School Sister of Notre Dame Patricia (Mary Benedict) Ostdick, 90, died Dec. 6 at Resurrection Life Center after a long struggle with COVID-19.

Born in Elgin, she entered the candidature of Schools Sisters of Notre Dame in Milwaukee in 1947, professing first vows in 1950 and final vows in 1956. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s of pastoral studies in communication arts.

From 1950 to 1968, she taught primary grades in Illinois and Wisconsin, including at St. Michael, St. Margaret of Scotland and St. Alphonsus Schools in Chicago.

She then taught at the intermediate and secondary levels and served as local leader for her community at St. Michael, Chicago. She taught college in Maryland before returning to Chicago in 1983 and teaching intermediate grades at St. Stanislaus Kostka; St. Domitilla, Hillside; and St. Procopius. 

From 1993 to 2005, Sister Pat served as community leader and patient advocate for elderly sisters at St. Benedict and at St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged.

She retired to St. Pius X, Stickney, in 2001, and to the Academy of Our Lady Convent in 2004. In 2005, she moved to retirement at Marian Village in Homer Glen and in 2011 to Resurrection Life Center.

School Sister of Notre Dame Zita (Dorothy Clementine) Gilles, 94, died Dec. 11.

Born in Peoria, she entered the community’s juniorate at the Academy of Our Lady in Chicago in 1940. She was received into the novitiate in Milwaukee in 1945, and she took her final vows there in 1952.

Sister Zita then served as a primary teacher in several schools in Wisconsin and Illinois, and as a hospital librarian in Peoria.

In 1984, Sister Zita returned to teaching intermediate grades at St. Columba. Two years later, she became a staff member in the finance department at the Academy of Our Lady, a position she held for 10 years. After two years, she became the director of the department.

In 1996, she began offering pastoral care for the older sisters in the community, first as local leader at St. Stanislaus Kostka Convent, then at Resurrection Life Center, while living in the Foster Avenue community.

From 2002 to 2014, Sister Zita continued to live at Foster Avenue, first during a sabbatical and then in prayer and presence. In 2014, she joined the community at Marian Village in Homer Glen, and in 2017 moved to the Resurrection Life Center, where she died.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Catriona M. K. (Teresa Avila) MacLeod, 89, died Dec. 19 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Lincoln, England, and raised in Scotland, she earned undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Andrews.

She made her first profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1959 and her perpetual profession in 1965.

Sister Catriona taught and served in administration at universities and shared her knowledge through seminars and biblical workshops across the globe. She was appointed by Pope Paul VI as a member of the ad hoc Commission on the Role of Women in Church and Society (1973-1975) and as a consultor of the Sacred Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes (1973-1979).

Sister Catriona served her community as assistant in the novitiate at the motherhouse in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin (1964-1968), while also serving as assistant in the archives preparing and organizing papers for what became the positio for advancing the sainthood cause of Dominican Father Samuel Mazzuchelli. She was elected general councilor for the congregation leadership team (1977-1982).

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Catriona taught at Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest (1955-1957, 1959-1962 and 1978). She served as associate dean for Rosary College Graduate School of Fine Arts, Florence, Italy, 1970-1972.

She is survived by a sister, Johanna Fraser.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Margaret “Peggy” (Mary Leon) Glynn, 87, died Dec. 31 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Minnesota, she made her first profession in 1954 and her perpetual profession in 1958. She was a teacher, principal, director of religious education and pastoral minister in Illinois, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska and Oregon.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Visitation (1954-1957).

She is survived by three sisters, Elizabeth Kanz, Dominican Sister Mary Liana Glynn and Sharon Oberman; and a brother, Martin Glynn.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Elizabeth (Julianne) Toohey, 85, died Jan. 3 at her home in Richfield, Minnesota.

Born in Nebraska, she made her first profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1956 and her perpetual profession in 1959. She taught music, was a liturgist and did spiritual direction and formation work in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, as well as Florence, Italy.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Elizabeth taught music and coordinated the music programs at Visitation, St. Basil and St. Richard (1969-1970).

She is survived by a sister, Mary “Margaret” Johnson.