Holy Family of Nazareth Sister M. Hilary (Stephanie) Dyrcz, 99, died Jan. 19 in Des Plaines.

Born in Harvey, she entered religious life in 1934. With multiple degrees in French, education and psychology, she taught at St. Hyacinth, St. Ladislaus, Holy Trinity and Holy Family Academy in Chicago and at De Lourdes College in Des Plaines. 

Beginning in 1983, she served nine years in Rome as assistant general superior for the congregation. Upon completion of her term, she ministered at Holy Family Medical Center in Des Plaines as the director of volunteers and as the receptionist at the front desk. In 2003, she retired from active ministry.

She was also a participant in Rush University’s Religious Orders Study. In her last act of service, when she died her brain was taken to Rush Medical Center to further advance research into Alzheimer’s disease.