Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Nancy (Ann Christopher) Gnau, 86, died Jan. 8 in Cincinnati.

Born and raised in Ohio, she entered the community in 1948 and made her final vows in 1956. She taught in elementary schools in Ohio and then began a long career as a teacher and administrator in high schools in Columbus, Dayton and Chicago, including Notre Dame High School for Girls.

Sister Nancy is survived by two sisters, Norma and Mary.

Sister of the Living Word Agnes Martinka, 89, died Jan. 7.

Born in Minnesota, she entered religious life in 1946 and made her final profession as a Sister of Christian Charity in 1954. Sister Agnes was a founding member of the Sisters of the Living Word in 1975.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Agnes ministered as teacher or principal at St. Gregory; St. Martha, Morton Grove; St. Theresa, Palatine; and St. Isaac Jogues, Niles.

She is survived by her brothers, Robert and Jerome.

Adrian Dominican Sister Michael Claire (Barbara Lynn) Wilson, 83, died Dec. 25 in Adrian, Michigan.

A native of Detroit, she was in the 66th year of her religious profession.

Sister Michael Claire ministered in elementary and secondary education and pastoral ministry in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Arizona.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Michael Claire taught at St. Joseph School, Homewood (1951-1959).

She is survived by two sisters, Kathy Foster and Donna Wilson.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Noreen (Catherine Michael) Joyce, 83, died Dec. 20 in Cincinnati.

Born in Chicago, she entered the community in 1951 and made final vows in 1958.

Sister Noreen taught in primary and Montessori schools in Chicago and Rockford, Illinois, as well as in Ohio and Arizona. She also was involved in parish religious education.

Mercy Sister Anne Marie (Mary Bertina) Doran, 89, died Oct. 25 in Chicago.

Born and raised in Chicago, she attended Mercy High School before entering the community in 1946.

She taught in Catholic grade schools in Illinois and Wisconsin before pursuing ministry in health care. Upon becoming a licensed practical nurse, she worked full-time for almost 30 years at what is now known as Presence Health in Aurora, Illinois.

Mercy Sister Margaret Wright, 81, died Oct. 16.

Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Mercy after graduating from St. Patrick High School, Des Plaines.

She graduated from Creighton University School of Pharmacy in Omaha, Nebraska and became a pharmacist in 1962. She served at Mercy Hospitals in Chicago and Aurora, Illinois, for many years. During that time, she served on the Illinois State Board of Pharmacy for 17 years, including 13 years as chairwoman.

She was the first woman and the first from a hospital setting to be named Pharmacist of the Year in 1980 by the Illinois Pharmacists Association, and in 1995, Sister Margaret was introduced as “the conscience of pharmacy in Illinois” when she was named an honorary lifetime member to the Illinois Council of Hospital Pharmacists.

Adrian Dominican Sister Elizabeth (Catherine William) Kreiner, 95, died Jan. 15 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 79th year of her religious profession.

Sister ministered in education, in congregation leadership, as a chaplain and as an administrator in Illinois and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Queen of Angels (1938-1943, 1967-1968); St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1943-1951); St. Clare of Montefalco (1951-1952); and St. Albert the Great, Oak Lawn (1962-1967). She was co-provincial of the St. Dominic Province in Hometown (1970-1972), executive director of Mercy House Corp (1973-1974); chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital (1974-1976) and chaplain at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood (1977-1981).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Therese (Eamon) O’Donnell, 90, died Jan. 14 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Chicago, Sister Therese made her first religious profession in 1947 and her final profession in 1950. She was a teacher, principal and consultant in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Therese was principal at St. Basil (1968-1969) and St. Louis de Montfort, Oak Lawn (1977-2002).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Jeanne Flanagan, 91, died Jan. 14 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, Sister Jeanne made her first religious profession in 1949 and her final profession Aug. 5, 1952. She ministered in education, community leadership, religious education and spiritual direction in Minnesota, Wyoming, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Illinois, Oklahoma and Texas.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Jeanne was principal at Queen of Peace, Burbank (1962-1966) and served the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation as prioress provincial of the Southwest Province (1968-1976).

Adrian Dominican Sister Marianne (David Frances) O’Neill, 80, died on Jan. 13 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she was in the 62nd year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Marianne ministered in education, pastoral care and service to her congregation in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Mary Star of the Sea (1979-1981); Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1981-1986); and St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights (1986-1987).

Benedictine Sister Anne (Barbara) Krall, 88, died Jan. 5 at St. Scholastica Monastery.

She was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado, and entered the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago in 1954. She made her final vows in 1959.

In Chicago, she taught at Queen of All Saints, St. Joseph, St. Hilary and St. Symphorosa. She also taught at a number of schools and directed parish religious education programs in Colorado.

Sister of Notre Dame of Namur Rita (St. Clement) Schirtzinger, 88, died Dec. 27 in Cincinnati.

Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, she entered the community in 1946 and made her final vows in 1954.

