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1,529 Results Found
  • Sr. Solina Hicks

    Educator, artist

    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.

  • Fr. Stanley Plutz

    Missionary

    Divine Word Father Stanley Plutz, 92, vice postulator for the canonization of St. Arnold Janssen and longtime missionary in the Philippines, died Sept. 23 in Techny.

    Born in Appleton, Wisconsin, Father Plutz entered the Society of the Divine Word in 1940 and professed religious vows in 1946.

    In 1953, he was ordained to the priesthood and left for his first overseas assignment in the Philippines in 1954.

    In 1999, Father Plutz became the vice postulator for the sainthood cause of Father Arnold Janssen, founder of the Society of the Divine Word.

    Upon returning to the United States in 2000, he was assigned to the U.S. Southern Province and continued to promote devotion to St. Arnold, who was canonized in 2003.

    During his 46 years as a missionary in the Philippines, Father Plutz served as a teacher and spiritual director.

    Father Plutz had been living at Techny since 2013.

  • Sr. Virginia O’Reilly

    Educator, psychologist

    Adrian Dominican Sister Virginia (Joan Patricia) O’Reilly, 91, died Sept. 24 in Adrian, Michigan.

    Sister Virginia was born in Detroit and was in the 75th year of her religious life.

    Sister Virginia ministered in Illinois, Florida, Georgia and Michigan.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita Elementary School (1944-1946), Aquinas High School (1960-1964) and Illinois Institute of Technology (1967-1968).

    Sister Virginia is survived by a sister, Patricia Rush.

  • Deacon Philip White

    Class of 1980

    Deacon Philip White, 73, died Aug. 28 in Wisconsin. He was ordained in 1980 and served at St. Eulalia, Maywood, and Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

    Deacon White, formerly of Westchester, was born in Ireland and attended University College Dublin, where he met his wife of 43 years, Lucy Power.

    The couple immigrated to Chicago in 1974 and Deacon White taught religion at Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in Westchester.

    He is survived by his wife, Lucy; daughters Rachel White and Maureen White; son Brendan White; and three grandchildren.

  • Sr. Prudence Ludwig

    Educator

    Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Prudence Ludwig died Aug. 16, her 96th birthday, in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

    Born in Montana, Sister Prudence made her first religious profession in 1945 and her final profession in 1948. She served in Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Nebraska, California and Colorado.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Prudence taught at St. Philip Benizi (1945-1949), Visitation (1957-1958) and St. Brendan (1960-1967 and 1978-1979).

    She is survived by a sister, Barbara Corboy.

  • Sr. Jean Anne Maher

    Educator, pastoral associate

    Sister of Providence Jean Anne (Robert Marie) Maher, 85, died Aug. 23 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

    Born in Chicago, she attended St. Agnes School and Providence High School. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence in 1951 and professed final vows in 1955. 

    Sister Jean Anne ministered in Indiana, Illinois, California, Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Andrew (1965-1967); St. Mark (1967-1970); St. David (1970-1971, 1979-1980); St. Sylvester (1975-1976); St. Angela (1976-1978); Chicago Urban Skills Institute (1980-1984); St. Priscilla (1984-1985); St. Beatrice, Schiller Park (1992-1993); Holy Family (1993-1994); and St. Stanislaus Kostka (1994-1996); and was a pastoral associate at St. Mark (1996-1999) and St. Simeon, Bellwood (1999-2003).

    Sister Jean Anne is survived by a sister, Celeste Sammet.

  • Sr. Mary Wolff

    Educator

    Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary (Marie Florian) Wolff, 100, died Sept. 3 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

    Born in Nebraska, Sister Mary made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa in 1938, and her final profession in 1941. She taught for 69 years, 10 while also serving as principal, and created and ran a reading program for 10 years. Sister Mary served in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, California and Colorado.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary taught at St. Philip Benizi (1938-1939); Visitation (1939-1947); St. Philip the Apostle, Northfield (1959-1964); and Trinity High School, River Forest (1981-1988).

    She is survived by two brothers, F. Patrick Wolff and Benedictine Abbot Theodore Wolff.

  • Sr. Mary Ellen Brodeur

    Educator

    Adrian Dominican Sister Mary Ellen (Ann Edward) Brodeur, 90, died Sept. 10 in Adrian, Michigan.

    Born in Detroit, she was in the 72nd year of her religious profession.

    Sister Mary Ellen ministered in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Florida.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Carthage (1955-1961).

