Sister of St. Joseph of Carondolet Mary Kathleen Dowling, 71, died March 20 in Fenton, Missouri.

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Sister Mary Kathleen entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1972 and was received into the novitiate in 1973.

Sister Mary Kathleen ministered in education, teaching in Colorado, Missouri, Michigan and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Nativity of Our Lord (1984), St. Fidelis (1985-1990), St. Philomena (1990-2005) and St. Helen (2005-2021). Sister Mary Kathleen retired in 2021 and moved to St. Louis in January.

Sister of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis Imelda Goska, 95, of Bartlett, died March 22.

She entered religious life in 1942 from St. Barbara Parish (Throop Street).

She ministered in education and service to her community in Chicago as well as in Indiana and Colorado.

Father William B. Gubbins, 92, died March 14. He was pastor emeritus of St. John Berchmans Parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Gubbins attended St. Philip Neri School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1955.

Father Gubbins’ first assignment was as assistant pastor at Holy Name Cathedral for nine years before serving in the same role at Our Lady of Knock, Calumet City; St. Nicholas, Evanston; and St. Sylvester. He was associate pastor of Our Lady of Mercy; Divine Providence, Westchester; and St. Aloysius.

After a five-month stay in Israel to study Scripture, Father Gubbins became pastor at Queen of Martyrs Parish, Evergreen Park. In 1992, he became pastor at St. John Berchmans, where he served until 1999. He received the title of pastor emeritus when he retired.

Father William Corcoran, pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Orland Hills, lived at the parish with Father Gubbins for about eight years.

“He was 92 going on 60,” said Corcoran, who remembered his friend as thriving and being mentally sharp in his final years. Even after retirement, Father Gubbins heard confessions, celebrated Masses, and facilitated Bible studies, Corcoran added. “He was incredibly kind, a good listener and always serving people.”

Deacon Richard Flam, 87, died Dec. 4 in San Antonio. He was ordained in 1996 and served at St. Marcelline, Schaumburg.

Born in Chicago, Deacon Flam worked in computer systems for 43 years. He loved the Cubs and playing golf, and collecting and building model cars and airplanes. After retirement he moved to Tucson, Arizona, and volunteered for many years at the Pima Air and Space Museum.

Deacon Flam was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, who died Dec. 1. He is survived by his children Julie Copeland, Christine Ballo and Mary Knox; and two grandchildren.

Deacon R. Michael Ruffner, 80, died March 15 in Florida. He was ordained in 1992 and served at Immaculate Conception (North Park Avenue) and at Mary,  Seat of Wisdom Parish in Park Ridge.

Deacon Ruffner grew up in Chicago and attended Lakeview High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Sue Walker, and they had three children before his wife died at the age of 23. In 1977, he met his wife Jan through Naim, a group for widows and widowers, and they married in 1978, bringing together his three children and Jan’s son Edward in one family.

Deacon Ruffner worked briefly for Illinois Bell and then American Can Co., before starting his own business, Can Serv, in which he was active even after formally retiring to Florida in 2004.

While in Florida, he continued his diaconate ministry in the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

Deacon Ruffner is survived by his wife of 44 years, Jan; his children Susan, Sean and Mike; and nine grandchildren. His son Edward predeceased him.