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Sr. Patricia Ann Miller
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.
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Sr. Beverly McEachin
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.
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Fr. Robert Bolser
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.
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Sr. Mary Leahy
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.
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Fr. John Smyth
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.
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Sr. M. Virginia Tasny
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.
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Sr. Cecilia Carter
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.
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Sr. M. Christiana Metz
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.
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Sr. Elaine Robbins
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).
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Sr. Patricia DeMay
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.
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Sr. M. Brendan Gibbons
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.
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Fr. James Michaletz
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.
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Sr. Ellen Murphy
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).
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Sr. Louanna Orth
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.
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Fr. John Baldwin
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.
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Deacon Edward O’Leary
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.
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Deacon Efrain Ayala
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.
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Sr. Margaret Augustine Exworthy
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
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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.
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Sr. Grace Rief
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.
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