Marist Brother Lionel Julian Roy, 86, died Dec. 25 in Lincroft, New Jersey.

Brother Lionel Julian was born in Massachusetts and entered the Marist Brothers Postulancy in 1946 and professed first vows in 1949. He taught in schools in New York, South Dakota, Texas, Florida and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he served at Marist High School from 1979 until he retired in 1998.

Divine Word Father Pascal LoBianco, 95, died Dec. 19 in Techny. He was a missionary in Ghana.

Born in Chicago, he grew up in Dubuque, Iowa, and began studying with the Divine Word Society in 1935.

Father LoBianco was assigned to Ghana after being ordained in 1950. He worked tirelessly in establishing churches, rectories, convents and 19 government-approved elementary schools, as well as a hospital, nursing school and teachers’ college. He later served as vicar general of the then-Diocese of Accra.

After 32 years in Ghana, Father LoBianco returned to the United States and served in the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois. He retired to Techny in 1997.

BVM Sister Claire Marie (Clarene) McLevy, 92, died Dec. 20 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, she entered the BVM congregation in 1942 and professed final vows in 1950.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Claire Marie taught elementary school at Our Lady of Angels and was a staff worker at Wright Hall. She also taught at schools in Missouri and California.

Adrian Dominican Sister Maris Stella (Mary Jane) Beaufait, 94, died Dec. 18 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 74th year of her religious life.

Sister Maris Stella ministered in Illinois and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita (1943); Our Lady of Good Counsel (1943-1945); and St. Joseph, Homewood (1945-1953).

Sister Maris Stella is survived by a sister, Elizabeth Ann Carrier.

Adrian Dominican Sister Barbara (Marie Giles) Wetterer, 88, died Dec. 15 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she was in the 69th year of her religious profession.

Sister Barbara served in schools and dioceses in Florida, Illinois, Puerto Rico, Arizona, California, Michigan, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1953-1957).

Adrian Dominican Sister Jean Edward (Violet Ellen) Selcke, 101, died Dec. 15 at the Dominican Life Center, Adrian, Michigan.

Sister Jean Edward was born in Chicago and graduated from John Marshall High School before entering the Adrian Dominicans. She was in the 82nd year of her religious life.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mary Mt. Carmel (1946-1951); St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1959-1964); and St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1964-1967). She was an assistant librarian and catalogue typist at Sawyer/Maywood Public Library, Oak Park (1970-1971), and Maywood Public Library, Maywood (1971-1978).

Providence Sister Anne (Anna Mae) Krause, 94, died April 16 in Terre Haute, Indiana. Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1944 and professed final vows in 1952.

She ministered in Indiana, Illinois and Massachusetts. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Providence High School (1962-1963, 1964-1969) and was provincial treasurer in Park Ridge (1969-80).

Deacon James Sanford, 78, died Dec. 22. He was ordained in 1986 and served at St. Emily Parish, Mount Prospect.

Deacon Sanford served in the U.S. Army and was a lithographer for almost 40 years. Beginning in 1992, he served as a pastoral associate at St. Emily.

He is survived by his wife, LaVerne; his children Theresa Reppen, Catherine Sikyta, James Sanford Jr. and Mary Okragly; and his grandchildren Shannon, Rebecca, Connor, Matthew, Ashley, Melanie, Joseph and Savannah.

Deacon John “Jack” McMahon, 89, died Dec. 21. He was ordained in 1983 and served at St. Ignatius Parish and St. Bede Parish, Ingleside.

As a boy, he was an altar server at St. Angela Parish, and he entered the Passionist Monastery in Kansas before discerning that he was called to marriage. He sometimes worked three jobs to support his family, including stints as a bridge tender on the Chicago River and as an electrician in the water department for the City of Chicago.

He also served in the U.S. Army during the occupation of Rome in 1946-1947, and then served many roles for the VFW posts in West Chicago, Skokie and Fox Lake.