  • Fr. Thomas Purtell

    Pastor emeritus

    Father Thomas J. Purtell, 83, died Aug. 24. He was pastor emeritus of St. John Fisher Parish.

    Born in Chicago, Father Purtell attended Our Lady of Victory School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1961.

    He was assistant pastor at St. Joseph, Homewood; Our Lady of Lourdes (Keeler Street); and St. Benedict, Blue Island. He was named pastor of St. John Fisher Parish in 1984, and he remained there until he retired in 2003.

    Father Daniel Brady, pastor emeritus of St. Cecilia Parish in Mount Prospect, knew Father Purtell for almost 70 years and remembers his classmate as “a very good friend, a marvelous storyteller and wonderful priest.”

  • Deacon Anthony Llorens

    Class of 1972

    Deacon Anthony Llorens, 85, died Aug. 25. He was a member of the first class of permanent deacons in the archdiocese, ordained in 1972, and served at Providence-St. Mel and St. Martin de Porres parishes.

    Deacon Llorens owned a company that made grinding wheels for the aeronautics industry, according to his daughter, Julie Richardson. 

    As a deacon, he led classes for people participating in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. He was active in the Westside Catholic Cluster, which gave him its first Bishop Dempsey Award; and the Black Catholic Deacons of Chicago. He received the Augustus Tolton Award from the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office for Black Catholics.

    He was the deacon who sang the prayers of the faithful at Pope St. John Paul II’s 1979 Mass in Grant Park, Richardson said. 

    He served as president of the Providence-St. Mel school board, was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and was an honorary member of the Knights of St. Peter Claver.

    He and his wife of 66 years, Mathilda, had 10 children: Anthony, Magdalena, Michael, John, Arnold, Ronald, Julie, Martin, Antoinette and Sophia. They had 24 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

  • Sr. Mary Sebastian Dzwierzynski

    Educator, care for aged

    Felician Sister Mary Sebastian (Helen) Dzwierzynski, 100, died Aug. 14 in Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

    Sister Mary Sebastian was born in Chicago, where she attended St. John of God and Hamline elementary schools and Good Counsel High School. She entered the Felician Sisters’ postulancy in 1942 and professed her final vows in 1950. She ministered for almost 25 years as a teacher in elementary schools in Illinois and Wisconsin. Later, she cared for the aged in Illinois and Wisconsin. She also served as a housekeeper at the Cardinal’s Residence.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at Sts. Peter and Paul (1944-1946), Sacred Heart (1948-1959), St. Bruno (1959-1960), St. Bronislava (1964-1968), St. Andrew Home in Niles (1983-1986), and the Cardinal’s Residence (1986-1994).

  • Fr. Earl Weis

    Educator

    Jesuit Father Earl A. Weis, 95, died Aug. 15 in Clarkston, Michigan. He had served as a professor of theology at Loyola University Chicago for almost 40 years.

    \Father Weis, who was a Jesuit for nearly 77 years and a priest for 64 years, also served as chair of the theology department at Loyola University Chicago from 1971 to 1980.

    Born in Toledo, Ohio, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1941. In addition to teaching, he was a staff editor of the New Catholic Encyclopedia (1963-1966) and editor of Corpus Instrumentorum (1966-1970).

  • Fr. Michael A. Olivero

    Retired pastor

    Father Michael A. Olivero, 70, retired pastor of St. Cecilia Parish, Mount Prospect, died Aug. 4.

    Born in Chicago, Father Olivero attended St. John Berchmans School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary North and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1974.

    Father Olivero was associate pastor at Queen of the Rosary, Elk Grove Village; St. Cecilia, Mount Prospect; and St. Cyprian, River Grove. In 1993, he was appointed pastor of St. Stephen Protomartyr, Des Plaines, and served in that role until 2005, when he became pastor of St. Cecilia. He retired on June 30.

    Msgr. John Pollard, retired pastor of Queen of All Saints Basilica, remembers his classmate as a good and faithful priest. “He spent all his years in the priesthood in parishes dedicating himself to the people of the archdiocese,” said Msgr. Pollard. “He was a very fine liturgist and preacher, always present to his people who were always and foremost in his mind.”

  • Fr. John J. Powers

    Pastor emeritus

    Father John J. Powers, 93, died Aug. 10. He was pastor emeritus of St. Jude the Apostle, South Holland.

    Born in Chicago, Father Powers attended St. Robert Bellarmine School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1951.

