Father Francis G. Scanlan, 87, died Oct. 19. He was a former associate pastor of St. Damian Parish, Oak Forest, and a retired lieutenant colonel and Army chaplain of the Illinois National Guard.

Born in Chicago, Father Scanlan attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1961.

He was assistant pastor of St. Eugene, St. Mel-Holy Ghost and Incarnation, Palos Heights. He was associate pastor of St. Andrew and St. Bede the Venerable, and retired as associate pastor of St. Damian in 2005. Father Scanlan also served as a U.S. Army chaplain for the Illinois National Guard for nearly 30 years, from 1966 to 1995.

Frieda Bertello, director of the Healing Ministry at St. Damian Parish, knew Father Scanlan since he started at St. Damian.

“He was able to relate to any age group, probably because of his wisdom and experience and his ability to be young in spirit,” Bertello said. “His homilies were brief, but always on point, and he usually squeezed in a humorous line or two. The parishioners loved it.”

Bertello added, “Father Jerry treated everyone with kindness and respect, and you usually left with a joke or a laugh. We expect there will be more laughter in heaven now that he’s home with the Lord.”

Deacon James O’Malley, 95, died Sept. 9. He was ordained in 1974 and served at the O’Hare Airport Interfaith Chapel.

Deacon O’Malley was a World War II veteran who served in Germany, and later worked for Culligan International as a chemist, lab manager and marketing specialist.

After being ordained, he served at his home parish, St. Mary, Des Plaines. He became associate chaplain at the O’Hare Interfaith Chapel in 1986.

He retired from active ministry in 2017.

His wife, Rita Ann, died in 2010. He is survived by his children Thomas O’Malley, James O’Malley Jr., Margaret Jean Wolski, Christine Ann Groves and Erin Lynn Johnson; 14 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Dominican Father Jack O’Malley.

Deacon Irwin E. Hotcaveg, 96, died Oct. 24. He was ordained in 1988 and served at St. Ferdinand Parish until his retirement in 2014.

Deacon Hotcaveg was a U.S. Army World War II veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Lou; his children Cindy, Judi and Susan; one grandchild and two great-grandchildren.

Viatorian Father John E. Eck, 85, died Oct. 4 at Addolorata Villa in Wheeling.

Born in Springfield, Illinois, Father Eck professed his first vows in 1955 and was ordained in Chicago on June 8, 1963.

He was a high school teacher in Peoria before entering the Viatorian Seminary. After being ordained, he taught at St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights (1963-1966). He also taught in Rock Island before serving as director of affiliates and novice master for the province. He then taught at Prologue High School, Chicago (1983-1990).

He served as a parochial vicar (1999-2005) and pastor (2005-2009) of St. Viator Parish.

He retired in 2009 to Kankakee and returned to the Viatorian Province Center retirement residence in Arlington Heights in 2016.

He is survived by his sister, Patricia Precht, and his brothers, Donald and Richard Eck.

Sister of St. Joseph Sister Rita Stalzer, 98, died Oct. 4. 

She was a member of her community for 79 years. She had bachelor’s and master’s degrees in library science from Rosary College and Dominican University in River Forest, as well as master’s degrees in English literature, theology and pastoral studies from Loyola University Chicago.

Sister Rita was a teacher and librarian at Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park (1947-1968) and a librarian at Loyola University Chicago for 40 years, including two years as the director of the library at Loyola’s Rome Campus. 

In retirement, Sister Rita worked as a St. Thomas Hospice volunteer and as congregation librarian. 

She is survived by her brother, Charles E. Stalzer.

Franciscan Sister of Chicago Anne Marie (Jean) Knawa, 93, died Oct. 12.

She entered the community in 1952, professed first vows in 1954 and professed final vows in 1959.

Sister Anne Marie taught at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr (1953-1955); St. Louise de Marillac, La Grange Park (1957-1964) and Madonna High School (1964-1988). She also taught in Cleveland.

While at Madonna, she wrote the history of her community (1973-1988) and served as local secretary (1974-1975) and local treasurer (1983-1988).

