Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Mary (Mary Ellen) Buckley, 93, died July 17. She was in her 76th year of religious life.

A native of Chicago, Sister Mary attended St. Peter Canisius Parish and Notre Dame High School for Girls, where she was educated by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. She entered religious life in 1943 at Mount Notre Dame in Cincinnati, Ohio, and taught for 43 years. Thirty-one of those years were spent at Notre Dame High School for Girls in Chicago.

She is survived by her siblings, Therese Buckley Mulvihill and John Buckley.

Father John P. Finnegan, 90, died June 16. He was pastor emeritus of St. Mary of Vernon Parish, Indian Creek.

Born in Chicago, Father Finnegan attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1954. He also earned postgraduate degrees at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, Loyola University Chicago and the University of Chicago.

Father Finnegan’s younger brother, Father William J. Finnegan, a retired priest and former pastor of Our Lady of the Woods Parish in Orland Park, remembered that his older brother saw himself as a parish priest from the very beginning and he was able to fulfill his dream for two years by working with the people of Our Lady of Loretto Parish, Hometown, a few months after ordination to priesthood. Father John Finnegan was then asked to become a full-time teacher at Quigley Preparatory Seminary and later at St. Mary of the Lake Junior College in Niles.

In 1978, Father Finnegan became founding pastor of St. Mary of Vernon Parish, where he served until retirement. His brother added that “even after retirement he continued to offer liturgies there (St. Mary of Vernon Parish) and also always considered himself one of their family.”

Father Lawrence J. Malcolm, 74, died unexpectedly on July 4. He was pastor of St. Gerald Parish in Oak Lawn.

Father Malcolm was born in Chicago and attended Immaculate Conception School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1970. He also earned a post-graduate degree at Loyola University in Chicago.

He was assistant pastor of St. Bonaventure and St. Theresa, Palatine; associate pastor of St. Bede the Venerable and St. Daniel the Prophet; and then pastor of St. Daniel the Prophet. In 2008, he was named pastor of St. Gerald Parish, where he served until his death.

Father Louis J. Cameli, cardinal’s delegate for formation and mission, had known Father Malcolm since their time at Quigley Preparatory Seminary. “He really was a very generous person with a good heart who always reached out and welcomed everyone, especially those in need,” Cameli said.

Adrian Dominican Sister Jane Irene (Irene Jane) Hutton, 92, died June 24 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Aquinas Dominican High School. She was in the 69th year of her religious life.

Sister Jane Irene ministered in Michigan, Illinois, California, South Carolina and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mary, Star of the Sea (1954-1957).

Adrian Dominican Sister Marie (Madonna Joseph) Quenneville, 83, died June 25 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 66th year of her religious life.

Sister Marie ministered in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Ascension, Harvey (1953-1960), and St. Denis (1960-1965), and taught and was assistant principal at Santa Maria Del Popolo, Mundelein (1965-1966).

She is survived by a brother, Donald Quenneville.

Adrian Dominican Sister Marcelline (Jeanne Henry) Fouchey, 90, died June 27 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 73rd year of her religious life.

Sister Marcelline ministered in Michigan, Illinois and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Carthage (1947-1951); taught and was treasurer at Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1965-1966); and taught at Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, Westchester (1983-1986).

Sister of Christian Charity Margaritis (Catherine) Kullowitch, 81, died early in the morning of May 23 at NorthShore Hospice in Skokie Hospital in Skokie.

Born in Chicago, she was received into the novitiate in 1955. She made her first vows in 1957 and her perpetual vows in 1963.

She taught at St. Theresa, Palatine; St. Martha, Morton Grove; and St. Gregory School, as well as at schools in other states. She also helped with the SCC Literacy Program at Josephinum Convent and the religious education program at St. Mary of Celle, Berwyn.

In 2014, Sister Margaritis was assigned to Sacred Heart Convent in Wilmette.

Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Rose William Herzog, 90, died June 2 in Ohio.

Born in Ohio, she was a Sister of Charity for 68 years.

After serving in Ohio and Michigan, she taught at Holy Ghost, South Holland (1966-1982).

She then returned to Ohio.

Adrian Dominican Sister Dorothy Jeanne (James Marie) Burns, 98, died June 6 in Adrian, Michigan. Born in Michigan, she was in the 80th year of her religious life.

Sister Dorothy Jeanne spent 50 years ministering in education in Michigan, Illinois and Ohio.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Columbanus (1940), Our Lady of Good Counsel (1949-1941) and St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1942-1945).