    Father Powers was assistant pastor at Ascension, Harvey; Ascension, Oak Park; St. Mary, Riverside; and Holy Ghost, South Holland. In 1978, he was appointed pastor of St. Jude the Apostle, where he served until retirement in 1995.

    Father George J. Kane, pastor emeritus of Church of the Holy Spirit, Schaumburg, remembers his classmate as “kind, compassionate, joyous and absolutely dependable. All through these years this is how he lived his life as a priest.”

  • Sr. Mary Enid Lodding

    Educator, pastoral associate

    BVM Sister Mary Enid Lodding, 91, died July 27 in Dubuque, Iowa. 

    Sister Mary Enid was born in Chicago and entered the BVM congregation in 1944 from St. Joseph Parish.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Enid taught at St. Agatha and was a pastoral associate at Our Lady of the Wayside, Arlington Heights.

    She also taught in Rock Island and East Moline, Illinois, and in Iowa, Tennessee, Washington and Oregon. She was a pastoral minister in Iowa and director of religious education in Addison, Illinois. 

  • Sr. Jean Charles Birney

    Educator

    Adrian Dominican Sister Jean Charles (Elizabeth Ann) Birney, 94, died Aug. 3 in Adrian, Michigan. Born in Michigan, she was in the 76th year of her religious life. 

    She ministered in Michigan, Illinois and Florida.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1942); St. Philip Neri (1948-1952); and St. Edmund, Oak Park (1957-1958).

    Sister Jean Charles is survived by a half-brother, Charles Birney Jr., and two half-sisters, Charlene Sundquist and Patricia Lane.

  • Sr. Mary Anthony Leno

    Educator

    Sister of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis Mary Anthony Leno, 86, died Aug. 7.

    Born in Chicago, she had been in religious life for 69 years.

    She ministered in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago, including more than 40 years teaching Spanish at Lourdes High School. After retirement, she composed prayers at Clare Oaks in Bartlett.

  • Sr. Kathleen Brady

    Educator

    Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Kathleen (Marie Amy) Brady, 69, died Aug. 10 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

    Born in Milwaukee, Sister Kathleen made her first religious profession in 1968 and her final profession in 1973. She was an educator, chaplain and family caregiver in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Washington, Montana and Colorado. 

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Kathleen taught at Epiphany (1974-1980) and Immaculate Conception (1980-1981) and was principal at St. Pius (1981-1983). 

  • Fr. Thomas Widner

    Editor, formation minister

    Jesuit Father Thomas Widner, 76, died Aug. 13 in Indianapolis. He had been a priest for 49 years and a Jesuit for 33.

    Born in Indiana, he did seminary studies at St. Mary’s College in Kentucky and Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis before being ordained in 1969 for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. 

    He ministered as an archdiocesan priest in Indianapolis for 15 years, teaching high school English, serving as an associate pastor and co-pastor and working as editor-in-chief of the archdiocesan newspaper, the Criterion.

    He entered the Jesuits in 1985 and served as an assistant editor and writer for America Magazine. He was the editor of the New World, as the Archdiocese of Chicago newspaper was known, from 1992 to 1995.

    He later was a publications assistant at Company Magazine while serving as director of the Chicago Province communication office, worked in retreat ministry and as the Secretary for Communications at the USA Jesuit Conference.

    Father Widner moved back to Indianapolis in 2004, where he served as vice president for mission and identity at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School and rector of the Jesuit community (2004-2010). In 2010, he became the director of spiritual formation at Bishop Bruté Seminary, where he worked until his death.

  • Fr. John J. McDonnell

    Pastor

    Father John J. McDonnell, 71, died July 23. He had been the pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish.

    Born in Chicago, Father McDonnell (also known as Father JJ), attended St. Cornelius School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary North, Niles College and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1973. 

    Fourteen years into his priesthood, Father McDonnell joined the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome to pursue his doctorate in sacred theology.
    Father McDonnell was assistant pastor at St. Louise de Marillac, LaGrange Park, and associate pastor at Holy Name Cathedral Parish. 

    He taught Christian anthropology and ecclesiology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary; was the administrative secretary for Cardinal Francis George from 1997 through 2003; and served as pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish from 2003 until retirement in 2017.

  • Sr. Patricia Spangler

    Educator

    Adrian Dominican Sister Patricia (Anne Robert) Spangler, 83, died July 29 in Adrian, Michigan. 