He was involved in his parishes, serving as president of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul, on the Pastoral Council and as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at St. Ignatius.

After retiring, he entered the diaconate and spent time visiting the sick and elderly, delivering Meals on Wheels, preaching and officiating at baptisms and weddings.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret, children Maureen McMahon, Mary Kocourek, Rosemary Rosen, Meg Christensen, Eileen McMahon, Daniel McMahon, Jacqueline Floan, John McMahon and Paul McMahon; 16 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; as well as his brother, Larry McMahon.

Father Donald Joseph Ahearn, 91, died Jan. 1 after a brief stay in hospice at St. Benedict Nursing and Rehab Center, Niles. He was pastor emeritus of St. Juliana Parish.

Born in Chicago, he attended Presentation B.V.M. School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained by Cardinal Samuel Stritch in 1951.

Father Ahearn served as assistant pastor at St. Gertrude, Franklin Park (1951-1959); St. Barbara, Brookfield (1959-1966); St. David (1966-1970); All Saints (1973-1974); and Our Lady of Ransom, Niles (1974-1975). He was administrator and pastor of St. Nicholas (State Street) (1970-1973) and administrator of Holy Rosary Slovak Parish (1973). He was named pastor of St. Juliana in 1975, and served in that capacity until he retired in 1995 and was named pastor emeritus.

Father Ahearn also served as chaplain of St. Patrick High School, as a member of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Review Board and School Board Advisory Committee, and as assistant vicar for senior priests.

Adrian Dominican Sister Diana (Mary Agatha) Miller, 98, died April 14 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 78th year of her religious life.

Sister Diana ministered in Michigan, Illinois and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1943-1951) and St. Denis (1982-1984).

Sister Diana is survived by a brother, Philip Miller, and a sister, Jane Springer.

BVM Sister Therese (Rita Maurice) Fox), 86, died April 11 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Chicago, she entered the BVM congregation in 1952 from St. Dorothy Parish. She professed final vows in 1960.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Therese taught at St. Gilbert, Grayslake; was principal at Our Lady of Lourdes; and served as elementary school counselor at Our Lady of the Angels, St. Ita, St. Constance and St. Mary of the Lake. She also taught in New York, Iowa and Missouri.

Sister of St. Casimir Salvatore Ciuckyte, 93, died April 10.

Sister Salvatore was born in Lithuania, where she entered the Sisters of St. Casimir. During World War II she fled to Germany before immigrating to the United States and entering the Sisters of St. Casimir in Chicago in 1947. She made her final vows in 1955.

She ministered in elementary schools in Illinois, Indiana, California, Pennsylvania, Florida, Massachusetts, New Mexico and Ohio. In the Archdiocese of Chicago she served as teacher at Holy Cross (Back of the Yards); All Saints; Nativity BVM; St. Anthony (Cicero); Providence of God; St. George (Bridgeport); and Immaculate Conception (44th Street). She was principal of St. George and St. Anthony.

ister Salvatore also served in pastoral ministry at Immaculate Conception Parish and Nativity BVM Parish. Most recently Sister Salvatore participated in the ministry of prayer (2014-2017) at Franciscan Village in Lemont.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marie Juan Maney, 89, died Dec. 2 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. Born in Wisconsin, Sister Marie Juan made her first vows in 1947 and her final vows in 1950. Nebraska and Minnesota.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marie Juan taught at St. Luke, River Forest (1955- 1958), and St. Sabina (1959-1967). She served as liturgist and music director at St. Cajetan Parish (1984-1988).

She is survived by her sisters Eileen Nettesheim and Margaret Loughney.

Sister of St. Casimir Angeline Juronis, 93, died April 6.