Adrian Dominican Sister Lorraine (Johneda) Pepin, 84, died June 8 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 64th year of her religious life.

She ministered in Illinois, Michigan, Iowa and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel (1953-1954), St. Columbanus (1955-1957) and St. Carthage (1957-1958).

Deacon Miguel Valle died from a heart attack on May 19. He was ordained in 1996 and served at St. Wenceslaus Parish.

Deacon Valle was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and was the eldest of five children.

He was a longtime collaborator with Chicago Católico, writing notes and articles, and he hosted a radio show called “Compartiendo Nuestra Fe Católica.” He was known for organizing prayer groups, courses and workshops for the Hispanic Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Chicago, and he organized trips to the Holy Land.

Deacon Valle owned Nazareth, a bookstore that specialized in religious material where, with the archdiocese’s approval, he opened a small chapel.

“I lost one of the wisest people I ever met,” said Deacon Jaime Ríos of Valle. “Sometimes, instead of looking through my books to search for a quote or a story, I would call Miguel and he would say ‘Oh, it’s in such and such book, in such and such chapter.’”

Ríos added that Deacon Valle was a “walking library.”

“He had a tremendous knowledge of the Bible. He taught me so much,” he said.

Deacon Valle is survived by his mother and his four siblings.

Sister of St. Casimir Therese Bernadette Zebrauskas, 91, died May 10 in Lemont.

Born in Chicago, she made her first religious profession in 1949 and her perpetual profession in 1954. 

She taught for 47 years at elementary schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Therese Bernadette taught at Immaculate Conception School, Brighton Park (1949-1952); Nativity BVM School (1952-1954, 1963-1965, 1992-1996); St. Joseph School, South Chicago (1955-1956); St. Michael School, North Side (1956-1958); St. Norbert School, Northbrook (1968-1971, 1975-1977); All Saints School, Roseland (1971-1973); Sts. Peter and Paul School, West Pullman (1973-1974, 1977-1979); St. George School, Bridgeport (1974-1975); Providence of God School (1979-1985); and St. Anthony School, Cicero (1985-1992). She also served as assistant principal while at Providence of God School and at St. Anthony School.

Sister Therese Bernadette also ministered as a receptionist at Maria High School, Chicago, from 1996 to 2011.

She was a minister of prayer and presence from 2014 to 2019 at Franciscan Village in Lemont.

Felician Sister Mary Christella (Joan) Butrymowicz, 90, died on May 11 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Chicago.

Born in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, she joined the Felician Sisters aspirancy in Chicago, where she attended Good Counsel High School. She entered the Felician Sisters postulancy in 1945 and professed her final vows in 1953. 

She ministered in elementary schools as a teacher and principal in Illinois and Wisconsin. She also served in areas of religious formation and leadership within the Felician community and later ministered in the International Cord Rosary Center.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at Good Shepherd (1947-1953); St. Mary Magdalen (1953-1957); St. Wenceslaus (1957-1960); St. Linus, Oak Lawn (1960-1966); and St. James (1983-1987).

Providence Sister Michaela (Arline Clare) Galvin, 94, died May 15 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. 

Born in Massachusetts, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1943 and professed final vows in 1951.

She ministered in Indiana, Illinois, Texas, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Mel-Holy Ghost (1946); Maternity BVM (1946-1950), St. Leo (1951-1954), St. Andrew (1958-1962) and Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1988-2000).

Adrian Dominican Sister Irene Marie (Mary Louise) Kerich, 94, died May 27 in Adrian, Michigan. She was 94 years of age and in the 77th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican congregation.

Born in Minnesota, she ministered in Michigan, Illinois, New Mexico and Ohio.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Kevin and St. Clare of Montefalco.

Claretian Missionary Father Thomas R. Brummel, 88, died May 29 in Chicago.

Born in Chicago, Father Brummel attended Dominguez Seminary and Loyola University in California and Gregorian University in Rome before being ordained in 1959. 

Father Brummel served as a teacher and professor at various educational institutes in California, New York, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. He also was a professor at the Claretian Institute of Philosophy and the Spiritan International School of Theology, both in Nigeria.

Until his retirement in 2009, he also served part-time at the Chicago parishes of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Paul.

Deacon Robert LaCosse, 80, died May 1 in Marquette, Michigan. He was ordained in 1990 and served at St. Mary Parish, Buffalo Grove, before returning to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where he was born and raised, in 1999.