    Born in Chicago, she was in her 66th year of religious life.

    She ministered in Michigan, Illinois, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Kentucky and Kansas. 

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita (1961-1966); St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1966-1967); and Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1967). 

    She was principal at Queen of Angels (1969-1972); and was a volunteer tutor at Aquinas Literacy Center (2004, 2010-2013).
    Sister Patricia is survived by a brother, Thomas Spangler.

  • Br. Patrick Concidine

    Missionary

    Redemptorist Brother Patrick (John Foster) Concidine, 85, died July 25 in St. Louis.

    He had been in poor health for several years. 

    Born in DeKalb, Illinois, Brother Patrick became interested in the Redemptorists after attending a high school retreat. He professed temporary vows in 1949 and permanent vows in 1955.

    He was trained as a tailor and made more than 1,000 habits for his fellow Redemptorists as a young brother in Wisconsin.
    He served as a sacristan and porter at communities throughout the Midwest before being assigned as sacristan to St. Alphonsus Parish, which served a large, culturally diverse community. 

    With the blessing of his superiors, he began an outreach program to the Filipino community with the Confraternity of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, serving as a link between the Redemptorists in the Philippines and the Filipinos in the Chicago area. 

    Brother Patrick was granted permission to devote all of his time to the Perpetual Help Confraternity when he relocated to Old St. Michael’s in 1984. He and an assistant shared a small office in the former convent on the church grounds. Membership in the confraternity grew into the thousands, and members in the Chicago area participated in the Tuesday novena services and the annual novena leading up to the Perpetual Help feast day celebration in June. 

  • Deacon John O’Leary

    Class of 1984

    Deacon John (Jack) O’Leary died April 26 in New Lenox, Illinois. He was ordained in 1984 and had served at St. Joseph Parish, Homewood. As part of his diaconate ministry, he trained altar servers and was a minister of care. 

    He is survived by his children Sheila and Tom; daughter in-law Erin; grandchildren Colleen, Courtney, Kara and Michael; and great-grandchild Jayden.

  • Sr. Therese Reynolds

    Educator

    Adrian Dominican Sister Therese (Mary Jane Therese, Therese Marcel) Reynolds, 82, died July 5 in Adrian, Michigan.

    Born in Michigan, she was in the 63rd year of her religious life.

    She ministered in Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Loretto, Hometown (1962-1970).

    Sister Therese is survived by a brother, Marcel Reynolds, and a sister, Dorothy Waldbillig.

  • Sr. Maureen Ann McCarthy

    Educator

    Providence Sister Maureen Ann McCarthy, 89, died July 6 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

    Born in Chicago, she attended St. Genevieve School and the Immaculata before entering the Sisters of Providence in 1947. She professed final vows in 1954. 

    She ministered in Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, Maryland and Texas. 

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Angela (1959-1960), St. Columbkille (1960-1965), St. Francis Borgia (1967-1972), St. Andrew (1973-1975), St. Genevieve (1976-1982), Immaculate Conception (1985-1986); and Providence-St. Mel (1986-1997).

  • Sr. Mary Francesca LaCerba

    Educator, librarian

    Felician Sister Mary Francesca (Josephine) LaCerba, 79, died July 9, in Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

    Born in Chicago, she attended Mulligan and Newberry elementary schools and St. Michael Central High School. She entered the Felician Sisters in 1957 and professed her final vows in 1965. She ministered in elementary and high schools as a teacher and librarian in Illinois and Wisconsin. She was moderator of the Mother of Good Counsel Ladies Auxiliary for 15 years.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Turibius (1960-1961); St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates (1963-1969); Good Counsel High School (1974-2004); and Our Lady of Tepeyac (2006-2015).

  • Fr. John Paul Andree

    Preacher

    Redemptorist Father John Paul Andree, 76, died July 10 in Liguori, Missouri, after a lengthy battle with cancer.

    Born in Detroit, he joined the Redemptorists in 1963 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. 

    Father Andree served in retreat ministry in Rolling Meadows; was a member of the Redemptorist Chicago Mission preaching team; and was in residence at both St. Alphonsus and at Old St. Michael’s (Cleveland Avenue). He served for 23 years as director of the Co-Redemptorist Association.

  • Sr. Lucy Megaro

    Child, elder care provider

    Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ Sister Lucy (Rose) Megaro, 86, died July 12 in Donaldson, Indiana. 

    Born in Chicago, she was educated by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and after finishing high school, she worked as a beautician on the North Side of Chicago. 