Sister Rita taught elementary school in parish schools in Ohio and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Robert Bellarmine and St. Victor. When Sister Rita retired from formal teaching, she tutored adults and helped them pass their GED and gain computer skills.

Sister Rita is survived by one sibling, Ida Dunkman.

Rabbi Herman Schaalman, 100, died Feb. 1. One of the foremost Reform rabbis in the United States, he was a leader in the movement for interfaith dialogue and one of the founders of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago.

He was a close friend of Cardinal Bernardin and participated in his funeral rites.

Rabbi Schaalman came to the United States from his native Germany to study in 1935. He came to Chicago in 1949 to serve as the Midwest director of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. In 1956, he became the senior rabbi at Emanuel Congregation, 5959 N. Sheridan Road, where he served for 30 years.

According to an article in the JUF News in honor of his 100th birthday, Rabbi Schaalman served as a trustee on the board of the Millennium Institute and a member of the executive committee of the Council for the Parliament of World Religions. In 1991, the president of Germany honored him with the award of the Order of Merit, First Class. The International Council of Christians and Jews gave Schaalman its highest honor, the Interfaith Gold Medallion — Peace Through Dialogue. Among his honorary doctorates was one from Catholic Theological Union in Hyde Park, where he also served on the faculty.

He is survived by his children, Susan Youdovin and Michael Schaalman, and five grandchildren.

Deacon Robert O’Keefe, 88, died Jan. 31. He was ordained in 1984 and served at St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Niles.

He retired as vice president of human resources after 50 years of service at Fel-Pro in Skokie, where he was known as an advocate for all employees.

He is survived by his wife, Joan; children Kevin, Patrick and Timothy O’Keefe; and Mary Walsh, Kathleen O’Neill and Eileen Reisel; 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

BVM Sister Janita Curoe, 87, died Feb. 10 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Iowa, Sister Janita entered the BVM congregation in 1946 and professed final vows in 1954.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Janita taught elementary school at St. Eugene. She also taught in Iowa, Tennessee and Mississippi.

BVM Sister Kathleen Doherty (Patrick Louis), 94, died Feb. 9 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Iowa, she entered the BVM congregation in 1945 and professed final vows in 1953.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Kathleen taught at St. Jerome and St. Mary High School; served as parish secretary and adult education teacher at Holy Family Parish and Westside Employment and Education Center; and was coordinator/treasurer for St. Mary Alumnae Association. She also taught in New York and Iowa.

Sister of the Resurrection Lenore (M. Aquina) Kusek, 96, died Feb. 6.

Sister Lenore was born in Nebraska. She was received into the Congregation of the Sisters of the Resurrection in 1935, and eventually had two sisters in the congregation: the late Sister Bonaventure and Sister Clara Frances.

Sister Lenore ministered for 60 years in education, counseling and fundraising. She taught all grades from kindergarten through high school. In the archdiocese, she served at St. Thecla; St. Mary of the Angels; St. Bede, Ingleside; and Resurrection High School. She also ministered in Indiana, North Dakota and Alabama.

Sister Lenore also served as formation directress and as local superior.

Sister Lenore spent the last 15 years of her life in the ministry of prayer and suffering at the Queen of the Resurrection House of Prayer.

Sister of St. Casimir Clement Mazgelis, 93, died Jan. 31.

A native of Brockton, Massachusetts, Sister Clement attended St. Casimir Academy in Chicago and entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1940. She made her final vows in 1946.

She ministered in elementary and high schools in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Nebraska and Maryland. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Casimir Academy (1944-1946) and Maria High School (1965-2002), Nativity BVM (Marquette Park, 1943-1944), Immaculate Conception (44th Street) (1946-1948) and St. Anthony, Cicero (1952-1957). From 2002 to 2015 Sister Clement supported Maria High Scholarships and the SSC Retirement Fund through many fundraising activities. Most recently, Sister Clement participated in the SSC ministry of prayer (2015-2017) at Franciscan Village in Lemont.

Benedictine Sister Mercedes (Mary Catherine) Moore, 101, died Jan. 25 at St. Scholastica Monastery.

She graduated from St. Ambrose School and St. Thomas the Apostle High School. Later, she attended Saint Xavier College for a year before entering the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago in 1933. She professed her final vows in 1938.

She taught at St. Hilary, Queen of All Saints, St. Symphorosa and St. Scholastica Academy and at a number of schools in Colorado. She returned as principal of St. Hilary and St. Symphorosa. She was involved in parish ministry at St. Athanasius, Evanston, served as a chaplain at Evanston Hospital and then was superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Virgin Islands. In her later years, she worked as a tutor with deaf students at Holy Trinity School and served as subprioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago.

Felician Sister Mary Cordia (Veronica) Nowicki, 101, died on Jan. 20 in Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, she entered the Felician Sisters in 1934 and professed her final vows in 1942.

She ministered in elementary schools as a principal, teacher and tutor in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.