He served in the Marine Corps from 1957 to 1960 and returned home and married his wife, Janet, in 1962. The couple moved to Chicago the same year. Five years later, they moved to Buffalo Grove.

Deacon LaCosse was an accountant and financial planner for several Chicago-area companies.

He is survived by his wife, Janet; his children Jeffrey LaCosse, Scott LaCosse, Robert Michael LaCosse and Lee Ann LaCosse; six grandchildren; and his brothers Gene LaCosse and Stanley LaCosse.

Deacon Robert A. Banet, 92, died May 7. He was retired and had been living in Crown Point, Indiana. He was ordained in 1977 and ministered at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Calumet City, where he lived at the time.

Deacon Banet was also a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He taught English literature and composition at Calumet College of St. Joseph and Bellarmine University.

He is survived by his children, Kevin Banet, Christopher  Banet, Eva Lambert, David Banet and Jane Zatorski; nineteen grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a sister, Mary Ann Kruer. His wife, Mary, predeceased him.

School Sister of Notre Dame Mary Bruce (Patricia Ann) Wright, 82, died March 1 at Resurrection Life Center.

Born in Chicago, she was baptized at St. Michael Church and attended St. Bonaventure School and St. Michael High School.

She entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1955 and professed final vows in 1963.

Sister Mary Bruce taught intermediate grades at schools in Wisconsin and locally at St. Rosalie, Harwood Heights; and St. Paul. She became an administrator at St. Paul, and later at St. Margaret of Scotland, also in Chicago, after teaching junior high at St. Margaret for several years.

In 1997, Sister Mary Bruce became medical payments coordinator for the Chicago Province, and eventually for the Chicago area of the Atlantic-Midwest Province.

School Sister of Notre Dame Julita (Stella) Jelen, 102, died at Resurrection Life Center on April 18.

She was a vowed member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 84 years.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. John Cantius School and St. Stanislaus Commercial High School. She was received into the novitiate in 1934 and was professed the following year. She taught first grade for 31 years at many schools, including St. Therese Chinese Catholic School. She opened a new school in Wisconsin with two companions before returning to the Archdiocese of Chicago to teach at St. Alphonsus; St. Anthony; and St. Benedict, Blue Island.

In 1975, Sister Julita became principal at St. Michael School in Old Town. Sister Julita was the last principal there; the school closed in 1981.

She was then principal of St. Columba School for 10 years. Following retirement, she remained at St. Columba, ministering to the homebound and elderly and volunteering as librarian and tutor in the school.

She moved to Resurrection Life Center in 2015.

Servite Sister Bridie Kelly, 88, died May 14 in Wheeling.

She retired after many years of service at St. Domitilla School, Hillside.

She is survived by her sisters Kathleen Shanley, Mary Duggan, Nora Doherty and Margaret Callaghan.

Father Edward J. McKenna, 79, died April 11. He was most recently the  Catholic chaplain at St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights.

Father McKenna was born in Chicago and attended St. Dorothy and St. Philip Neri schools, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1965.

He was assistant pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas and associate pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Glenview; St. Bridget; and St. Paul (22nd Place).

Rev. David P. Dowdle, 65, died April 18. He was senior priest and former pastor of St. John of the Cross Parish in Western Springs.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Bernardine School, Forest Park; Quigley Preparatory Seminary; Niles College Seminary of Loyola University; and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1979.

Father Dowdle served as associate pastor of St. Marcelline, Schaumburg; St. Mary of Celle, Berwyn; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glenview. He was pastor of St. Gall (1992-2000), then became director of spiritual formation for the Deacon Formation Program.

In 2007, Dowdle was appointed pastor of St. John of the Cross in Western Springs, Illinois, and served in that role until 2018. As his health declined, he continued to serve as a senior priest.

Deacon Mathews VellurattilDeacon Mathews C. Vellurattil, 69, died April 22.

He was ordained in 1999 and served at St. Ladislaus Parish.

He is survived by his wife, Kunjoonjamma (Kay), his son Sijin; two grandchildren; and his siblings Father George Vellurattil, Lizy, Joseph, Alex and Shiny.

