Redemptorist Father John (Jack) Ferdinand Willett, 84, died Aug. 15 at St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community in Liguori, Missouri. He influenced generations of Redemptorist missionaries during the 20 years he was involved in formation ministry.

Born in Michigan, Father Willett entered the Redemptorist formation program at St. Joseph Preparatory College in Missouri and professed temporary vows in 1956. He made his final profession of vows in 1959 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1961.

He served at parishes and in preaching ministry in Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin and taught and worked in formation in Redemptorist seminaries. He also served in Nigeria.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he was pastor of St. Alphonsus (1975-1978, 1984-1990).

He retired and moved to St. Clement in Liguori in 2014.

Adrian Dominican Sister Sally Ann (William Rose) Fergus, 82, died Aug. 16 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Immaculata High School. She was in her 63rd year of religious life and had a master’s degree in education from DePaul University and a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University Chicago.

She taught and was a principal in Michigan, Florida and Illinois, and was a religious education consultant at the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Catholic Education. She also served as prioress of the congregation’s Midwest chapter.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Kilian (1960-1966); Ascension, Harvey (1966-1968); St. Philip Neri (1969-1970); and St. Columbanus (1970-1980). She was principal of St. Hilary (1980-1991); a religious education consultant in the archdiocese’s Office of Catholic Education (1993-1999); and Midwest chapter prioress in Burbank (1999-2008).

She is survived by a sister, Maureen McManus, and two brothers, Patrick Fergus and Thomas Fergus.

School Sister of St. Francis Marionita Gergen, 100, died Aug. 17 in Milwaukee.

Born in Nebraska, Sister Marionita was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1941 and made her final vows in 1949.

Sister Marionita ministered in Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin for more than seven decades. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Martin School (1944-1949).

Sister Marionita is survived by a sister, Florence Dondlinger.

Providence Sister Joan (Denis Mary) Slobig, 77, died on Aug. 16 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Chicago Heights, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1964 and professed final vows in 1975.

Sister Joan ministered in education and served as director of the congregation’s formation program, was elected to the general council in 1996 for a five-year term, served as administrator of St. Ann Clinic (now Wabash Valley Health Center) and then served as a parish life coordinator at Indiana parishes.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Providence-St. Mel High School (1969-1971) and was director of instruction at Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1975-1977).

Sister Joan is survived by a sister, Judy Reagan, and her twin brother, Father John E. Slobig.

Providence Sister Barbara (Vincent Ferrer) Doherty, 88, died on Aug. 17 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1951 and professed final vows in 1958.

She was a teacher, theology professor and director of postulants before being elected to the provincial team for the Chicago area, serving as president of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, directing the Institute for Religious Life at Catholic Theological Union and coordinating the Shrine of St. Mother Theodore in St. Mary-of-the-Woods.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Immaculate Conception (1956-1960); St. Joseph Province, Park Ridge (1975-1983); Institute of Religious Formation, Catholic Theological Union (1999-2007).

Mercy Sister Patricia A. (Mary Keverne) Murphy, 85, died Aug. 19.

Born at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, she attended St. Clotilde School and Mercy High School, before she entered the novitiate in 1952.

After earning her nursing degree in 1984, Sister Pat remained in Chicago, serving at Misericordia Home South and Mercy Hospital and Medical Center. However, in 1988, she was called to return as principal of Queen of Martyrs until her retirement in 1994. Sister Pat then volunteered as a nurse diabetes educator with the Chicago Department of Public Health, Mercy Family Health Center, and Mercy Hospital Diabetes Treatment Center, where she led classes on diabetes self-management skills.

Holy Family of Nazareth Sister M. Regina (Helen) Jaszwinski, 90, died May 17 at Nazarethville in Des Plaines.

 Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in 1948. In the Chicago area, she taught at St. Hyacinth; St. Ladislaus; Immaculate Heart of Mary; St. Hedwig; St. Patricia; St. Emily, Mount Prospect; St. Camillus; St. Gilbert, Grayslake; and St. Ann (Pilsen) schools. She also spent six years teaching in Texas. She retired from teaching in 2004 and ministered at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center (now AMITA Health Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center) as a part-time receptionist for nine years.

In 2013, she transferred to Nazarethville, where she ministered to the residents, praying for and with them. She continued to be active for all 90 years of her life.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Ruth Mary Coleman, 87, died July 29 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Oak Park, Sister Ruth Mary made her first religious profession in 1954 and her perpetual profession in 1957.

She taught in schools for 19 years and ministered in religious education for 21 years and spiritual direction for five years. Sister Ruth Mary found great joy in free verse poetry and shared her works with many.

She served in South Dakota, Illinois, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Alabama, Florida and New Mexico.