She served at the motherhouse as community historian and as a caregiver (1988-1990), then served for 11 years at St. Anthony Media Center in Crown Point, Indiana. From 2001 to 2013, she served at the Lemont motherhouse, planning and overseeing projects, leading the Franciscan community life subcommittee and serving as a catechist at St. Alphonsus Parish, Lemont.

Sister Anne Marie retired in 2014.

Father James D. Beath, 69, died Sept. 29. He was associate pastor of Divine Savior Parish, Norridge.

Born in Chicago, Father Beath attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1979.

He served as assistant pastor of St. Gertrude, Franklin Park; St. Mary of Celle, Berwyn; St. Peter, Skokie; St. Albert the Great, Burbank; St. Barbara, Brookfield; Divine Infant Jesus, Westchester; Divine Savior, Norridge; St. Mary of the Assumption; St. Thomas of Canterbury; St. Dorothy Parish; St. Mary, Star of the Sea; and St. Edward Parish.

Father Alec J. Wolff, presiding judge of the Metropolitan Tribunal of the archdiocese, said that his longtime friend had a heart of gold. “If somebody needed help, he was there. You didn’t have to ask — he was just there for you.”

According to Wolff, Beath had numerous hobbies, but music was the one he treasured the most.

Sister of the Holy Child Jesus Jeanne Adams, 94, died Sept. 11.

A member of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus for 75 years, Sister Jeanne ministered worldwide as an educator, researcher, pastoral minister and historian. She was briefly imprisoned during the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War and studied both Arabic and Creole to better serve the people of Israel, Palestine and Haiti.

She moved to Waukegan with her family as a child, and attended St. Anastasia School and Holy Child High School. She began her teaching ministry at St. Ignatius School (1949-1951) in Chicago. After five years in Pennsylvania, she served the next 20 years in the society’s African province. She later served in Israel, Palestine, Haiti and Jamaica.

She is survived by her sister, Kathy Reed.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Louis “Louie” Russley, 87, died Sept. 16 in Footville, Wisconsin.

Born in Cincinnati, Sister Mary Louis made her first religious profession in 1962 and her perpetual profession in 1967. She taught high school and college science; was director of the Dominican Education Center in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin; and was a pastoral associate before attending Loyola University Chicago School of Law, graduating in 1987. She ministered in law for the next 18 years. She ministered in Illinois, Wisconsin and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Louis taught at Trinity High School, River Forest (1962-1964); was a staff attorney with attorney Anne Burke in Chicago (1986-1988); was an assistant public defender for Cook County Juvenile Court (1988-2005); and taught at Dominican University, River Forest (1994-1996).

Daughter of Charity Sister Dorothy (Dorothy Lorraine) Olinger, 89, died Sept. 18 in Evansville, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, Sister Dorothy graduated from St. Gregory High School before entering the Daughters of Charity in 1952.

 She ministered in Louisiana, Alabama, Illinois, Mississippi, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Maryland and Tennessee.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Francis de Sales, Lake Zurich (1969-1973); and was a registrar at St. Louise de Marillac High School, Northfield (1993-1994).

Adrian Dominican Sister Frances (David Therese) Barfield, 90, died Sept. 19 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Pensacola, Florida, she was in the 73rd year of her religious life.

Sister Frances spent over 30 years ministering in elementary education and parish ministry in Illinois, Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1950-1953).

She is survived by siblings Genevieve Due and Albert Barfield.

Providence Sister Agnes Maureen (Theresa) Badura, 92, died Sept. 24 in St.-Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, Sister Agnes Maureen entered the Sisters of Providence in 1947 and professed final vows in 1955. 

She ministered as a teacher for 47 years in schools in Indiana; Illinois; Washington, D.C.; California; Florida; and Oklahoma, the last 39 of which were as a math teacher.

Retiring from teaching in 1989, she used her mathematical skills at Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center, and then, in 1995 at the Motherhouse Central Business Office.

In 2002, she returned to the Archdiocese of Chicago. In the archdiocese she taught at St. Angela (1955-1958); Marywood High School, Evanston (1965-1969); and Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1980-1984); was a clerk at Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center (1989-1995); and volunteered in the SPRED Office (2002-2011).

Felician Sister Mary Margaret (Mary Leonilda) Narloch, 97, died Sept. 27 at Mother of Good Counsel Convent.

