Providence Sister Grace Marie Meehan, 93, died March 2 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. Andrew and St. Sebastian schools. She entered the Sisters of Providence in 1948 and professed final vows in 1955. 

She ministered for 22 years in schools in Indiana, Illinois, Oklahoma and California. In 1972, she became a member of the Congregation Renewal Team, and in 1976, she was appointed the administrator of the congregation infirmary.

After five years, she studied to become a registered nurse and then served in health care positions. After retiring in 2016, she served as a volunteer service in the Chicago area and in New Mexico.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a nurse (1986-2005) and coordinator of volunteers (2005-2016) at St. Francis Hospital, Evanston, and a volunteer at Alexian Brothers Hospital, Elk Grove Village (2017-2019).

Father Daniel A. Smilanic, 76, died Feb. 20. He was former judicial vicar and vicar for Canonical Services for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Born in Chicago, Father Smilanic attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, Xavier University in Cincinnati, Loyola University Chicago and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein before being ordained in 1973.

In addition to his master’s degree in divinity, Smilanic had a licentiate and a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He served as assistant pastor of St. Gall Parish and associate pastor of Mary, Seat of Wisdom Parish, Park Ridge, and St. Wenceslaus Parish. He had served in the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Chicago since 1984, first as a judge and later as vicar. Father Smilanic also served as the president of the Canon Law Society of America.

Auxiliary Bishop Jeffrey Grob, a former colleague, described Father Smilanic as a thoughtful canonist.

“He had a deep respect for canon law, especially when it came to the rights of individuals,” Bishop Grob said. “He was very respected throughout the United States.”

He added that Father Smilanic worked as an advocate for priests as a canonical advisor, and was very active in church leadership.

“He had a great laugh and a wonderful sense of humor. A good man,” Bishop Grob said.

Passionist Father Kenneth O’Malley, 87, died Jan. 23 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Father Kenneth entered the Passionist seminary after high school and was ordained in Louisville in 1964.

He taught and was librarian at the Passionist Preparatory Seminary in Warrenton, Missouri, before joining the library staff at Catholic Theological Union in 1969. He soon became head librarian, a post he held until 1999. During those years, he frequently assisted in nearby parishes on weekends, preached retreats as time permitted and served for 12 years as superior of the local Passionist community.

Father Kenneth then served as local superior of the Passionist community in Houston. In 2011, he moved to Louisville to join the senior members of his community.

Father Kenneth is survived by a brother, Dennis Anthony.

Sister of St. Joseph Michele (Marguerite) Elfering, 95, died at Ascension Living Resurrection Village Chicago on Feb. 9.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Michele attended Barat College in Lake Forest for one year before entering the Sisters of St. Joseph. She continued her studies at Loyola University Chicago and Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee,

Sister Michele taught at Divine Infant, Westchester; St. Francis Xavier and St. Joseph Military Academy, La Grange; and St. Anthony. She was principal of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Melrose Park; St. Hugh, Lyons; and St. John Fisher. She received a Distinguished Teacher Award from the National Catholic Education Association in 1999.

After retiring from teaching, Sister Michele served as a grade-level coordinator and moderated the Rainbows program and student liturgy teams.  She belonged to the Sisters of St. Joseph Peace and Justice Commission, Network and Eighth Day Center for Justice.

From 1988 to 1992, Sister Michele served her congregation as vice president. Sister Michele also found time to teach religious education classes, form “Community with Seniors” at St. Mary’s Parish, Riverside; teach English as a Second Language, deliver food to the poor and volunteer one night a month at a homeless shelter.

Divine Word Father Robert Fisher, 87, one of the first Divine Word missionaries to work in the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana, died Feb. 9 in Techny.

Born in Arkansas, he entered Divine Word Seminary in 1951, professed vows in 1957 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1965.

He earned a licentiate in sacred theology from Gregorian University in Rome and a doctorate in liturgy from the Pontifical Anteneo of Saint Anselmo.

He taught at St. Augustine Seminary in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, before being sent to the Philippines, where he also was seminary teacher. After three years there, he went to the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana, where he and three other missionaries attended to the pastoral and administrative needs of 20 mission outstations and several schools.

He also taught at St. Peter’s Seminary in Cape Coast, Ghana, and fulfilled pastoral roles at several parishes. He also served as a dean and attaché at the nunciature.

In 1984, Father Fisher returned to the United States, teaching at Xavier University in New Orleans and teaching and serving as Catholic chaplain at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas, while serving as a pastor.

In 2005, he became director of St. Augustine’s Retreat Center in Bay St. Louis. When Hurricane Katrina flooded the property, Father Fisher was forced to swim for his life. While the building there was being restored, Father Fisher once again ministered in Texas.

He retired to Techny in retirement in 2017.

He is survived his siblings James L. Fisher, John Fisher, Kay King, JoAnn VanPelt and Frank Kasper.

Sister of the Living Word Joanne Fedewa, 93, died Feb. 13.