Providence Sister Mary Jo (Joseph Maureen) Stewart, 91, died April 20 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indiana, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1945 and professed final vows in 1952. She ministered in education and health care in Indiana, Illinois, California and Mississippi. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Sorrows (1947-1948); St. Genevieve, (1948-1952) and St. Francis Borgia (1952-1954).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Patricia Ann “Pam” (Marie Job) Miller, 78, died April 25 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Kansas City, Sister Pam made her first religious profession in 1967 and her perpetual profession in 1970. She was a teacher, pastoral minister and congregation leader who served in Minnesota, Illinois, Montana, Alaska, Washington and Oregon.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Pam taught at Trinity High School, River Forest (1976-1978).

She is survived by a sister, Cathy Colver, and two brothers, James Miller and Thomas Miller.

Adrian Dominican Sister Beverly (Marie Neal) McEachin, 90, died April 26 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in her 72nd year of religious life,

Sister Beverly ministered in education and school counseling in Illinois, Arizona and Michigan. She also worked in finance and in the sisters’ development office.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Nicholas of Tolentine School (1948-1951, 1962-1965).

She is survived by her sisters Marilyn Helhowski and Susan Nichol and her brothers Patrick McEachin and Robert McEachin.

Viatorian Father Robert T. Bolser, 74, died April 28 in Las Vegas.

Born in Urbana, Illinois, he professed his first vows as a Viatorian in 1964, his final vows in 1967 and was ordained a priest in 1995 in Chicago.

Father Bolser held master’s degrees in religious studies, educational psychology and divinity.

He taught in Springfield and Rock Island, Illinois and in Colombia.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he served as director of affiliates and in campus ministry at St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights (1983-1989); as a pastoral associate at St. Bartholomew Parish, Waukegan (1989-1991); and parochial vicar at St. Viator Parish (1995-2000, 2001-2006). He also ministered in Las Vegas. He moved to the Province Center retirement residence in Arlington Heights in 2016.

He is survived by his brothers Viatorian Father Charles Bolser, John Bolser and Joseph Bolser; and his sisters Mary Catherine Bolser and Colleen Von De Bur.

Providence Sister Mary (Marie Anita) Leahy, 84, died April 30 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1952 and professed final vows in 1959.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1968-1971); was the coordinator of secondary schools for the St. Joseph Province, based in Chicago (1971-1973); taught at St. Genevieve (1972-1973); was principal at St. Jerome (1973-1979); and was finance and development director at Sacred Heart of Mary High School, Arlington Heights (1980-1985).

She ministered in education and development in Indiana, Illinois and Washington, D.C. In 1997, she was named director of the National Religious Retirement Office, an office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that coordinates fundraising for the retirement of members of all religious congregations.

Sister Mary is survived by two sisters, Sheila Ruskauff and Margaret Frederick.

Father John P. Smyth, 84, died April 16. He served at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines for more than 40 years.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Genevieve, DePaul Academy and Quigley Preparatory Seminary. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1957 and turned down an opportunity to play in the National Basketball Association to pursue a vocation to the priesthood. He received a bachelor’s degree in theology from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in 1962 and was ordained the same year.

Following ordination to the priesthood, Smyth was assigned to Maryville Academy in Des Plaines and served there in a variety of roles for more than 40 years. During his time at Maryville, Smyth also served as the director of the Office of Catechesis and Youth Ministry from 1992 until 1995. In 2007, Smyth was appointed president of Notre Dame College Prep, Niles. He  served until 2014.

Resurrection Sister M. Virginia Tasny, 92, died March 6 at Resurrection Life Center.

She was born in Detroit and worked as a bank teller for six years before entering the congregation in 1950. She made final vows in 1956.

She spent many years teaching primary grades at schools including St. Mary of the Angels; St. Casimir (now Our Lady of Tepeyac); and Queen of the Rosary, Elk Grove Village. She also assisted in the office at Resurrection High School.

Sister Mary Virginia then spent 20 years working at the provincial home as receptionist, assisting the local superior or director of nursing at Queen of the Resurrection.

Providence Sister Cecilia (June) Carter, 92, died March 31 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.  Born in California, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1952 and professed final vows in 1960. She ministered for 41 years as a music teacher in schools in Indiana, Illinois, Maryland and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Andrew and St. Mel-Holy Ghost.

She moved to the motherhouse in 2002.  Beginning in 2009, she dedicated herself totally to the ministry of prayer.

Holy Family of Nazareth Sister M. Christiana (Dolores Georgianna) Metz, 88, died April 1 in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Born in South Heart, North Dakota, she entered religious life in 1946. She earned a teaching diploma and theology certificate from DeLourdes College in Des Plaines in 1954.