Born in Wausau, Wisconsin, she entered the Felician Sisters in 1943 and professed her final vows in 1951. She ministered in elementary and high schools as a teacher, vice principal and principal in Illinois, and she served as administrator at a day care center in Wisconsin, before serving as the provincial treasurer and the president of Felician Health Care Inc. for 14 years. 

Later, she was the administrator of Villa St. Joseph in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. While there, she also was a tutor, visitor to the sick and helped with the outreach ministry. In 2016, Sister Mary Margaret returned to Mother of Good Counsel Convent in Chicago, where she helped in the International Cord Rosary Center.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Wenceslaus (1945-1952), St. Hedwig (1952-1953), Holy Innocents (1953-1956), St. Bronislava (1956-1957), Good Counsel High School (1957-1963, 1967-1976) and St. Joseph High School (1965-1967).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marya Dugard, 92, died Oct. 2 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Peoria, Sister Marya made her first religious profession in 1950 and her perpetual profession in 1953. She was a teacher, pastoral associate, family caregiver, support staff member and visitor to the ill and elderly in Illinois, Wyoming and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marya taught at Visitation (1950-1953); St. Sabina (1958-1960); St. Barnabas (1964-1969); St. Mary, Evanston (1969-1970); and St. Basil (1970-1972).

She is survived by a sister, Lorraine Dugard; and two brothers, Edward Dugard and Michael Dugard.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Constance Lennartz, 92, died Oct. 3 in Footville, Wisconsin.

Born in Oak Park, Sister Connie made her first religious profession in 1952 and her perpetual profession in 1955. She was a teacher and principal and a pastoral minister, and she directed a program for adults preparing to join the Catholic Church for 19 years.

Guiding people as they grew in their faith was important to her. She served in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, South Carolina, Alabama and Oklahoma.

According to her community, she loved serving on committees, volunteering in choirs and walking in marches that supported justice issues.

In the archdiocese, Sister Connie taught at St. Luke, River Forest (1984-1985).

Father John (Jack) M. Thinnes, 84, died Sept. 10. He was pastor emeritus of Holy Cross Parish, Deerfield.

Born in Evanston, Father Thinnes attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1964.

He was assistant pastor of Sts. Faith, Hope & Charity, Winnetka, and St. Francis Xavier, La Grange. He was associate pastor of St. Mary, Des Plaines; St. Gilbert, Grayslake; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glenview. He was pastor of Holy Cross before he retired in 2008.

“I will sorely miss Father Jack’s friendship, sense of humor, intellect and his voice of reason,” said Father John M. Ryan, retired archdiocesan priest and one of Father Thinnes’ classmates. “He loved the church and he looked upon his priesthood as a special blessing from God. He loved his people and was faithful to them for 58 years.”

Deacon Aloysius Memmel, 93, died Sept. 18. He was ordained in 1977 and served at St. Paul of the Cross, Park Ridge.

Deacon Memmel was a Korean War veteran and past Commander of Mel Tierney VFW Post 247. He was a fourth-degree member of the Maria Council Knights of Columbus and a longtime Scout leader of Troop 24 in Park Ridge and recipient of the Silver Beaver, St. George and the Bronze Pelican awards. He was also a proud member of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Catholic Committee of Scouting.

He is survived by his wife, Bette; his children Terence and Kevin Memmel and Kathleen  Azzi; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Deacon Paul D. Schmidt, 79, died Sept. 21. He was ordained in 2001 and served at St. James, Arlington Heights while working as business manager at Holy Cross Parish, Deerfield.

Deacon Schmidt was born in Detroit and grew up in Michigan. He came to Arlington Heights in 1980 after a job transfer.

He served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including active duty in the Vietnam War. He died after years of intermittent illness, originating with his contact with Agent Orange.

He became a deacon after retiring from his corporate career and started a second career as a parish business manager at Holy Cross, where he served until June.

He is survived by his wife, Paulette, his children Jennifer and David Schmidt, and three grandchildren.

Sister of St. Joseph Sister Sharon Jakicic, 91, died Sept. 1.

Sister Sharon had been a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph for 67 years.

