Redemptorist Father John (Jack) Ferdinand Willett, 84, died Aug. 15 at St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community in Liguori, Missouri. He influenced generations of Redemptorist missionaries during the 20 years he was involved in formation ministry.

Born in Michigan, Father Willett entered the Redemptorist formation program at St. Joseph Preparatory College in Missouri and professed temporary vows in 1956. He made his final profession of vows in 1959 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1961.

He served at parishes and in preaching ministry in Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin and taught and worked in formation in Redemptorist seminaries. He also served in Nigeria.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he was pastor of St. Alphonsus (1975-1978, 1984-1990).

He retired and moved to St. Clement in Liguori in 2014.

Adrian Dominican Sister Sally Ann (William Rose) Fergus, 82, died Aug. 16 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Immaculata High School. She was in her 63rd year of religious life and had a master’s degree in education from DePaul University and a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University Chicago.

She taught and was a principal in Michigan, Florida and Illinois, and was a religious education consultant at the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Catholic Education. She also served as prioress of the congregation’s Midwest chapter.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Kilian (1960-1966); Ascension, Harvey (1966-1968); St. Philip Neri (1969-1970); and St. Columbanus (1970-1980). She was principal of St. Hilary (1980-1991); a religious education consultant in the archdiocese’s Office of Catholic Education (1993-1999); and Midwest chapter prioress in Burbank (1999-2008).

She is survived by a sister, Maureen McManus, and two brothers, Patrick Fergus and Thomas Fergus.

School Sister of St. Francis Marionita Gergen, 100, died Aug. 17 in Milwaukee.

Born in Nebraska, Sister Marionita was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1941 and made her final vows in 1949.

Sister Marionita ministered in Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin for more than seven decades. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Martin School (1944-1949).

Sister Marionita is survived by a sister, Florence Dondlinger.

Providence Sister Joan (Denis Mary) Slobig, 77, died on Aug. 16 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Chicago Heights, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1964 and professed final vows in 1975.

Sister Joan ministered in education and served as director of the congregation’s formation program, was elected to the general council in 1996 for a five-year term, served as administrator of St. Ann Clinic (now Wabash Valley Health Center) and then served as a parish life coordinator at Indiana parishes.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Providence-St. Mel High School (1969-1971) and was director of instruction at Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1975-1977).

Sister Joan is survived by a sister, Judy Reagan, and her twin brother, Father John E. Slobig.

Providence Sister Barbara (Vincent Ferrer) Doherty, 88, died on Aug. 17 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1951 and professed final vows in 1958.

She was a teacher, theology professor and director of postulants before being elected to the provincial team for the Chicago area, serving as president of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, directing the Institute for Religious Life at Catholic Theological Union and coordinating the Shrine of St. Mother Theodore in St. Mary-of-the-Woods.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Immaculate Conception (1956-1960); St. Joseph Province, Park Ridge (1975-1983); Institute of Religious Formation, Catholic Theological Union (1999-2007).

Mercy Sister Patricia A. (Mary Keverne) Murphy, 85, died Aug. 19.

Born at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, she attended St. Clotilde School and Mercy High School, before she entered the novitiate in 1952.

After earning her nursing degree in 1984, Sister Pat remained in Chicago, serving at Misericordia Home South and Mercy Hospital and Medical Center. However, in 1988, she was called to return as principal of Queen of Martyrs until her retirement in 1994. Sister Pat then volunteered as a nurse diabetes educator with the Chicago Department of Public Health, Mercy Family Health Center, and Mercy Hospital Diabetes Treatment Center, where she led classes on diabetes self-management skills.

Holy Family of Nazareth Sister M. Regina (Helen) Jaszwinski, 90, died May 17 at Nazarethville in Des Plaines.

 Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in 1948. In the Chicago area, she taught at St. Hyacinth; St. Ladislaus; Immaculate Heart of Mary; St. Hedwig; St. Patricia; St. Emily, Mount Prospect; St. Camillus; St. Gilbert, Grayslake; and St. Ann (Pilsen) schools. She also spent six years teaching in Texas. She retired from teaching in 2004 and ministered at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center (now AMITA Health Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center) as a part-time receptionist for nine years.

In 2013, she transferred to Nazarethville, where she ministered to the residents, praying for and with them. She continued to be active for all 90 years of her life.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Ruth Mary Coleman, 87, died July 29 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Oak Park, Sister Ruth Mary made her first religious profession in 1954 and her perpetual profession in 1957.

She taught in schools for 19 years and ministered in religious education for 21 years and spiritual direction for five years. Sister Ruth Mary found great joy in free verse poetry and shared her works with many.

She served in South Dakota, Illinois, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Alabama, Florida and New Mexico.

She is survived by two sisters, Susan O’Regan and Karen Schwartz.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Colleen (Mary Avia) McNicholas, 84, died Aug. 3 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, she made her first religious profession in 1956 and her perpetual profession in 1959. She taught for 10 years before transitioning into educational administration for the next 22 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Colleen taught at St. Luke, River Forest (1963-1966) and served the Sinsinawa Dominican congregation as director of sponsored ministry (1980-1985, 1989-1992). She served at Rosary College/Dominican University, River Forest, as education chair and faulty (1989-1995); dean of the School of Education (1995-2008); and director of the online graduate program (2008-2012). Sister Colleen served as volunteer research assistant at the Sister Mary Nona McGreal Center for Dominican Historical Studies, River Forest (2012-2016).

She also served in New Jersey, Iowa, Minnesota and New York.

She is survived by a sister, Sharon Peterson, and two brothers, John “Jack” McNicholas and James McNicholas.

Mercy Sister Nadine (Anna Mae) Hargadon died Aug. 4.

After graduating from Siena High School in Chicago, Sister Nadine entered the Sisters of Mercy in Des Plaines 69 years ago.

Sister Nadine was a graduate of Saint Xavier College (now University) and the School of Applied Theology at the University of California.

Sister Nadine was a teacher, principal and administrator at several Chicago schools. Later, she became a pastoral associate at St. Charles Lwanga and St. Martin de Porres parishes.

She went on to become an administrator and coordinator at Mercy Manor Aurora.

Upon the celebration of her 60th jubilee, Sister Nadine said that she depended on her motto, “Hope is my strength,” to help her address others’ needs.

She is survived by her siblings Patricia, James and Joseph.