She taught for 24 years in Chicago at Roseland, St. Josaphat and Immaculate Heart of Mary. She also taught in Florida and North Dakota.

After her teaching ministry, she spent 13 years caring for the sick at Nazarethville Skilled Nursing Care in Des Plaines. She also served as a nurses’ aide at Jesus the Good Shepherd Convent in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Elaine (Genevieve) Robbins, 86, died April 5 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin. Her religious name was Sister Genevieve.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Elaine made her first religious profession in 1956 and her perpetual profession in 1959. She served in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Alabama, Missouri, Maryland and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Elaine taught at Visitation (1958-1961) and St. Thomas of Villanova, Palatine (1969-1970).

Adrian Dominican Sister Patricia (Mary Cuthbert) DeMay, 87, died April 6 in Toledo, Ohio.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 70th year of her religious life.

Sister spent 53 years ministering in education and library services in Illinois, Michigan, Florida and Alabama.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Celestine, Elmwood Park, and Infant Jesus of Prague, Flossmoor.

Springfield Dominican Sister M. Brendan (Mary Bernadette) Gibbons died April 9 at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield.

She was born in Gridley, Illinois, in 1934, and made her profession of vows in 1954 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield.

Sister M. Brendan taught grades one through six at schools in Illinois and California, including St, Lawrence O’Toole, Matteson. In 2016, she retired to Sacred Heart Convent. For the past three years, she was a tenacious assistant in the congregational archives, where she relished organizing records and unearthing minute historical facts.

She is survived by her sisters, Julie Martinez, Jane Smith, Helen Brandon and Rose Crosby; and her brother, Jim Gibbons.

Viatorian Father James E. Michaletz, 87, died April 10 at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. He had been a Viatorian for 67 years.

Born in Chicago, he graduated in 1949 from St. Mel  High School in Chicago and attended Northwestern University before making his first vows as a Viatorian in 1952 in Arlington Heights. He entered the Viatorian Seminary in Evanston in 1956 and was ordained a priest in 1960.

Father Michaletz was on the founding faculty of Saint Viator High School, serving as a chemistry teacher (1961-1964), assistant principal (1964-1968) and principal (1968-1972). From 1972 to 1975, he was superintendent of Sacred Heart of Mary High School in Rolling Meadows, before serving as assistant superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago (1973-1975). He served as co-director of the Office of School Planning (1975-1976) and Director of Planning (1976-1977) for the archdiocesan school system. He was an assistant professor of education at Dominican University, River Forest (1991-1998).

He retired to the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights, in 2011.

He is survived by his sisters Geraldine Roller and Roberta Michaletz.

Adrian Dominican Sister Ellen (Marie Aquino) Murphy, 82, died April 11 in Adrian, Michigan.

Sister Ellen was born in Detroit, and she was in her 64th year of religious life.

She ministered in Illinois and Indiana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel (1954) and St. Joseph, Homewood (1959-1963); was principal at Queen of Angels (1972-1979); St. Joseph, Wilmette (1980-1983); and St. Catherine of Alexandria, Oak Lawn (1983-1992); was program coordinator for the Women’s Center Project, Westchester     (1994-1995); worked in spiritual development at Centerpoint, South Holland (1995-1998); was an educational consultant in Merrionette Park (2000-2005); and was an administrative assistant in the Dominican Midwest Chapter Office,  Burbank  (2008-2009).

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Louanna Orth, 91, died April 13. She was in her 71st year of religious life.

A native of Chicago, Sister Louanna attended Notre Dame High School for Girls, where she was educated by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. She entered religious life at Mount Notre Dame and taught for 42 years in elementary and high schools in Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Ohio, and Chicago.

Father John F. Baldwin, 85, died April 1. He was a retired U.S. Navy chaplain.

Born in Chicago, Father Baldwin attended St. Clare of Montefalco School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1959.

Father Baldwin served the archdiocese as assistant pastor at Resurrection Parish (Jackson Street) and St. Joseph Parish, Round Lake. He was assigned as chaplain of the U.S. Navy in 1968 and served in that role until retirement.

Deacon Edward P. O’Leary, 81, died March 21. He was ordained a deacon in 1974 and served at St. Eugene Parish and at St. Benedict Nursing Home, Niles.

