Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Helen (Marcellus) Hurley, 89, died Dec. 18 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, she professed vows with the Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1956. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in curriculum.

She taught at St. Patrick, Lemont, and St. Richard. She also ministered in California, Iowa, Washington and New York, as well as in Wisconsin, where she was an associate professor in early childhood education at Edgewood College, Milwaukee, and a pastoral associate.

Franciscan Father Paul (Nikola) Maslach, 89, died Jan. 3.

Born in what is now Bosnia and Herzegovina, he attended elementary school in Italy before arriving in the Unites States in 1951.

He attended St. Joseph High School in Westmont, starting his studied in theology and philosophy there before graduating in 1955.

He entered the Order of Friars Minor that year, and continued his studies in New Hampshire and Washington, D.C. He made first vows in 1956 and solemn vows in 1969 before being ordained a priest in 1962.

He was an associate pastor of Sacred Heart Croatian Parish (1962-1964). After assignments in Milwaukee and St. Louis, he was pastor of St. Jerome Croatian Parish (1976-1979).

After ministering in Pennsylvania, he returned to Chicago as guardian (1982-1985, 1994-1995) and custos (1985-1994, 2009-2012) of St. Anthony Friary.

He was pastor of Sacred Heart Croatian (1995-2000) before again ministering in Milwaukee. His final pastoral assignment was as director of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac Mission in Chicago (2012-2017).

He resided at St. Anthony Friary in his retirement.

Providence Sister Rosemary (Rose Clare) Rafter, 93, died Dec. 1 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Bloomington, Illinois, Sister Rosemary moved to Indiana with her family as a child. She entered the Sisters of Providence in 1951 and professed perpetual vows in 1958.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, a master’s degree in education from Indiana State University and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from George Williams College of Aurora University.

In her 75 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered in education, community leadership and pastoral ministry in Illinois, New Hampshire and Indiana, including a term as provincial of her community’s motherhouse province.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Andrew (1963-1965) and served as director of student services and Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1977-1980).

She is survived by two sisters, Joan Whitehouse and Sue Rafter.

Deacon Emiliano Rodriguez Sr., 97, died Nov. 16. He was ordained in 1974 and ministered at St. Sebastian and St. Bonaventure parishes before he retired in 2001.

He is survived by his children Carmelo Rodriguez, Amparo Mendoza, Julia Rodriguez-Coss, Herman Rodriguez and Emiliano Rodriguez Jr.; eight grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

Deacon Dennis M. Cristofaro, 77, of Colon, Michigan, died Nov. 21. He was ordained in 2014 and served at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Orland Hills.

Born in Chicago, Deacon Cristofaro graduated from Mendel Catholic High School in 1966 and married Barbara Cimbala the following year. They were married for 57 years before his wife died in 2024.

Deacon Cristofaro worked for the Chicago Transit Authority for more than 25 years, beginning as a mechanic and retiring as a maintenance manager. After his retirement, he and his wife moved to Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he served as a deacon at St. Elizabeth Seton. During his time in Illinois, he also served as a trustee on the Orland Hills village board.

He continued his diaconate ministry in Michigan, and served in municipal government in Colon.

He is survived by his children Brian Cristofaro, Denise Keel, Rosemary Burklow and Jennifer Camacho; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and his siblings Jo Chiappetta and Mario Cristofaro.