    She took care of children and teenagers at Angel Guardian Orphanage from 1957 to 1974.

    After earning associates and bachelor’s degrees, she taught preschool at Angel Guardian Day Care on the South Side from 1985 to 1990 and ministered in home health care to the elderly in Chicago and Cincinnati from 1991 to 2011, Ohio. After semi-retiring, she became a volunteer for the Little Brothers of the Poor to continue service to the elderly.  

  • Sr. Pauline Brockelsby

    Educator, chaplain

    Providence Sister Pauline (Janet Agnes) Brockelsby, 79, died July 13 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.  

    Born in Omaha, Nebraska, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1960 and professed final vows in 1968.  She was a teacher and chaplain who ministered in Indiana, Virginia, New Hampshire, Illinois and California.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a chaplain at St. Ann Hospital (1981-1983).

  • Fr. John L. Harvey

    Pastor

    Father John L. Harvey, 67, died June 9. He was pastor of St. Mary Queen of Apostles Parish in Riverdale.

    Born in Chicago, Father Harvey attended Hales Franciscan High School, earned a bachelor’s degree at the St. Louis University and a pursued a master’s degree at the Chicago Theological Seminary.

    He was ordained to the priesthood in 1986.

    Father Harvey served at the following parishes: St. Felicitas, St. Benedict the African-East and West, St. Mary of the Assumption, and St. Mary Queen of Apostles Parish in Riverdale. For many years, Father Harvey served as the cardinal’s liaison to the Charismatic Renewal. 

  • Deacon Kevin Hill

    Class of 2009

    Deacon Kevin Hill, 72, died April 21 after battling ALS. 

    He was ordained in 2009 and previously served at St. John Brebeuf Parish, Niles. He also was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

  • Deacon August Jeffery

    Class of 1994

    Deacon August “Gus” E. Jeffery, 91, died June 22. He was ordained in 1994 and served at Divine Savior Parish, Norridge.

    Born in Chicago, Deacon Jeffery graduated from Loyola University and did much of his graduate work there. He taught at St. Rita High School for 35 years and served as a full-time deacon at Divine Savior Parish, Norridge.

    He is survived by his brother, Joseph.

  • Deacon Carlos Nazario

    Class of 1989

    Deacon Carlos Nazario, 84, died June 23 in Florida, where he lived for a number of years. He was ordained in 1989 and previously ministered at Our Lady of Grace Parish.

    He was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Chicago in 1955. He lived in Chicago for 46 years.

    He worked for Newmann Family Services, an organization that served mentally disabled children, and for the City of Chicago’s Department of Human Services.

    He is survived by his wife, Susana; his children Carlos May Nazario and Wanda Ivette Nazario; his stepson Manuel Vargas; and two grandchildren.

  • Sr. M. Annella Kipa

    Educator, health care worker

    Holy Family of Nazareth Sister M. Annella Kipa, 92, died June 12.

    Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in 1951 and professed final vows in 1960.
     
    In Chicago, she taught at Holy Trinity School and Immaculate Heart of Mary School. She also served at Holy Family Health Center (later Holy Family Nursing and Rehab) in Des Plaines for 24 years as receptionist, medical records assistant, housekeeping manager and other jobs that she took on as needed. She volunteered at Casa San Carlo Retirement Community in Northlake for nine years before retiring to the provincialate in Des Plaines at the age of 90.

  • Sr. Genevieve Shea

    Educator, chaplain

    Sister of the Living Word Genevieve Shea, 98, died June 19.

    Sister Genevieve, who was known as Sister Camilla after joining the Sisters of Christian Charity, taught elementary and high school in Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri and Iowa for 20 years, was a principal for eight years and served as a librarian at Mallinkrodt College in Wilmette. She later ministered as a chaplain and ministered to the elderly for 10 years.

    After retiring, she served as community archivist for the Sisters of the Living Word for 16 years, and began to develop the community’s website during that time. In her mid- to late 80s, she volunteered with the Over 50 Group at St. James Parish in Arlington Heights.

    She later moved to the Resurrection Life Center.

  • Deacon Francis Patrick McGann

    Ministered at Marytown

    Conventual Franciscan Deacon Francis Patrick McGann Jr., 77, died June 22.

    Deacon McGann was a devoted Conventual Franciscan friar dedicated to promoting the witness and life of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Prior to taking his solemn vows, Deacon McGann shared 37 years of marriage with Lois McGann, who he had known since grade school. 