She is survived by two sisters, Susan O’Regan and Karen Schwartz.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Colleen (Mary Avia) McNicholas, 84, died Aug. 3 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, she made her first religious profession in 1956 and her perpetual profession in 1959. She taught for 10 years before transitioning into educational administration for the next 22 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Colleen taught at St. Luke, River Forest (1963-1966) and served the Sinsinawa Dominican congregation as director of sponsored ministry (1980-1985, 1989-1992). She served at Rosary College/Dominican University, River Forest, as education chair and faulty (1989-1995); dean of the School of Education (1995-2008); and director of the online graduate program (2008-2012). Sister Colleen served as volunteer research assistant at the Sister Mary Nona McGreal Center for Dominican Historical Studies, River Forest (2012-2016).

She also served in New Jersey, Iowa, Minnesota and New York.

She is survived by a sister, Sharon Peterson, and two brothers, John “Jack” McNicholas and James McNicholas.

Mercy Sister Nadine (Anna Mae) Hargadon died Aug. 4.

After graduating from Siena High School in Chicago, Sister Nadine entered the Sisters of Mercy in Des Plaines 69 years ago.

Sister Nadine was a graduate of Saint Xavier College (now University) and the School of Applied Theology at the University of California.

Sister Nadine was a teacher, principal and administrator at several Chicago schools. Later, she became a pastoral associate at St. Charles Lwanga and St. Martin de Porres parishes.

She went on to become an administrator and coordinator at Mercy Manor Aurora.

Upon the celebration of her 60th jubilee, Sister Nadine said that she depended on her motto, “Hope is my strength,” to help her address others’ needs.

She is survived by her siblings Patricia, James and Joseph.

BVM Sister Richard Ann Quilter, 95, died July 20 in Dubuque, Iowa.

She was born in Chicago and attended Our Lady of the Angels School and The Immaculata High School before entering the congregation in 1945. She professed final vows in 1953.

Sister Richard Ann was a first-grade teacher at St. Vincent and Our Lady of the Angels. She also taught in Iowa, Wisconsin and California.

She is survived by her brother, James Quilter.

Franciscan Sister of Chicago Mary Petronia (Leocadia) Budzinski, 99, died July 22.

Sister Mary Petronia entered the congregation as an aspirant while a high school student in 1934. She professed first vows in 1939 and perpetual vows in 1944.

She taught at St. Florian (1954-1956); St. Pancratius (1968-1970); and St. Louise de Marillac, LaGrange Park (1970-1987); and in East St. Louis and in Indiana.

She served in local leadership in many of her assignments. In 1987, she moved to the Lemont motherhouse, where she was a local superior and marketing assistant for Franciscan Village.

She moved to the assisted living section of Our Lady of Victory Convent in 2012.

Precious Blood Father Alphonse Spilly, 80, died July 27 in Ohio, where he had been recovering from an illness.

Born in Hammond, Indiana, he entered the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in 1953 at Brunnerdale, the missionaries’ former high school seminary near Canton, Ohio, and was ordained in 1967. 

Throughout his more than 50 years as a priest, Father Spilly was involved in education ministry and communications for the wider church.

After his ordination, he was an instructor at St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana, and in 1968, he began advanced studies at the University of Chicago and earned a doctorate in biblical studies in 1977.  

He also served in his congregation’s senate. He was named director of the theologate and of formation in 1972. A scholar of the Old Testament, he also taught at Catholic Theological Union and Mundelein Seminary.

In 1984, he was appointed a special assistant to Cardinal Joseph Bernardin. After the cardinal’s death in 1996, he served as special assistant to Cardinal Francis George for two years. He then served as director of the Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Center for Theology and Ministry at CTU.

In 2000, Father Spilly’s two-volume compilation of Selected Works of Joseph Cardinal Bernardin was published by Liturgical Press. 

In 2002, Father Spilly joined the faculty of Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Indiana, as an associate professor of religious studies. He chaired the newly established social justice committee while assisting at four parishes in Whiting.

In 2013, Father Spilly moved to Assumption Seminary in San Antonio, where he became a special assistant to Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller.

Poor health forced his retirement to St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio, in 2017, but he continued to work remotely with Archbishop García-Siller, assisting him with communications.

Mercy Sister Amadea (Florence Rose) Collins, 90, died June 22.

Born in Wheaton and raised in DuPage County, she became acquainted with the Sisters of Mercy when she worked in the kitchen at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Aurora on weekends while attending high school at Madonna. She entered the congregation a few months after she turned 16.

She taught for 25 years starting in 1948, with assignments at many schools in Illinois and a few in Wisconsin.

In 1973, she began working as the religious education coordinator at Our Lady of the Ridge in Chicago Ridge. She held that position until 1985, when she began managing the bookstore at Saint Xavier University.

Later in life, she volunteered by providing transportation to the elderly.