Born in Massachusetts, Sister Angeline entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1941 and made her final vows in 1949. She ministered in Illinois, Pennsylvania and Nebraska. In the Archdiocese of Chicago she served as dietician at Holy Cross Hospital; Maria High School; St. Norbert Convent, Northbrook; St. Anthony Convent, Cicero; and the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Casimir. Most recently Sister Angeline participated in the ministry of prayer (2015-2017) at Franciscan Village, Lemont.

Loretto Sister Anne Michelle LaMarre, 88, died Nov. 28 in Kentucky.

Born in Kankakee, Illinois, she entered the Sisters of Loretto in 1946 and made final vows in 1952.

Sister Anne Michelle taught Catholic primary grades, kindergarten and preschool for six decades in Illinois, including more than 27 years at St. Paul of the Cross in Park Ridge, and in Missouri and Texas.

While teaching, Sister Anne Michelle became known to many of her students as Mother Goose, dressing the part when she read to her young charges. The most important thing in teaching little ones, she said, was to love each child, to let each child know that he or she was lovable and was loved.

At St. Paul of the Cross, she taught primary grades and preschool from 1982 to 2006. She spent three more years there as a teacher assistant and librarian.

Mercy Sister Norena Gawronski. 92, died April 7.

Born in Wisconsin, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in Des Plaines in 1942. She made her final vows in 1948.

For 30 years, she taught primary and secondary grades in Catholic schools across the Chicago and Milwaukee archdioceses. Her work also expanded into the arts; she played the piano and organ and she directed plays.

She also taught religious education at St. Clotilde and served as a pastoral minister for one year at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish.

She then ministered to the poor in West Virginia as a health aide. Sister Norena moved to Mercy Convent in Chicago in 2008.

Sister of Christian Charity M. Madeline (Martha Clara) Portner, 104, died on April 5 at Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette.

Born in Minnesota, she entered the postulancy in 1935. She professed perpetual vows in 1943.

Sister M. Madeline taught elementary school in Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and Louisiana before serving as librarian at St. Teresa School (1984-1990). She also served as a tutor at Josephinum Convent (1999-2001). She worked in the Sacred Heart Convent library in Wilmette (2001-2006) before retiring in 2007 from active ministry.

Mercy Sister Mary Marita Shaughnessy, 91, died March 15.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. Gabriel School and St. Patrick Academy in Des Plaines. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in Des Plaines in 1943.

She taught primary grades throughout the Chicago area from 1945 until the mid-1960s. After ministering in Wisconsin and McHenry, Illinois, she returned Chicago and served at Mother McAuley High School as a substitute teacher and support staff (1996-2006). From 2006 to 2011, she volunteered in development.

Sister of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis Dolores Mary (Aurelia) Koza, 89, died Nov. 27.

She was a teacher, director of novices, provincial of SSJ TOSF, director of religious education and pastoral associate, and had been in religious life for 71 years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at Lourdes High School, Immaculata Congregational Home, St. Leo the Great Parish and Our Lady of the Snows.

Sister Alice (Walter Marie) Wolski, 94, died Nov. 28 in Adrian, Michigan.

Sister Alice was born in Detroit and was in her 76th year of religious life.

Sister Alice ministered in Michigan, Illinois, Florida and Ohio. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Queen of Angels (1941- 1948).

Sister of St. Joseph Margaret Ann White, 85, died Nov. 25.

She had been in religious life for 66 years.

Sister Margaret Ann was a teacher at Divine Infant, Westchester; St. Hugh, Lyons; St. Francis Xavier, LaGrange and Our Lady of Bethlehem, LaGrange. She was director of the learning center at St. Francis Xavier, La- Grange, and secretary to the development and alumni Office at Nazareth Academy. Sister Margaret Ann was also secretary of the Congregation of St. Joseph and secretary to the Comboni Fathers.

She is survived by her sister, Dominican Sister Colleen White.

Deacon Gene O’Hern, 73, and his wife, Carol O’Hern, 75, died Dec. 12 in a car accident in Gainesville, Florida.