    Born and raised in Moorestown, New Jersey, where he owned a liquor store and an Irish pub, he was ordained a permanent deacon in 1983 and served at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Moorestown until he decided to pursue his lifelong vocational calling by beginning his postulancy. 

    Deacon McGann is survived by his former wife, Lois McGann; their three daughters, Kathleen McGann, Kelly Hébert and Karen McGann-Smith; and their son, Kyle Francis McGann; his sister Margaret Aeillio; and five grandchildren.

  • Sr. Ann Seraphim Schenk

    Educator

    Adrian Domican Sister Ann Seraphim (Doris) Schenk, 100, died June 24 in Adrian, Michigan. She was 100 years of age and in the 81st year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

    Born in Belleville, Illinois, she was in the 81st year of her religious life.

    She ministered in elementary and music education in Michigan, Illinois and Arizona.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was an elementary and music teacher at St. James, Maywood (1947-1950) and an elementary teacher at St. Denis (1972-1973).

  • Sr. Evelyn Vichuras

    Health care worker

    Sister of St. Casimir Evelyn Vichuras, 96, died June 25. 

    A native of Gary, Indiana, Sister Evelyn entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1939.  She made her first profession of vows in 1942 and made her final vows in 1947. 

    After a few years teaching in the elementary grades, Sister Evelyn spent well over 50 years in health care.  In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as a teacher at Our Lady of Vilna School (1942-1945) and Nativity BVM School (1947-1949).  She served in health care ministries at Holy Cross Hospital from 1954 to 2007.

  • Sr. Maurine Therese Thiel

    Educator

    BVM Sister Maurine Therese Thiel, 86, died June 28 in Dubuque, Iowa.

    Born in Chicago, she entered the community from Our Lady of Angels Parish in 1949.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Maurine was an elementary teacher at Annunciation, Holy Name, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Angels, St. Bartholomew, and St. Constance schools in Chicago; a primary teacher aide at Divine Savior, Norridge; and volunteered as a catechist at St. Dismas Parish, Waukegan.

    She also ministered in other communities in Illinois and in Missouri and Iowa.

  • Sr. Georgina Luznicky

    Educator

    Adrian Dominican Sister Georgina (Dorothy) Luznicky90, died June 30.

    Born in Chicago, she graduated from Lourdes High School. She was in the 71st year of her religious life. She held master’s degrees in education and history from DePaul University.

    She ministered Michigan and Illinois.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Ascension, Harvey (1953-1957); St. Philip Neri (1960-1961); and Aquinas High School (1961-1962); was principal at St. Philip Neri (1962-1968); was St. Dominic Province Education Coordinator at St. Rita (1968-1969); was councilor and director of education (1969-1970) and administrator of the St. Dominic Province, Hometown; was an executive secretary and student at Catholic Theological Union (1972-1973): was a consultant in the archdiocesan Catholic schools office (1987-1999); and was an administrative assistant in the chapter office, Burbank (1999-2004).

  • Sr. Carol Denise Koenig

    Educator

    Adrian Dominican Sister Carol Denise (Mary Catherine) Koenig, 85, died July 1 in Adrian, Michigan. Born in Ohio, she in the 67th year of her religious life.

    She ministered in Michigan, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico and Ohio.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Santa Maria Del Popolo, Mundelein (1953-1957) and Our Lady of Loretto, Hometown (1979-1983).

    She is survived by a brother, Dennis Koenig.

  • Sr. Marilyn Stack

    Educator

    Sister Marylin (St. Robert of Mary) Stack, a member of the Congregation of Notre Dame, died July 2 in Wilton, Connecticut.

    Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, she made her first profession of vows in 1959 in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and her perpetual vows in1965 in Montreal.

    For more than 50 years she was involved in Catholic education in Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut, Illinois, and South Dakota.  For more than twenty years Sister Stack ministered at St. Jude the Apostle school and parish in South Holland as teacher and administrator.

  • Fr. John J. Rochford

    Pastor emeritus

    Father John J. Rochford, 96, died June 1 at Palos Community Hospital, Palos Heights. He was pastor emeritus of St. Emeric Parish, Country Club Hills.

    Born in Chicago, he attended St. Joachim School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1947.

    Father Rochford served as assistant pastor at St. Mark, St. Bartholomew and St. Raymond de Penafort, Mount Prospect between 1947 and 1966.