He was married to the late Joanne. He is survived by his children Ed, Cathy, Maureen, Maribeth and Jack O’Leary; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Deacon Efrain Ayala, 77, died March 20. He was ordained in 1979 and served at Resurrection Parish.

He is survived by his wife, Carmen; his children Diana Ayala, Carmen Iris Ayala and Angelica Ayala Beasley; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Adrian Dominican Sister Margaret Augustine (Nancy Jane) Exworthy, 78, died March 5 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 60th year of her religious life.

Sister Margaret Augustine ministered in Michigan, Illinois and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Ailbe (1960-1966) and St. Kevin (1966-1968) and was principal of St. Michael, Orland Park (1979-1985).

She is survived by a sister, Kareen May Newcombe.

Fr. M. Joseph Casey

Jesuit Father M. Joseph Casey, 82, died March 8. He was a Jesuit for more than 60 years.

Born in Evanston, he ministered in education in Indianapolis and Chicago. He was an associate pastor in Ohio and, later in life, superior at Colombiere Center in Michigan.

Father Joe had three great loves in his life: Jesus (and the Society of Jesus), teaching French and playing bridge. His jovial attitude, wide smile and care for others helped him to make friends easily, according to obituary information from the Jesuits. His dedication and attention to others helped him to maintain great friendships throughout his life.

Sister of the Living Word Grace Edith Rief, 94, died March 14 in Chicago.

Born in Minnesota in 1924, Sister Grace made her final vows in 1949. She was a Sister of the Living Word for 44 years, and previously a member of the Sisters of Christian Charity. She taught in schools in Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana and Michigan. She was a devoted elementary school teacher for just short of 50 years, and she continued as a tutor and ESL teacher for another five years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Gregory; St. Aloysius; St. Isaac Jogues, Niles; St. Raphael; St. Juliana; St. Ita; and St. Jerome.

Sister Grace spent her last years at Resurrection Life Center, where she served in the ministry of prayer and presence.

Adrian Dominican Sister Mary Ellen (Brendan Mary) Plummer, 72, died March 25 in Adrian, Michigan.

A Detroit native, she was in the 54th year of her religious life.

She ministered in Illinois, Michigan, Florida, North Carolina and Texas.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Ellen taught at St. Mary Star of the Sea (1965-1968) and Queen of Apostles, Riverdale (1968-1971).

She is survived by two brothers: John and William Plummer; and four sisters: Elizabeth Presley, Margaret Plummer, Catherine Gatto and Virginia Plummer.

Adrian Dominican Sister Maureen (Shaun Paul) Fenlon, 75, died March 27 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 60th year of her religious life.

She ministered in Illinois; Florida; California; North Carolina; Massachusetts; New York; Washington, D.C.; and Louisiana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita (1960-1963); Santa Maria Del Popolo, Mundelein (1963-1965); St. Joseph, Homewood (1965-1967); and Queen of Apostles, Riverdale (1967-1970).

She is survived by a sister, Shauna McCormick, and two brothers, Dennis and Paul Fenlon.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Katherine (Marie Bernarde) Connell, 79, died March 29 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Detroit, Sister Mary Kay made her first religious profession in 1959 and her perpetual profession of vows in 1964. She taught, was a pastoral minister and guidance counselor, and was a support staff member.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Kay taught at Visitation (1966-1972, 1973-1976). She served as a caregiver in the Schaumburg area (2000-2001), and ministered at Maryville Academy sites in Bartlett and Des Plaines as a youth care worker (2001-2006); as receptionist and switchboard operator, (2006-2008); and in the archives (2008-2009).

She is survived by a sister, Anne Osten.

Providence Sister Marie Paul (Mary Mardelle) Haas, 91, died March 30 in Chicago.

Born in Indiana, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1945 and professed final vows in 1953.

She ministered as a music teacher in schools in California, North Carolina, Indiana and Illinois. Her specialty was string instruments. She continued this ministry until months before her death, giving private and group lessons to students in the Chicago area.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Francis Borgia Parish from 1963 until shortly before she died.

Sister Marie Paul is survived by a brother, Paul R. Haas.

Father William J. Lisowski, 95, died March 7 at Holy Family Villa in Palos Park. He was a retired pastor of St. Ladislaus Parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Lisowski attended St. John of God School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1950.

He was assistant pastor at St. Mary Magdalene; St. Blase, Argo; Holy Innocents; and St. Salomea. He was pastor at St. Helen and at St. Ladislaus, where he retired in 1993.