Jesuit Father Frederick “Fred” J. Deters, 83, died July 5.

Born in Cincinnati, he was a Jesuit for more than 65 years.

Father Fred entered the Society of Jesus in 1954. He was ordained in 1967 and took final vows in 1976 at Loyola University Chicago. He earned a doctorate of sacred theology from Catholic University of America in 1973.

He taught at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati (1962-1964). After ordination, Father Fred taught theology at Loyola University Chicago (1973-1980) before directing retreats in Ohio.

Beginning in 1982, Father Fred transitioned into hospital chaplaincy where, for more than 30 years, he used his gifts of listening, empathy and caring for others. He was a chaplain at Loyola University Medical Center (1982-1994) and in Indiana.

Father Fred was missioned to Colombiere Center in Michigan in 2013 to perform service for the Jesuit community.

Felician Sister Mary Yvonne (Janet, Mary Barnabia) Karczewski, 91, died on July 7, in Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in Poland, she moved to Chicago before entering the Felician Sisters postulancy in 1946 and professing her final vows in 1954. She ministered as an elementary school teacher in various schools in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. She also served as the art coordinator for the Felician archdiocesan schools.  

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Helen (1953-1955, 1958-1960), Our Lady of the Garden (1957-1958), Holy Innocents (1962-1965), St. Joseph (1969-1977, 1982-1985), St. Stanislaus, Posen (1977-1980), Sacred Heart 1981-1982) and St. James (1986-1987).

Sister Joan (Joseph Bernard) Zlogar, 90, died July 14 in St. Mary of the Woods, Indiana.

Born in Joliet, Sister Joan entered the Sisters of Providence in 1950 and professed final vows in 1958.

She ministered in education for 30 years as a business teacher and school administrator in Indiana, Illinois and Washington, D.C.

She also served as treasurer for her province and assistant to the treasurer for the Cenacle Sisters in Chicago.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Mark (1953); St. Columbkille High School (1953-1957, 1958-1966); Marywood High School, Evanston (1957-1958); Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (teacher, 1969-1973; principal, 1987-1991); Josephinum High School (1986-1987); Cenacle Midwest Provincialate (1992-1997).

After retirement, she volunteered with organizations including the alumnae organization of St. Columbkille High School.

Sister Genevieve (Mary Gertruda) Pinion, 87, died July 16 at St. Dominic Villa in Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Genevieve made her first religious profession in 1942 and her perpetual profession in 1945.

She taught music for 64 years, serving in Wisconsin, Illinois and Washington, D.C. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Genevieve taught at Visitation High School (1945-1947) and at Rosary College/Dominican University, River Forest (1951-1996), where she was chair of the music department.

She is survived by two sisters, Gertrude Greey and Charlotte Sacks.

Divine Word Father Robert Mallonee, 83, a dean of students at Catholic Theological Union, died June 11 in Techny.

Born in Ohio, Father Mallonee entered the Society of the Divine Word after receiving a bachelor’s degree in history at age 22.

While still a seminarian, he served as a lecturer of history at Divine Word College in Miramar, Massachusetts. While studying theology at Divine Word Seminary at Techny, he worked on a master’s degree in history from Loyola University in Chicago. Later, he earned a doctor of ministry degree in pastoral counseling while serving as associate professor of pastoral care at CTU in Chicago.

Father Mallonee professed vows in 1962 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1967. For his first assignment, he held a dual role as director of the library and director of the pastoral program at Divine Word Seminary at Techny. During this time, he also completed another master’s degree, this one in library science from Rosary College (now Dominican University) in River Forest.

In 1971, he became an associate professor of pastoral care and the following year was appointed dean of students at CTU. During his 16-year tenure at CTU, he was invited to serve a year as a visiting professor in pastoral care at Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City, Philippines.

He returned to Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay in 1985 as director of the Arnoldus Library and lecturer in pastoral psychology and co-founded the Philippine Theological Library Association.

In 1990, he was assigned to Miramar Retreat Center, where he served as a spiritual director and counselor for more than 25 years.

Father Mallonee moved to Techny in 2017.

BVM Sister Carolyn Farrell, died June 14 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Iowa, she entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1953 and professed final vows in 1961.

Sister Carolyn was interim president of Mundelein College, associate vice president at Loyola University and founding director of the Gannon Center for Women and Leadership.

She also was an elementary teacher at St. Tarcissus and schools in Iowa.

During her tenure as director of continuing education at Clarke University, she served on the Dubuque City Council and as mayor. Sister Carolyn also served two terms as regional representative in the BVM Congregation and as founding director of the BVM Women’s Office.

She returned to Dubuque to become the director of the Roberta Kuhn Center and served as a member of the board of trustees at Clarke University. 

She is survived by siblings Dolores Zeller, James Farrell, Margaret Whitman and Thomas Farrell.