Sister of St. Casimir M. Michaeline Pakrosnis, 88, died Sept. 7 at Mother Theresa Home in Lemont.

A native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Sister Michaeline entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1948 and made her final vows in 1956. 

She ministered in Sisters of St. Casimir institutions and local convents in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, New Mexico, Maryland and Florida. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at Providence of God Convent (1954-1955); St. Bartholomew Convent, Waukegan (1955-1956); St. Norbert Convent, Northbrook (1964-1965); and the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Casimir (1973-2007).

She served in the ministry of prayer and presence at the SSC Motherhouse and Franciscan Village (2007-2018). 

Sister of St. Joseph Dorothy (Kathleen) Lynch, 88, died Sept. 12.

She had been in religious life for 69 years, and she earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University and two master’s degrees, one from Loyola and one from DePaul University.

She was on the leadership team at Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, and at St. Paul High School.

Sister Dorothy was president of the Sisters of St. Joseph of La Grange, executive director of the Christian Life Center in La Grange and pastoral associate at St. Francis Xavier Parish, La Grange.

She is survived by her siblings Vincent Lynch, Servite Father Myles (Tom) Lynch and Norine (John) King.

Felician Sister Mary Presentia (Lucy) Nitecke, 101, died on Sept. 16 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in Milwaukee, she entered the Felician Sisters in 1936 and professed her final vows in 1944. She served primarily as a music teacher for more than 40 years at various schools in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas and North Dakota. She also ministered at St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee as a medical records clerk for 30 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Helen (1936-1937, 1965-1966); St. Joseph (1938-1938, 1960-1961); St. Bruno (1939-1940); St. Mary Magdalene (1944-1947, 1966-1967); St. Stanislaus, Posen (1947-1948, 1973-1975); Holy Innocents, (1948-1949); St. John of God (1956-1958); St. James (1958-1959); Sacred Heart (1959-1960); St. Bronislava (1964-1965) and Our Lady of Ransom, Niles (1968-1969).

Sister of St. Casimir Jeanne Moceyunas, 82, died Sept. 20 in Cordoba, Argentina.

Born in Pennsylvania, Sister Jeanne entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1956 and made her final vows in 1964. She ministered in New Mexico and in Rosario and Cordoba, Argentina.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Nativity BVM School (1959-1962), St. George School, Bridgeport (1963-1964), and Sts. Peter and Paul School, West Pullman (1964-1966).

Mercy Sister Solina (Alice) Hicks, 105, died Sept. 23.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Solina attended Mercy High School in Milwaukee and entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1934.

Her first assignment was as a kindergarten and first-grade teacher at St. Cecilia, Chicago.

After 10 years of teaching in Chicago Catholic schools, she earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1952 from Saint Xavier College and a master of fine arts degree in 1954 from Siena Heights College in Adrian, Michigan. Upon graduation, she began her life’s work as an art teacher, and always as a working artist.

Sister Solina was the original designer of the art department at Saint Xavier College’s new campus in 1954. She served as its first chair from then until 1965. She created the Saint Xavier College shield which is still in use today.

Her own work was controversial as she introduced the college community to modern art. “If the church has to deal with the modern then there has to be modern art in the church,” she said.

Always a progressive, Sister Solina’s later experiences included teaching art at an alternative school for Mexican Americans in California. She also spent time on a Navajo reservation in Arizona.

At 105 years old, Sister Solina was the oldest Sister of Mercy in the West Midwest Community.