Sinsinawa Dominican Sister John Eudes (Mary) Courtney, 95, died Dec. 22 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. 

Born in Chicago, Sister John Eudes made her first religious profession in 1949 and her final profession in 1952. She taught high school English for 30 years, and she served as a pastoral minister, community organizer and librarian, along with four years in transportation. She served in Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky.

Sister John Eudes was inspiration for the character of Mary Clancy in the book “Life with Mother Superior” by Jane Trahey and the 1966 movie “The Trouble with Angels” starring Hayley Mills as Mary Clancy. Trahey and Sister John Eudes, then known as Mary, were high school friends at Providence High School, Chicago.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister John Eudes taught at Visitation (1961-1963) and ministered as a neighborhood organizer and prison visitor while living at Annunciation Convent (1971-1972). 

Father George J. Dyer, 90, died Dec. 3 at Condell Hospital, Libertyville. 

He was pastor emeritus of St. Patrick Parish, Wadsworth. He also served on the faculty of the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary and was an editor and author for the theological journal, “Chicago Studies.” 

Born in Chicago, Father Dyer attended Our Lady of Sorrows School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1953. He later earned a doctorate in sacred theology.

He spent the first half of his priesthood at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary as a librarian, lecturer in patristics and later as dean and professor of theology. While a doctoral student and professor, Father Dyer celebrated Mass at St. Gilbert Parish, Grayslake (1953-1955); Santa Maria del Popolo Parish, Mundelein (1955-1963); and Transfiguration Parish, Wauconda (1964-1966). 

In 1966, Father Dyer was named assistant pastor at St. Martin. A year later, he was appointed dean of studies at Mundelein’s School of Theology, a position he held until 1978 when he was named pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Wadsworth (1978-1995).

During his first years serving the people of Wadsworth, Father Dyer saw a need for a larger church given the explosion of new housing in the area in the 1980s. The forecast proved to be true, as St. Patrick grew from 350 families to 2,400 families over a decade.

Father Dyer served for 16 years after his retirement as a weekend presider at St. Julian Eymard Parish, Elk Grove Village, and continued to minister to the retirement community of Sedgebrook in Lincolnshire until his health declined.

Father Dyer’s contribution to theological reflection was recognized by the Catholic Theological Society of America in 1982 when the society awarded him its highest honor, the John Courtney Murray Award.

Father Fred W. Tomzik, 59, died Dec. 12. Before retiring for health reasons, Father Tomzik was most recently pastor of St. Monica Church in Chicago. 

Born in Chicago, he attended Divine Savior School in Norridge, St. Patrick High School, Triton College in River Grove, Niles College, Loyola University-Chicago and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained in 1984.

Father Tomzik served as associate pastor at the Nativity of Our Lord (1984-1989), Divine Infant Jesus in Westchester (1989-1996) and St. Eugene (1996-1997). Later, he served as pastor at St. Louise de Marillac in La Grange Park (1997-2010) and St. Monica (2010-2015).

Father Tomzik was also chaplain of the Norwood Park Fire Department and an active member in both the Catholic Committee on Scouting and the Girl Scout Medals Committee.

He is survived by his mother, Beverly, and siblings, John Tomzik, Philip Tomzik, Steven Tomzik, David Tomzik and Janice Vercillo. 

Mercy Sister Dorothy Pelt, 97, died Nov. 27.

Born in Milwaukee, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1942. She began her ministry as a teacher, working in Chicago, Des Plaines and Milwaukee for 30 years. After serving as a principal at St. Patrick in Des Plaines, she had her first experience as a missionary in Peru. 

She returned after a year when the school she taught at in Peru was closed and went back to teaching at Siena and Mother McAuley high schools in Chicago. During the summers, she volunteered in Honduras. In 1976, she was asked to serve full-time in Honduras, where she stayed for 38 years. 

She visited the 54 villages she served no matter the weather, the distance or the terrain, at times living out of her car as she traveled. Because a priest made it to each community only every couple of months, she coordinated teams of lay ministers who could celebrate the Liturgy of the Word on Sundays and other religious holidays, and she trained catechists to teach the children. 

She returned to Mercy Circle in Chicago at the age of 94.

Deacon Donald J. Telposky, 86, died Nov. 19 in Des Plaines. He was ordained in 1975 and served at St. Stephen Protomartyr, Des Plaines.

Deacon Teposky, a Navy veteran, is survived by his children Katherine Schmeltz and Michael Telposky and two grandchildren.

BVM Sister Helen (Paulita) Kerrigan, 96, died Nov. 16 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Iowa, she entered the BVM congregation in 1940 and professed final vows in 1948.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Helen taught second grade at St. Jerome (1944-1945), and was an art teacher on the faculty at Mundelein College (1949-1953). She also taught at the elementary, high school and college levels in New York, Iowa, California and Missouri

Felician Sister Mary Clarine (Louise) Turczyn, 94, died Nov. 21 in Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in Peru, Illinois, she entered the Felician Sisters in Chicago in 1943 and professed her final vows in 1951. She ministered in elementary schools as a kindergarten and primary teacher in Illinois and Wisconsin. Later, she served in various capacities at Our Lady of Creek Bend Convent in St. Charles, Illinois, and also in the Felician Sisters Provincial House.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Mary Magdalen (1943-1944); Ascension, Evanston (1945-1946); Holy Innocents (1946-1958); and SS. Peter and Paul (1960-1961).

BVM Sister Marion (Jean Victor) Pasidora, 89, died Nov. 24 in Dubuque, Iowa. 

Born in Chicago, she entered the BVM congregation in 1947 from St. Andrew Parish and professed final vows in 1955.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marion taught St. Pius commercial classes held at St. Mary High School (1960); served on the office staff as bursar/treasurer and business manager at Carmel High School, Mundelein (1972-1988); was secretary at the University of St. Mary on the Lake/Mundelein Seminary (1988-2002); and later volunteered as assistant sacristan at St. Mary of Vernon, Indian Creek (2007-14). She also taught in Iowa, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

BVM Sister Anne Marie (Cyrilita) Dolan, 97, died Nov. 26 in Dubuque, Iowa. 

Born in Chicago, she entered the BVM congregation in 1939 from Blessed Sacrament Parish, and she professed final vows in 1947.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Anne Marie taught at St. Dorothy (1942-1948), and taught Spanish and was a guidance counselor at Cathedral High School (1969-1974). She also ministered in Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and California.

She is survived by a sister, Frances Andreoni.

Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Phyllis (Agnes) Schouten, 90, died Nov. 26 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, she entered the convent in 1945 and professed her vows in 1947. She taught music at Catholic schools in Wisconsin and Michigan, then served as coordinator of a health care center and house of prayer in Manitowoc. She also ministered in Nebraska.

She is survived by her brothers Joseph, Philip and Father Francis Schouten; and a sister, Carmelite Sister Joseph Marie of Jesus.