Originally from Michigan, Sister Joanne taught in Catholic schools in Minnesota, Chicago, Louisiana, Michigan and Arkansas. She also served as a novice directress at parishes in New Jersey, Illinois and Michigan, and was a was pastoral coordinator at Christ the King Parish in Flint, Michigan. She was a coordinator of spiritual life at the St. Juliana Center and volunteered at St. Joseph Home for the Elderly in Palatine.

She is survived by her brother, Father Matt Fedewa.

Missionaries of Africa Father William Francis Moroney, born in 1935, died Feb. 17 in Nairobi, Kenya.

A Chicago native, Father Moroney attended Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary before entering the Society of Missionaries of Africa in 1958. His priestly formation then took him to New York and Carthage, Tunisia, before he was ordained in 1961.

Post-ordination, he pursued further studies in sociology at Loyola University Chicago before serving as a teacher and pastor in Tanzania. He returned to Chicago to serve as the community superior of the Missionaries of Africa in Chicago from 1972 to 1976 before returning to Tanzania for another 17 years.

In 1994, he was elected superior of the Missionaries of Africa in the USA and played a crucial role in the merging of the USA and Canadian provinces into the North American Province. Following service in France from 2000 to 2006, he returned to East Africa. Upon retirement in 2023, he chose to spend his remaining years in East Africa.

He is survived by his sister, Marilyn Ginnane.

Sinsinawa Domincan Sister Mary Kent Pearson, 89, died Feb. 19 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Pontiac, Illinois, Sister Mary Kent made her first profession in 1954, and her perpetual profession in 1957.

She was a teacher, administrator, religious educator and pastoral minister in Wisconsin, Illinois, Colorado, Minnesota and Iowa. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Philip the Apostle, Northfield; St. Thomas the Apostle;  and St. Sabina.

She is survived by a brother, Duane Pearson.

Father John J. Doyle, 79, died Feb. 6. He was the former associate pastor of Infant Jesus of Prague Parish in Flossmoor.

Born in Evergreen Park, Father Doyle attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, Niles College and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1970.

He served as assistant pastor of St. Margaret Mary Parish and as associate pastor of Queen of Martyrs, Evergreen Park; St. Albert the Great, Burbank; St. George, Tinley Park; St. Alphonsus, Lemont and Infant Jesus of Prague Parish in Flossmoor. He retired in 2014.

Father James Kehoe, pastor emeritus at St. Joan of Arc in Skokie and a classmate of Father Doyle, had been friends with Father Doyle for more than 60 years.

“He was a wonderful priest, always caring and concerned about other people even when he had health issues,” Kehoe said.

Jesuit Father George Lane, 89, died Nov. 12, 2023, in Clarkston, Michigan.

Born in Evanston, he graduated from Loyola Academy and attended Loyola University Chicago for two years before entering the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus in 1954. He was ordained a priest in 1967 and professed final vows in 1974.

Father Lane taught English at St. Ignatius College Prep (1961-1964). After ordination, he ministered at Loyola Press for almost 50 years. He held many positions, including: editorial director and associate director of the press (1969-1989); director, president and publisher (1989-2014).

He was also the superior of the Woodlawn Jesuit Community from 2003 to 2012.

In 2015, Father Lane moved to the Colombiere Center in Michigan.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Father Lane coordinated the efforts that saved and helped renovate Holy Family Church, one of the few buildings that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Father Lane is survived by his brothers Michael, Joseph, Martin and Gregory, and his sister, Laura O’Brien.

Felician Sister Mary Cecilia (Alice) Maczko, 93, died Jan. 19 in Swedish/North Shore Hospital.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. James School and Good Counsel High School. She entered the Felician Sisters Postulancy in 1948 and professed her final vows in 1956. She ministered for over 50 years as a principal and teacher in elementary schools in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. She also was a music teacher at various schools and an organist at different parishes.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at Sts. Peter and Paul (1948-1951); Holy Rosary, North Chicago (1951-1953); St. Bronislava (1953-1956); St. Helen (1956-1958, 1968-1969); and Sacred Heart (1967-1968).

Redemptorist Father Richard Boever, 76, died Jan. 28 in Arizona after a struggle with cancer.

He may be best remembered for promoting devotion to and authoring books about two renowned Redemptorists who ministered in the United States, St. John Neumann and Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.

Born in St. Louis, he recognized his vocation to the priesthood in elementary school. He was accepted into the Redemptorist novitiate in 1967 and professed temporary vows the following year. He professed perpetual vows in 1971 and was ordained a priest in 1973.

He ministered briefly at St. Michael Parish before being assigned to a parish in Missouri and then working as an editor at Liguori Publications.

He served in Missouri until 1992, when he became pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, a post he kept until 1996.

He then did retreat and mission ministry, chaplaincy, college teaching, pottery and weaving, and writing in Kansas, Wisconsin, Missouri and Louisiana, before retiring to a Redemptorist community in Arizona.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Ann (Caitlin) Willits, 89, died Jan. 26 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Iowa, Sister Ann made her first religious profession in 1958 and her perpetual profession in 1961.

