Divine Word Missionary Father Lawrence Nemer, 88, an early instructor at Catholic Theological Union, died June 9 in Australia.

A missionary in Australia for 25 years, Father Nemer was lector emeritus at Yarra Theological Union in Box Hill, Melbourne, Australia.

Born in Chicago, he entered the Society of the Divine Word high school seminary at East Troy, Wisconsin. He professed religious vows in 1952 and was ordained in 1960.

Father Nemer began his teaching career as a seminarian, teaching English literature at the Brother Candidates’ High School at Techny, Illinois, in 1958. After earning a licentiate in missiology at the Gregorian University in Rome in 1962, he returned to Techny and taught missiology, church history and liturgy at Divine Word Seminary.

In 1970, Father Nemer became a leader in transitioning students from St. Mary’s Seminary at Techny to CTU. For the next two decades, he taught church history at CTU and was named a full professor in 1985.

In 1991, he became a lecturer in church history and mission studies at Yarra Theological Union. Apart from six years as president of the Missionary Institute London in England, he devoted the rest of his career to Yarra Theological Union.

During the summers, he taught courses in Vietnam, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and the United States.

He is survived by one sister, Grace Dossing.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Germaine Scholl, 98, died June 15 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Iowa, she made her first religious profession in 1941 and her perpetual profession in 1944. She served her Dominican Congregation as a culinary artist for 58 years and helped make Mass breads for one year. She served in Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska and Iowa.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Germaine served in the culinary arts at Immaculate Conception Convent (1949-1951); St. Thomas the Apostle Convent, (1969-1970); St. Vincent Ferrer Convent, River Forest (1970); Visitation Convent (1974-1977); and St. Basil Convent (1977).

She is survived by a sister, Dominican Sister Eldena Scholl.

Franciscan Sister of Chicago Mary Dorothea (Frances) Micek, 96, died June 18.

Sister M. Dorothea entered the congregation from Omaha, Nebraska, in 1939, made her first vows in 1943 and made her final vows in 1948.

She ministered in Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota as a nurse, anesthetist and administrator.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Joseph Home (1942-1943); Guardian Angel Day Care Center (1944-1946); St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr (1946-1947); Palos Community Hospital (1978-1982, 1987-1995), Palos Heights; Mother Theresa Home, Lemont (1983-1987); the congregation motherhouse, Lemont (1995-1996, 1999-2021).

She retired in 2012 and continued to reside at the motherhouse.

Mercy Sister Elizabeth “Betty” (Mary Eugenius) Burns, 96, died June 21.

Born in Chicago, she attended Catholic schools and graduated from Mercy High School/St. Patrick Academy in 1943. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in Des Plaines two years later.

Sister Betty served at several Illinois and Wisconsin parochial schools for more than 50 years. She was principal of St. Joan of Arc School, Skokie; St. Catherine of Siena, Oak Park; and St. Stephen Protomartyr, Des Plaines. She also served at Resurrection, St. Finbarr, St. Malachy, Little Flower and Mother McAuley High School in Chicago; St. Mary, Evanston; and St. Mary, Riverside.

In 2002, Sister Betty left teaching and began volunteering in music ministry with people living in assisted living and Alzheimer’s facilities.

Adrian Dominican Sister Jean Irene McAllister, 92, died June 25 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 74th year of her religious profession.

Sister Jean Irene ministered in Illinois, Ohio, Florida and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mary Mount Carmel (1948-1951) and St. James, Maywood (1951-1953).

She is survived by a sister, Catherine Brown.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Loretta (Marie Simeon) McIlvenna, 94, died June 4 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in South Dakota, she made her first religious profession in 1948 and her perpetual profession in 1951. She was a teacher and principal, a religious education consultant, manager at the Dominican motherhouse and a volunteer parish minister in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Alabama and Oklahoma.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Loretta taught at St. Cajetan (1956-1959), St. Thomas More (1965-1971) and Visitation (1976-1984), where she was also principal.

She is survived by her sister, Marie Nash.

Deacon Joseph Michael “Mike” Nugent, 90, died May 19. He served at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Streamwood.

Born in Chicago and raised on the South Side, he moved to the North Side, where he met his wife, Elsie. He graduated from Lane Tech High School and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

He was a resident of Streamwood for 40 years, and he served in the volunteer fire department for 10 years. He was a dedicated employee of AT&T for 33 years. Upon retirement he worked part time at the Countryside Funeral Home for five years as a hearse and limousine driver.