She taught at St. Hugh, Lyons; Our Lady of Bethlehem, La Grange Park; Divine Infant, Westchester; St. Anthony; and St. John Fisher. She was principal of St. Mary, Riverside; and St. Anthony; and she served as the gift shop manager for the Sisters of St. Joseph before retiring.

She is survived by siblings Therese Virbickis and William Jakicic.

Adrian Dominican Sister Shirley (Joyce Edward) Thielk, 93, died Sept. 11 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 74th year of her religious life.

Sister Shirley ministered in education and administrative work in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and California and Malawi.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Clare of Montefalco (1949-1958).

She is survived by seven siblings: Kathryn Warras, John Thielk, Adrian Dominican Sister Dorothy Thielk, Edward Thielk, Margaret Zukowski, Rose Marie Popowitz and Donald Thielk.

Deacon Phillip A. DuBrownik, 76, died Aug. 23. He was ordained in 1998 and served at St. Emeric Parish, Country Club Hills.

Born in Chicago, he attended Bowen High School and Southern Illinois University.

Family members said he found his true calling as a deacon, and he considered the parish his extended family. Parishioners recalled him working with the SPRED group, making sausage and cooking at pig roasts and teaching others how to braid palms.

He had two sisters, Judith Baker and Ruth Koteles.

Adrian Dominican Sister Julie (Ann Warren) Hyer, 74, died July 27 in Capitola, California.

Born in New York, she was in the 54th year of her religious life.

Sister Julie spent one year ministering in education before ministering in health care administration in Michigan and California. She also was general councilor/administrator on the General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was on the board investment committee (2019-2021) and a Cistercian Monastery volunteer (2021-2022) at Common Spirit Health.

She is survived by two brothers, Warren Hyer Jr. and Gregory Hyer, and a sister, Marianne Hyer.

Sister of St. Casimir Wanda Marie Kamza, 86, died Aug. 1.

Born in Gary, Indiana, Sister Wanda Marie entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1952, professed first vows in 1955 and professed final vows in 1960. She spent most of her 66 years in education.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. George (32nd Place, 1955-1960), Immaculate Conception (44th Street, 1963-1964), St. Joseph (South Chicago, 1965-1967), St. Norbert, Northbrook (1964-1965, 1985-2000), and St. Bartholomew (Waukegan, 1970-1971). Additionally, she served in schools in Rockford and in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan.  She also served in the ministry of prayer and presence at Franciscan Village, Lemont (2015-2022).

Adrian Dominican Sister Jane (Jean Ellen) Quirk, 95, died Aug. 8 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Harvey, she was in the 76th year of her religious life.

Sister Jane ministered for more than 53 years in elementary and special education in Michigan, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee and Illinois. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2006.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught elementary school students with learning disabilities at the Bartlett Learning Center (1977-2000).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Vivian (Priscilla) Gorman, 98, died Aug. 15 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Minnesota, Sister Vivian made her first religious profession in 1947 and her perpetual profession in 1950.

She was a teacher, principal, assistant principal, adult education director, teacher’s aide and religious education coordinator, as well as a pastoral and development staff member. She served in Wyoming, Illinois, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia, Alabama and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Vivian taught at St. Richard (1947-1949) and served as principal of St. Patrick, Lemont (1956-1962), and St. Philip the Apostle, Northfield (1965-1969). She also ministered as religious education coordinator at Sts. Faith, Hope and Charity, Winnetka (1980-1986).

She is survived by a sister, Cecilia Becker.

Father James McCarthy, 92, died Aug, 5. He founded and was a long-time director of Special Religious Development (SPRED), an agency of the Archdiocese of Chicago that provides ministry to adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Born in Chicago, Father McCarthy attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary and Loyola University Chicago. He was ordained in 1955.

He was assistant pastor of Santa Maria del Popolo, Mundelein; St. Gregory the Great Parish; St. Cecilia Parish (Wells Street); and Our Lady of Mercy Parish; and as pastor of St. John Nepomucene. He retired in 2007, but continued working with SPRED. 

