Felician Sister Mary Suzanne (Sandra Mary) Bacia, 74, died Jan. 9 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in Chicago, she attended Sts. Peter and Paul School and St. Joseph High School. She entered the Felician Sisters in 1962 and professed her final vows in 1970. She ministered in elementary schools as a teacher and librarian in Illinois and Wisconsin. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Bruno (1965-1966, 1982-1985); St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates (1967-1967); St. John of God (1967-1968, 1985-1986); Sacred Heart (1968-1971); St. Bronislava (1971-1972); St. Stanislaus, Posen (1973-1978); Good Shepherd (1978-1980); and St. Helen (1987-1989).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marielle Schmitt, 100, died Jan. 15 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, she made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1938 and her perpetual profession in 1941.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marielle taught at St. Luke, River Forest (1945-1951), and served as librarian at St. Giles, Oak Park (1973-1979).

Deacon Robert Brauch, 89, of Lake Barrington died Dec. 14. He was ordained in 1989 and served at St. Anne Parish in Barrington.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Helen; children Mary Afflerbach, Claire Quinn, Jayne Haller, Kristin Plescia, Beth Gavin, Kay Carley and Marty, John and Rob Brauch; 29 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Jean Scott.

Deacon Arthur Nylen, 87, died Dec. 19. He was ordained in 1984 and served at St. Jude the Apostle Parish in South Holland.

He served as the parish’s director of social ministry from 1995 to 2011 and was a member of the Holy Name Society, a minister of care, a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus Genoa Council and a third-degree Knight of Peter Claver. He served on the Catholic Charities Southside Advisory board and was the first co-recipient of Catholic Charities Compassion in Action Award in 2003.

Deacon Nylen also was a U.S. Army Korean War veteran.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Beverly; children Thomas, Michael, Robert and Terri Ann Nylen, and Mary Lou Gutrich; 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Rose Pett.

Deacon Donald Daum, 94, died Dec. 26. He was ordained in 1986 and served at St. Germaine Parish in Oak Lawn.

He was a World War II veteran, retired from Illinois Bell and volunteered with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

He is survived by his wife, Joan, and his children Donald Jr., Richard, David, Thomas, James, Robert, Philip, John and Timothy Daum; Mary Knight and Juliana Hynes; 35 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; and his brother James and sister Alice Majewski.