He and Elsie moved to Port Orange, Florida, to get away from the cold, and they lived in Florida year round for 13 years before returning to Schaumburg to be near children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife and his children Deborah Campbell, Steven, Catherine Crowell, Victoria Rundquist, Joseph, Patricia Vacura and Julie Mayer; 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; and his brother, George Chiaro.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marie Charlotte Schneider, 78, died May 10 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Peoria, Sister Marie Charlotte made her first religious profession in 1963 and her perpetual profession in 1968. She taught for 46 years and served as a family care partner for three years. Sister Marie Charlotte was regarded as a “phenomenal” first-grade teacher and received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics from the state of Illinois in 1996.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marie Charlotte taught at Visitation (1964-1969); St. Thomas More (1969-1973); St. Louis de Montfort, Oak Lawn (1973-1974); St. Martin de Porres, Waukegan (2004-2005); and St. Edmund, Oak Park (2005-2011).

She is survived by a sister, Cleo Toohill, and a brother, Marvin Schneider.

Adrian Dominican Sister Alma Marie Messing, 94, died May 20 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 76th year of her religious life.

Sister Alma Marie ministered in education in Florida, Michigan, Illinois and the Bahamas. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1967-1968); Our Lady Gate of Heaven (1978-1979); and St. Ailbe (1979-1983).

She was a computer teacher and manager (1983-1991) and program assistant (1991-2001) at the Museum of Science and Industry.

She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2018.

She is survived by her brother, Donald J. Messing.

Adrian Dominican Sister Arlene (Robert Anthony) Seckel, 83, died May 23 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 65th year of her religious life.

She served in education and pastoral ministry in Michigan, Illinois, North Dakota and Arizona, and was a leader of her congregation.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mary Mount Carmel.

She moved to the Dominican Life Center in 2017.

Sister Arlene is survived by her sister, Kathleen Hayward, and brother, Donald Seckel.

Sr. Angela Donovan

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Angela Donovan, 91, died May 23 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

A Chicago native, she made her first religious profession in 1950 and her perpetual profession in 1953.

She was an educator, chaplain and convent prioress who served in Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana and Arizona.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Angela taught at Queen of Peace, Burbank (1968-1972), and Trinity High School, River Forest (1973-1976). She served as prioress of Trinity Convent, River Forest (1998-2002), and of Divine Providence Convent, Des Plaines (2002-2004), before serving as a tutor at the Learning Center in Lawndale (2005-2006).

Religious of the Sacred Heart Nancy Finn, 87, died April 12 in Atherton, California.

Born in Chicago, she entered the Society of the Sacred Heart after graduating from Barat College in Lake Forest in 1956. She made first vows in 1959 and final vows in 1965.

Sister Nancy’s early years in the society were devoted to teaching at Sacred Heart Schools in Chicago, the Academy and Hardey Prep, and at Convent of the Sacred Heart, Clifton, in Cincinnati. She was the head of school at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Chicago (1969-1975).

Sister Nancy spent 19 years at different times during the 1960s through the 1980s at Woodlands Academy in Lake Forest, where she served as dean of students, director of the community service program, taught photography, and for a time served as a house parent living with the boarders.

Sister Nancy studied at the Art Institute in Chicago, where, in 1990, she earned a bachelor’s of fine art in drawing and painting. During the 1990s, Sister Nancy worked at the Art Institute of Chicago photographing the textile collection. Many of her photographs are featured in their books.

In 1999, Sister Nancy was named the area director of her community in Chicago. She was a member of the Kenmore Community in Chicago until 2020.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Bernadette Ries, 82, died April 20 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Montana, she was a member of the Dominican Sisters of Speyer, Germany, at Kettle Falls, Washington, which became the Dominicans of Spokane in 1986 and merged with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1995. Sister Bernadette made her first profession in 1957 and her perpetual profession in 1961.

She ministered in health care, congregational leadership and administration, and family support.

She served in Washington, Illinois and Minnesota.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Bernadette ministered as a chaplain at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood (1997-1999), and a spiritual care counselor at Hazelden, Chicago (1999-2000).

She is survived by three sisters, Marian Lightner, Emma Jean Freeman and Veronica Franey; and a brother, John Ries.

Mercy Sister Valery Heffner, 93, died April 25.

Born in Milwaukee, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in Chicago in 1945.

