels (1972-1979); St. Joseph, Wilmette (1980-1983); and St. Catherine of Alexandria, Oak Lawn (1983-1992); was program coordinator for the Women’s Center Project, Westchester     (1994-1995); worked in spiritual development at Centerpoint, South Holland (1995-1998); was an educational consultant in Merrionette Park (2000-2005); and was an administrative assistant in the Dominican Midwest Chapter Office,  Burbank  (2008-2009).

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Louanna Orth, 91, died April 13. She was in her 71st year of religious life.

A native of Chicago, Sister Louanna attended Notre Dame High School for Girls, where she was educated by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. She entered religious life at Mount Notre Dame and taught for 42 years in elementary and high schools in Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Ohio, and Chicago.

Father John F. Baldwin, 85, died April 1. He was a retired U.S. Navy chaplain.

Born in Chicago, Father Baldwin attended St. Clare of Montefalco School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1959.

Father Baldwin served the archdiocese as assistant pastor at Resurrection Parish (Jackson Street) and St. Joseph Parish, Round Lake. He was assigned as chaplain of the U.S. Navy in 1968 and served in that role until retirement.

Deacon Edward P. O’Leary, 81, died March 21. He was ordained a deacon in 1974 and served at St. Eugene Parish and at St. Benedict Nursing Home, Niles.

He was married to the late Joanne. He is survived by his children Ed, Cathy, Maureen, Maribeth and Jack O’Leary; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Deacon Efrain Ayala, 77, died March 20. He was ordained in 1979 and served at Resurrection Parish.

He is survived by his wife, Carmen; his children Diana Ayala, Carmen Iris Ayala and Angelica Ayala Beasley; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Adrian Dominican Sister Margaret Augustine (Nancy Jane) Exworthy, 78, died March 5 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 60th year of her religious life.

Sister Margaret Augustine ministered in Michigan, Illinois and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Ailbe (1960-1966) and St. Kevin (1966-1968) and was principal of St. Michael, Orland Park (1979-1985).

She is survived by a sister, Kareen May Newcombe.

Fr. M. Joseph Casey

Jesuit Father M. Joseph Casey, 82, died March 8. He was a Jesuit for more than 60 years.

Born in Evanston, he ministered in education in Indianapolis and Chicago. He was an associate pastor in Ohio and, later in life, superior at Colombiere Center in Michigan.

Father Joe had three great loves in his life: Jesus (and the Society of Jesus), teaching French and playing bridge. His jovial attitude, wide smile and care for others helped him to make friends easily, according to obituary information from the Jesuits. His dedication and attention to others helped him to maintain great friendships throughout his life.

Sister of the Living Word Grace Edith Rief, 94, died March 14 in Chicago.

Born in Minnesota in 1924, Sister Grace made her final vows in 1949. She was a Sister of the Living Word for 44 years, and previously a member of the Sisters of Christian Charity. She taught in schools in Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana and Michigan. She was a devoted elementary school teacher for just short of 50 years, and she continued as a tutor and ESL teacher for another five years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Gregory; St. Aloysius; St. Isaac Jogues, Niles; St. Raphael; St. Juliana; St. Ita; and St. Jerome.

Sister Grace spent her last years at Resurrection Life Center, where she served in the ministry of prayer and presence.