Father Raymond F. Klees, 75, died Nov. 2. He was most recently the former associate pastor of St. Mary of the Woods Parish.

Born in Chicago, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, Niles College and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1973.

Father Klees served as assistant pastor of St. Juliana and associate pastor of St. Gabriel, Our Lady of Victory and St. Mary of the Woods. He was pastor of St. Cletus, La Grange.

“Knowing Ray Klees for the past 60 years, since our first day in seminary, I can attest to his great love of people and priesthood,” said Msgr. Kenneth Velo, archdiocesan priest and senior executive of Catholic Collaboration for DePaul University. “He has been in varied ministries, and always brought great devotion and enthusiasm to his work. He will be missed.”

Jesuit Father Patrick J. Boyle, 90, died Oct. 25 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, he studied for two years at Loyola University Chicago before entering the Society of Jesus in 1950. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin and philosophy and a master’s degree in sociology from Loyola before being ordained in 1963. He later earned a doctorate in theology from Marquette University in Milwaukee. He also held licentiates in philosophy and theology.

He taught at Loyola Academy in Wilmette (1957-1960) and was an assistant high school principal in Ohio before becoming a U.S. Army chaplain and serving in Vietnam (1968-1971).

When Father Boyle returned to the Chicago Province, he was the director of the Jesuit Retreat League at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House, Barrington (1971-1983). He then worked at Loyola University Chicago for a year.

From 1984 to 2021, Father Boyle taught moral theology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. In 2021, he moved to the St. Camillus Jesuit Community in Wauwatosa.

Jesuit Father Robert Wild, former Chicago provincial, knew Father Boyle for more than 50 years and said that while he looked like a “tough guy,” he cared very much for the people he ministered to, whether they were students, seminarians or soldiers.

“When he was a paratrooper-chaplain in several forward-fire bases during the Vietnam conflict, Pat was there for his guys, risking his life in hot action to defend and care for the wounded and dying,” Father Wild said. “He was, I believe, one of the most decorated chaplains in the Vietnam War (two Silver Stars and a Bronze Star). And at Mundelein Seminary, where he taught moral theology for many years, his students very much appreciated his efforts to make that part of the course down to earth and practical.”

Providence Sister Margaret (James Patrick) Lynch, 79, died Nov. 3 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, Sister Peggy entered the Sisters of Providence in 1961 and professed final vows in 1969. She earned master’s degrees from Loyola University Chicago in religious education and later in religious studies.

She taught in junior high and high schools and ministered in parishes and adult education centers. Serious health problems brought her to the motherhouse in 2010.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Alexander, Palos Heights (1966-1967), and Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1976-1977).

School Sister of Notre Dame Joellyn (LaVerne) Grandchamp, 96, died Nov. 5 at Marian Village in Homer Glen.

Born in Blue Island, she was a member of her congregation for 76 years. She taught primary grades in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. She also a volunteered in province offices and food pantries and as a tutor at St. Margaret of Scotland School. 

She is survived by her siblings Floyd, Harold and Richard Grandchamp and Carol Bauer.

Father Francis G. Scanlan, 87, died Oct. 19. He was a former associate pastor of St. Damian Parish, Oak Forest, and a retired lieutenant colonel and Army chaplain of the Illinois National Guard.

Born in Chicago, Father Scanlan attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1961.

He was assistant pastor of St. Eugene, St. Mel-Holy Ghost and Incarnation, Palos Heights. He was associate pastor of St. Andrew and St. Bede the Venerable, and retired as associate pastor of St. Damian in 2005. Father Scanlan also served as a U.S. Army chaplain for the Illinois National Guard for nearly 30 years, from 1966 to 1995.

Frieda Bertello, director of the Healing Ministry at St. Damian Parish, knew Father Scanlan since he started at St. Damian.

“He was able to relate to any age group, probably because of his wisdom and experience and his ability to be young in spirit,” Bertello said. “His homilies were brief, but always on point, and he usually squeezed in a humorous line or two. The parishioners loved it.”

Bertello added, “Father Jerry treated everyone with kindness and respect, and you usually left with a joke or a laugh. We expect there will be more laughter in heaven now that he’s home with the Lord.”