Sister of St. Casimir Lorraine Therese Siminas, 86, died Oct. 24 in Lemont.

Born in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, she grew up a parishioner of Our Lady of Vilna Parish. She graduated from Visitation Catholic School and completed high school at St. Casimir Academy. She made her first profession of vows in 1953 and her perpetual vows as a Sister of St. Casimir in 1958.

Sister Lorraine Therese’s ministry for 53 years was in education, teaching mostly in the primary grades. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Holy Cross, Town of Lake (1954-1956); Nativity BVM (1960-1964, 1970-1971); St. Norbert, Northbrook (1965-1968); St. George (Bridgeport) (1976-1973, 1981-1982); Providence of God (Pilsen) (1973-1875); Sts. Peter and Paul (West Pullman) (1975-1977); and Our Lady of Vilna (Pilsen, 1980-1981). She also taught in New Mexico, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, as well as in Plano, Illinois.

Sister Lorraine Therese most recently served in the ministry of prayer and presence at Franciscan Village in Lemont. 

Benedictine Sister Victoria (Lorenzia) Marconi, 97, died Nov. 5 at St. Scholastica Monastery.

Sister Victoria was born in Pennsylvania and entered the Benedictine Sisters of Elk County at St. Joseph Monastery in 1944. She professed first vows in 1945 and perpetual vows in 1948. The rite of consecration of virgins was reintroduced in the time of Pope Pius XII around 1950, and Sister Victoria engaged in this rite on the 13th anniversary of her vows.

Her 69 years of active ministry were primarily in teaching first graders in the Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania. Sister corresponded with many of them until the time of her unexpected death.

In 2013, when the Benedictine community at St. Joseph Monastery could no longer remain independent, Sister Victoria asked to transfer to the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago and began her first year of residence in St. Joseph Court, the infirmary at St. Scholastica Monastery. The transfer of her vows was finalized in 2014 and she celebrated both her 70th and 75th jubilees in Chicago.

Columban Father Charles Joseph O’Rourke, 90, died Nov. 6 in Papillion, Nebraska.

Born in Iowa, he joined the Columban Fathers as a high school student and was ordained at St. Columban’s Major Seminary in Massachusetts in 1957. From 1958 until 1985, he was mostly on mission in South Korea. Upon returning to the United States, he pastored Korean Catholic communities in Chicago, Los Angeles and Omaha. After a transfer to the Columban headquarters in Bellevue, Nebraska, he continued ministry to the Korean Catholics of the area and to contemplative prayer groups.

He is survived by two of his sisters, Rita Gubbels and Sister Jeanne O’Rourke, RSM, of Omaha, and many nieces and nephews.

Dominican Sister Maria del Rey Hunt, 91, died Nov. 9 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Sister Maria del Rey made her first profession in 1960 with the Pious Union of the Dominican Mission Sisters. They disbanded in 1967, and she transferred her vows to the Dominican Sisters of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and in 1968 transferred her vows to the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa. Sister Maria del Rey made her perpetual profession as a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa in 1969. She then ministered as a social worker, parish worker, chaplain for 20 years and transportation driver for one year. Sister Maria del Rey served in Illinois, Colorado, Nebraska, California, Texas and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Maria del Rey served as a psychiatric social worker at two Pilsen mental health clinics (now Pilsen Wellness Center) (1968-1971), and as a driver at Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest (1985-1986).

She is survived by a sister, Mary DeLuca.

Father Ronald E. Scarlata, 81, died Nov. 1. He was pastor of St. James Parish, Highwood.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Ignatius High School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1966.

After ordination, Father Scarlata served as assistant pastor of St. John Bosco and St. William parishes. Later, he was associate pastor of St. Bernadette, Evergreen Park; Divine Savior, Norridge; and Queen of the Rosary, Elk Grove Village. Father Scarlata served as pastor of Immaculate Conception (Aberdeen Street) and St. James, Highwood, where he received the title of pastor emeritus after retiring.

Father Leroy A. Wickowski, pastor emeritus of St. Robert Bellarmine, had been great friends with Father Scarlata since their seminary years. Wickowski said his classmate retired early due to health reasons but continued to be of assistance celebrating weekend Masses at several parishes.