Redemptorist Father Henry Novak, 92, died Feb. 11 in Liguori, Missouri.

Stationed in the Archdiocese of Chicago for more than 50 years, he served at Old St. Michael (Old Town) from 1957 to 1967 and was pastor of St. Alphonsus (Wellington Avenue) from 1967 to 1972. He then directed the Villa Redeemer Retreat House in Glenview for several years before serving as province treasurer until 1996. He remained there until 2011, frequently saying Mass at neighboring parishes, convents and nursing homes.

Father George Francis Cerny, 81, died Jan. 24. He was pastor emeritus of St. Bartholomew Parish and was a resident at the Franciscan Village/ Mother Theresa Home in Lemont.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. John Nepomucene and St. Rita schools and Quigley Preparatory Seminary before graduating from DePaul University with an accounting degree.

He then served in the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant (1956- 1957) before entering the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained in 1964.

Father Cerny served as assistant pastor of Our Lady of the Mount, Cicero 1964- 1973); St. Peter Canisius Parish (1973- 1978); Holy Ghost, South Holland (1978- 1979); and St. Bartholomew (1986-1991). He was pastor of St. Teresa of Avila (1980- 1986) and St. Bartholomew (1991-2004). He was named pastor emeritus after his retirement.

Father Cerny is survived by his sister, Irene Kucharski.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Margaret (Aimee Julie) Michael, 100, died in Cincinnati Jan. 11. Born in Ohio, she entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1934 and made final vows in 1943.

Sister Margaret taught every grade from first through eighth. In the Archdiocese of Chicago she spent nine years in three schools. Her special passion was serving in inner-city schools where she understood the importance of teaching all children the skills they needed to succeed.

Sister Margaret officially retired in 1994, but remained very active in gardening and other volunteer work.

She is survived by one niece, Kevin Ann Ford.

Sister of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis Regina Wachowski, 84, died Dec. 6 in Manaus, Brazil.

A member of her religious community for 68 years, she taught at St. Roman and St. Mary of Perpetual Help before embarking on a 44-year ministry in Brazil. She was a medical missionary in the Esperanca Project, traveling down the Amazon River on a hospital ship. She spent many years in the medical field before serving as a pastoral care worker in Manaus.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Virginia (Michael of the Trinity) Lacy, 85, died Dec. 1, 2016, in Ohio.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, she was a sister of Notre Dame de Namur for 67 years. She entered the community in 1949 and made her final vows in 1957.

She taught and served as principal of elementary schools in Chicago and Ohio, and later was a pastoral minister. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Peter Canisius (1953-1960, 1965-1973).