Deacon O’Hern was ordained in 1999 and served at St. Thomas of Villanova Parish in Palatine. He and his wife moved to Rockledge, Florida, in 2003. He ministered at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Cocoa, Florida, where they were members. He also worked as finance director of St. Mary Parish in Rockledge.

Father William Sheridan, 90, died Dec. 9. For most of his priestly ministry, he was on the faculty of Quigley Preparatory Seminary North.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Nicholas of Tolentine School, Mount Carmel High School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary North and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1954.

He also earned a master’s degree in classics the University of Notre Dame.

Father Sheridan served as assistant pastor at St. Bonaventure (1954-1957). He then began teaching at Quigley Preparatory Seminary North, while residing at St. Philip Neri Parish, and served as a professor, spiritual director and athletic director. He continued to teach until his retirement in 1995. Father Sheridan also remained a resident of St. Philip Neri Parish, serving the parish community until his passing.

In a 2011 interview with the Catholic New World, Father Sheridan reflected on the importance of his vocation, “I can say without a doubt, the greatest blessing of my life has been the gift of priesthood.”

BVM Sister Therese (Therese Emile) Miller, 87, died Nov. 23 in Dubuque, Iowa. Born in Iowa, she entered the BVM congregation in 1950 and professed final vows in 1957.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Therese taught at Blessed Sacrament, Holy Cross and St. Agatha. She served as BVM congregational employee and convent cook in Iowa. 

BVM Sister Veronica (Ita) Grennan, 103, died Nov. 22 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Sterling, Illinois, she entered the BVM congregation in 1931 and professed final vows in 1939.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Veronica taught at St. Thomas of Canterbury; St. Odilo, Berwyn; and Mary Queen of Heaven, Cicero. She also ministered in Iowa, Oregon and elsewhere in Illinois.

She is survived by a sister, Mary Alice Butler.

Sister of St. Joseph Thomas Agnes (Margaret) King, 96, died Nov. 19.

She was in her 75th year of religious life.

Sr. Thomas Agnes served as a teacher at St. Francis Xavier, La- Grange; as principal and superior at St. Joseph Academy; and as a teacher at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Melrose Park; as principal at St. Bonaventure; as a teacher at Divine Infant, Westchester and St. Leonard, Berwyn; as assistant principal at St. John Fisher; and as pastoral assistant at St. Barbara, Brookfield.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Marguerite of the Sacred Heart Schoenung, 86, died Nov. 14 in Cincinnati.

Born in Cincinnati, she and her twin sister, Sister Frances Mary of the Sacred Heart Schoenung, Sister Marguerite finished high school and worked for three years to help ease the family’s financial burden before joining the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1951.

Sister Marguerite taught every level from kindergarten through 8th grade at schools in Ohio and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Robert Bellarmine (1954-1958).

Sister Marguerite is survived by her sisters, Sister Frances Mary Schoenung, SNDdeN, and Julie Reese; her brothers, Jerry and Joseph Schoenung; and many nieces and nephews.

Sister Mary Esther (Francis Gertrude) Lane, 101, died Nov. 19 in St. Mary-of-the- Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indiana, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1933 and professed final vows in 1942.

Sister Mary Esther ministered as teacher for 43 years in schools in Indiana, California and Illinois before serving on the staff of several retreat centers and parishes.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Sylvester (1936- 1938); St. Angela, (1938-1940, 1941); St. Agnes (1942-1945) and St. Mark (1961- 1963).

Divine Word Father Charles Schneider, 97, who served as a missionary in Ghana for more than half a century, died in Techny on Sunday, Nov. 6.

Born in Buffalo, New York, he entered the Divine Word seminary at age 13.

He professed vows in 1941, was ordained to the priesthood in 1946 and assigned to the missions in West Africa in 1948.

During his 55 years in Ghana, he was pastor, provided spiritual formation for students, was a bursar and seminary rector, and served as regional superior for his congregation.