For nearly 20 years, Sister Valery taught at schools in Chicago, Skokie, Evergreen Park, Dundee, Park Ridge, and Aurora, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Pleasant and Burlington, Iowa.

She also served with the Latin American Committee and as director of Volunteers for Misericordia North, both in Chicago. In 1981, she began a housing internship and went on to serve for four years at the Chicago Housing Authority and then for Southwest Development Corp. and Mercy Properties, all in Chicago.

For several years, Sister Valery served in pastoral care at Oak Park Hospital and Mercy Rehab in Chicago.

Beginning in 1998, Sister Valery served in several volunteer roles, including prison ministry as a Spanish translator.

BVM Sister Marie C. (Jane Frances) Fitzpatrick, 95, died May 1 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1945 from St. Charles Parish. She professed first vows in 1947 and final vows in 1952.

She was principal at St. Charles (1963-1966).

Sister Marie also was an elementary teacher and principal in Iowa, New York and South Dakota. She was a religious education director in Denver and parish minister and psychotherapist in Aurora, Colorado.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Geraldine “Geri” Hoye, 83, died May 4 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, she made her first profession as a School Sister of Saint Francis of Christ the King of Lemont in 1957 and her perpetual profession in 1962. She served as a teacher and principal before transferring her vows to the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1990. Sister Geri remained in education administration for another three years before moving into parish ministries for the next 23 years.

Sister Geri served in Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Mississippi and Kentucky.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Geri taught at St. George (Ewing Street) (1957-1961); Holy Trinity (1961-1962) and St. Stephen (1967-1969).

Father Thomas A. Tivy, 84, died April 25. He was pastor emeritus of Resurrection Parish.

Born in Chicago, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein before being ordained in 1962.

He was assistant pastor of St. Lambert, Skokie, and St. Hilary Parish and associate pastor of St. Gregory the Great and St. Sylvester. He was pastor of Our Lady of Grace and Resurrection, and he was named pastor emeritus of Resurrection in 2009.

In addition to his parochial assignments, Father Tivy served as judicial vicar, vicar for clergy, dean and member of the Priest Personnel Board.

Father Lawrence Gorski, former associate pastor at St. Mary Parish in Buffalo Grove, was mentored by Father Tivy before he was ordained a priest. Gorski and Father Tivy became lifelong friends after that first year of mentorship.

“He was a priest to the priests,” Gorski said. “He always cared and looked out for us. He was very sensitive to people’s difficulties and went out of his way to help people.”

Sister of the Living Word Elaine Josephine Tworek, 80, died March 31.

Born in Nebraska, Sister Elaine was a teacher and principal at many schools, including St. Thecla (1961-1962, 1978-1980); St. Casimir (1962-1963); St. Mary of the Angels (1963-1965); Resurrection High School (1965-1973, 1980-1988); Queen of the Rosary, Elk Grove Village (1973-1978); and St. Joseph High School, Westchester (1988-1994).

She also was the coordinator of ministry for the Sisters of the Living Word (1998-2002) and a pastoral minister in South Dakota.

Sister Elaine is survived by her sister, Dorothy Greene, and her brothers, Marc and Jim Tworek.

Columban Father Gerald Peter “Jerry” Wilmsen, 86, died on April 6 in Bristol, Rhode Island.   

Born in Chicago, he was baptized at St. Basil and attended parochial schools before entering Quigley Preparatory Seminary in 1948.

He transferred to St. Columban’s Seminary in Silver Creek, New York, for his three remaining years of high school, after hearing a mission talk from a Columban priest.

He was ordained in 1959 and celebrated his first Mass at St. Richard Church.

He ministered in South Korea, then did vocation work while living at the Korean Center in Chicago before returning to Korea.

In 1988, he responded to a call for volunteers to teach in China. After language school, he spent most of the next decade teaching at universities in Wuhan and Guangzhou. He returned to the United States in 2000 and lived outside Hayward, Wisconsin, until deciding in 2015 to move to St. Columban’s House in Bristol.

He is survived by his brother, Lee Wilmsen.

Providence Sister Mary Patricia (Mary Janice) Cummings, 96, died April 12 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.  

Sister Mary Pat entered the Sisters of Providence in 1942 and professed final vows in 1949. In her 79 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered as a teacher and principal and as a pastoral associate in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Sylvester (1944-1948) and St. Genevieve (1959-1961) and was a pastoral associate at Immaculate Conception (1985-2000).