In 1960, Father McCarthy became associate director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) in Chicago and discovered that parents had been inquiring about providing ministry to children with disabilities. They wanted their children to receive the sacraments, but no faith formation program existed for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Father McCarthy began working with parents, special educators and catechists in several parishes to make Catholic liturgies and catechesis more accessible to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Society of Helpers Sister Mary Therese Harrington soon began assisting in this work, and they were later joined by Providence Sister Susanne Gallagher.

In 1966, SPRED was established as an agency of the archdiocese. Today, 114 parishes with SPRED groups provide ministry to about 800 people with disabilities. The SPRED network has expanded beyond Chicago, administering faith formation and sacramental preparation programs for people with special needs in 28 Catholic dioceses and 200 parishes nationwide, and in numerous parishes in England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, South Africa, Malta, Chile and Mexico.

He was still serving as the SPRED’s chaplain and director emeritus up until the day he died, SPRED director Joseph Quane said.

“His younger brother had intellectual disabilities, so he knew about the need and took the mission very personally,” Quane said. “He made it his mission to bring the Gospel message to some of the most poor and marginalized members of our society. He wanted people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to feel a sense of belonging in their local parish communities and wanted them to actively participate in the liturgical life of their parish. One of the greatest gifts he leaves to the SPRED community is the adult catechist formation component of SPRED. Father Jim was a strong proponent of life-long catechesis and insisted that a strong community of adult catechists, who participated in ongoing spiritual formation, was required if we are to effectively minister to our friends with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

In 2013, Father McCarthy, Harrington and Gallagher received the Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame for their outstanding service to the Roman Catholic Church — the highest honor bestowed by the university.

“He was a very humble person, and he didn’t like all the honors they received,” Quane added. “He faced a lot of challenges when he started SPRED in the 1960s, because back then a lot of people didn’t think people with intellectual and developmental disabilities needed faith formation or spiritual nourishment.”

Adrian Dominican Sister Margaret (Julia Marie) Lane, 92, died July 27 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 74th year of her religious life.

Sister Margaret spent ministered education, formation, nursing and pastoral work in Michigan; Illinois; Florida; Washington, D.C.; Nicaragua; the Dominican Republic; Mexico; and Puerto Rico. She also volunteered for the New Orleans Project.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1949-1951) and St. James, Maywood (1951-1952).

She is survived by a sister, Peggy McLeod.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Susan Hahn, 98, died Aug. 4 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, she made her first religious profession in 1944 and her perpetual profession in 1947. She taught first grade for 51 years and continued to tutor reading students for 13 more years. She served in New York, Illinois, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Susan taught at Immaculate Conception, Waukegan (1945-1952); Sts. Faith, Hope and Charity, Winnetka (1954-1957); and St. Vincent Ferrer, River Forest (1968-1995), where she also was a reading tutor (1995-2008).

According to her congregation, people at St. Vincent Ferrer would boast that Sister Susan had educated three straight generations of their family.

She is survived by her brother, Donald Hahn.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Eldena (Marie Evan) Scholl, 97, died Aug. 5 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Iowa, Sister Eldena entered the Sinsinawa Dominican congregation in 1942, left the congregation in 1968, and returned in 1982, making her first profession as a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa in 1982, and her perpetual profession in 1985.

She was a teacher, support staff member and sacristan who served in Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Eldena taught at Visitation (1944-1952), Epiphany (1963-1964)  and St. Giles, Oak Park (1986-1987).

Father William E. Malloy, 74, died July 19, He was the former pastor of St. Barnabas Parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Malloy attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1973.

He was assistant pastor of St. Bernadette, Evergreen Park, and associate pastor of St. Norbert, Northbrook, and Incarnation, Palos Heights. He was pastor of St. Maurice; St. Germaine, Oak Lawn; and St. Barnabas, where he served 10 years before retiring in 2017. He continued to live at the parish after retiring.

Father Malloy was also a faculty member at Quigley Preparatory Seminary from September 1977 to August 1978.

Father James J. Donovan, pastor of St. Barnabas, remembered “Fr. Bill” as a well-prepared preacher, known for his kindness and gentle spirit.

“He always had time for his parishioners from all his parishes,” Donovan said. “His quiet and sincere manner endeared him to many over nearly 50 years. Please keep his 101-year-old father, his sisters and their families and the St. Barnabas community in your prayers.”