She taught in Minnesota and South Dakota, and served on the Leadership Council of the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation from 1973 to 1982. Sister Ann led retreats and parish missions all over the United States and abroad.

She was codirector of the Parable Conference for Dominican Life and Mission for 21 years and an itinerant preacher for 20 years while she developed programs, retreats and parish missions to address the needs of the contemporary church and world.

Resurrection Sister Marilyn (Agatha) Grabar-czyk, 84, died Jan. 16 at Ascension Resurrection Life Center.

Born in Chicago, she was baptized at St. Casimir Parish, where she also attended grade school and high school.

She entered the Sisters of the Resurrection in 1958.

Sister Marilyn taught grades four through eight at St. Thecla, St. Mary of the Angels and St. Casimir schools, and was principal of St. Mary of the Angels. She taught preschool at Resurrection Day Care and high school at Resurrection High School. She also taught in Nebraska and Indiana.

After taking part in a clinical chaplain training program and completing a residency, she served as a chaplain at Resurrection Medical Center. 

She is survived by her sisters Teresa, Bonita and Joanne.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mark O’Loughlin, 96, died Feb. 4.

Born in Kankakee, Sister Mark made her first religious profession in 1954 and her perpetual profession in 1957. Her ministry has been dedicated to teaching, counseling and social work. In Illinois, Sister Mark taught at Trinity High School, River Forest; and Visitation High School, where she also served as counselor. She also served as counselor at Visitation Grade School; Sts. Faith, Hope and Charity, Winnetka; St. Viator, Arlington Heights; and Weber High School.

She also ministered in Wisconsin, Wyoming and the District of Columbia.

Deacon John Navolio, 81, died Dec. 30. He was ordained in 1998 and served at St. Mary of the Lake Parish.

He served in the U.S. Army, graduated from Harrington College of Design and worked for the City of Chicago.

While at St. Mary of the Lake, he visited the sick at the hospital and nursing homes and led Bible study at the parish. Deacon Navolio suffered ill health and retired from ministry in 2005.

He is survived by his brother, Stephen Navolio, and sister, Mary Podmokly.

School Sister of Notre Dame Magdalen Marie Buehler, 78, died Dec. 16 at Resurrection Medical Center.

Born in Chicago, she was a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 58 years.

She served in Illinois and Rome as an elementary school teacher, program director, special education resource person, tutor, volunteer and staff member in the SSND Generalate in Rome. She offered prayer and presence at Marian Village in Homer Glen and at Resurrection Life Center.

She is survived by her brothers Bill Buehler, Martin Buehler and Thomas Buehler.

Viatorian Father Alan Syslo, 84, died Jan. 7 at Addolorato Villa in Wheeling.

Born in Chicago, Father Syslo graduated from St. Philip High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Loyola University Chicago, a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology from the  Catholic University of America, a master of management from Illinois State University and a master of social work from Rutgers University in New Jersey.

He made his first vows in 1958 and was ordained a priest in 1966.

Father Syslo taught at St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights, and at Spalding Institute in Peoria, before serving as a parish priest, campus minister, chaplain and social worker in Louisiana, Nevada and California. He retired to the Viatorians Province Center in Arlington Heights in 2019.

Divine Word Father Thomas Griffith, 80, a champion of Worldwide Marriage Encounter for three decades, died Jan. 10 in Techny.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Rita of Cascia School and entered high school at Divine Word Seminary in East Troy, Wisconsin, in 1957. He professed his first vows in 1965 and was ordained to the priesthood at Techny in 1969.

He studied business as an undergraduate at DePaul University and earned an MBA from George Washington University in 1974.

He served in the leadership of the Society of the Divine Word’s Eastern Province and taught at the Divine Word Seminary in New Jersey before serving as business manager for Divine Word International at Techny from 1983 to 1993. He also served as provincial treasurer for the Chicago Province and the rector of the Divine Word community at Techny.

During his career in administration, he remained active in pastoral care and assisted at St. Norbert, Northbrook.

He became active in Worldwide Marriage Encounter while on the staff of Miramar Retreat Center in Duxbury, Massachusetts, which he joined in 2002.

Due to health reasons, Father Griffith moved back to Techny in 2019.

Daughter of Charity Theresa (Theresa Marian) Peck, 89, died Jan. 12 in Evansville, Indiana.

Born in Milwaukee, she entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis in 1956.

After initial formation and earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Marillac College, Sister Theresa served at hospitals in California and Texas. She then earned an MBA from George Washington University in Washington, D. C., before serving as assistant administrator at St. Joseph Health Center and Hospital in Chicago. She then was administrator of hospitals and health care agencies in Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana, before serving as president and vice president of Daughters of Charity National Health System in St. Louis, and then president and CEO of St. Joseph Health Centers and Hospital and Catholic Health Partners in Chicago.

Sister Theresa then served as a provincial councilor, provincial assistant and provincial treasurer and as administrator of the Mater Dei Campus in Evansville.

She is survived by her sister, Virginia Adamski.