Sister of St. Joseph Marybeth McDermott, 93, of La Grange Park, died Oct. 18.

Sister Marybeth had been in religious life for 74 years. After earning a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University, she spent more than 40 years ministering in schools run by the Sister of St. Joseph of La Grange.

For 15 years she was the program director of School on Wheels Literacy Bus, where she was a teacher and trainer of teachers for ESL, GED, and citizenship training. According to her community, Sister Marybeth was a fierce advocate for immigrants.

Springfield Dominican Sister M. Elise (Elizabeth Christine) Bocke, 108, died Oct. 24 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield.

Born in Quincy, Illinois, she joined the Dominican Sisters of Springfield in 1937 and made her first profession of vows in 1939.

She taught in the Illinois communities of Springfield, Chicago, Cary, Aurora and Chicago Heights.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. John Bosco (1964), before becoming a language arts curriculum consultant for the archdiocesan Office of Catholic Education. (1964-1973)St. Edward (1985-2010), where she was a reading specialist and taught English language learners. She taught English and reading at Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights (1973-1983), and concluded her teaching years at St. Edward (1985-2010), where she was a reading specialist and taught English language learners.

Jesuit Father James W. Schulz, 80, died Oct. 20 in Clarkston, Michigan.

Born in Cincinnati, he entered the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus in 1964. He was ordained in 1977 and made his final vows in 1983.

Father Schultz earned bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and classical languages from Saint Louis University and a master’s degree in economics from Fordham University. He also earned master’s degrees in theology and pastoral studies from Loyola University Chicago.

He taught psychology, history and English at Colegio del José in Arequipa, Peru (1971-1972). After ordination, he moved to Chicago where he worked with immigrants and undocumented people at the Eighth Day Center for Justice (1978-1980) and was an associate pastor at Holy Family Church (1980-1981).

After serving in Jesuit ministries on the East Coast, Father Schultz returned to Chicago. He was associate pastor of St. Mary (1988-1990) and the pastor of St. Procopius Parish (1990-1992). He then served in Northwest Indiana before becoming associate pastor of St. Turibius (2010-2011) and pastor of Mary, Queen of Heaven, Cicero (2011-2014). He also spent seven years as a chaplain at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital (2014-2021).

He is survived by his sister, Diane McCullough.

Paulist Father Bradford C. Schoeberle, 69, died Oct. 21 in Texas. He was a former pastor of Old St. Mary’s Parish.

Born in Wisconsin, he studied at St. Francis de Sales College Seminary and earned a bachelor’s degree in theology before earning master’s degrees in religious studies from Edgewood College and pastoral studies from Washington Theological Union.

He worked as a parish director of religious education before entering the Paulist novitiate in 1995. He made his first promises the following year and his final promises in 1999, before being ordained a priest in 2000.

He ministered in California and Michigan before serving as pastor of Old St. Mary’s from 2018 to 2024, when he was assigned to St. Paul the Apostle in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.

He is survived by his sisters Pam Hinz, Jeanne Butcher and Marisa Schoeberle; and his brother, Gary Schoeberle.

Born in Chicago, she Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Richelle (Marirose) Schmitz, 95 died Oct. 25 in Muskego, Wisconsin.

Sister Richelle professed vows with Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1951. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin, and a master’s degree in education from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Her ministry was dedicated to teaching and educational administration. Sister Richelle taught in New York, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught and served as principal at St. Giles, Oak Park; and was principal at St. Mary of the Woods.