    He was then chaplain at Alexian Brothers Hospital, now Amita Health Alexian Brothers Medical Center, in Elk Grove Village, for six years before being named pastor of St. Emeric Parish in 1972. He was named pastor emeritus in 1991.

  • Fr. James A. Colleran

    Pastor emeritus
    Father James A. Colleran, 80, died June 2. He was pastor emeritus of St. Mary of the Lake Parish, and a resident at The Admiral at the Lake nursing home.
    Born in Chicago, he attended St. Ignatius School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1963.
    Father Colleran served at St. Bonaventure, St. Vitus Parish on Paulina Street, Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Mary of the Lake Parish. He was named pastor emeritus in 2007.
  • Sr. Ann Ida Gannon

    Mundelein College president

    BVM Sister Ann Ida Gannon, 103, died June 3, in Dubuque, Iowa.

    Born in Chicago, she entered the BVM congregation in 1932, from St. Jerome Parish and professed final vows in 1940.

    Sister Ann Ida was a professor at Mundelein College, Chicago, where she later served as president from 1957 to 1975. In Chicago, she also taught at St. Mary High School and St. Ferdinand and St. Charles elementary schools.

    Beyond her academic responsibilities, she participated in the governance processes of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1960 she was the youngest chapter delegate participating in the election of the congregation’s leadership.

    She received numerous awards, including the University of Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal, and 26 honorary degrees.

    She is survived by a sister, Benedictine Sister Joan Gannon.

  • Br. Patrick Hegarty

    Supported missionaries

    Divine Word Brother Patrick Hegarty, 97, who helped to make Ireland’s The Word one of the country’s most successful magazines, died on May 28.

    Born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1921, he was the eldest of six brothers. After finishing school, he worked as an apprentice at a general store in Kilsallagh, Galway, before joining the Society of the Divine Word at St. Patrick’s College, Donamon Castle, Roscommon, in 1944. 

    Brother Patrick worked in Great Britain during the 1950s, at Divine Word College in Rome in the early 1960s and in the United States thereafter. In Ireland and the United Kingdom, he sold greeting cards and The Word magazine; in the U.S., he sold altar wine produced at a Divine Word winery.

    In 2006 at age 85, Brother Patrick moved to Bordentown, New Jersey, to retire. Fluent in German, Italian and Spanish, he volunteered at the Trenton Diocesan Office for Migrants and Refugees in Perth Ambry, New Jersey. While there, he helped hundreds of immigrants from South and Central America navigate the immigration system. 

    He moved to Techny in 2009.

  • Sr. Leopold Kaufmann

    Educator

    Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Leopold Kaufmann, 95, died May 29 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

    Born in Wisconsin, she made her first religious profession in 1942 and her final profession in 1945. She taught elementary students for 40 years and served as finance officer for 13 years, secretary to the prioress of the congregation for six years, and sacristan for five years. Sister Leopold served in Illinois, New York, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Leopold taught at St. Sabina (1942-1943); Immaculate Conception, Waukegan (1944-1957, 1968-1970); and St. Vincent Ferrer, River Forest (1965-1968).

    She is survived by a brother, Denis Kaufmann.

  • Sr. Mary O’Donnell

    Educator

    Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary (Mary Colum) O’Donnell, 88, died June 6.

    Born in Massachusetts, Sister Mary made her first religious profession in 1956 and her final profession in 1959. She taught math and physics for 56 years, serving in a high school and colleges. Sister Mary ministered in Nebraska, Illinois, Michigan and Mississippi.

    In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary taught at Rosary College/Dominican University, River Forest (1961-1970, 1971-1980 and 1984-2000). She served as lab instructor at University of Illinois at Chicago (2001-2005) and tutor at Malcolm X College (2001-2015).

    She is survived by two sisters, Elizabeth Berry and Annie Burch; and a brother, John O’Donnell.

  • Sr. Jeanne Granville

    Educator

    BVM Sister Jeanne (Suzette) Granville, 90, died June 10 in Dubuque, Iowa.

    Born in St. Louis, she entered the BVM congregation in 1947.

    From 1950 to 1982, Sister Jeanne taught elementary school in the Archdiocese of Chicago at St. Callistus; St. Ferdinand; St. Joseph; and St. Dorothy, where she was principal; St. Eulalia in Maywood; St. Joseph in Round Lake; and she was principal at Seven Holy Founders, Calumet Park. 

  • Fr. John W. Tapper

    Pastor emeritus

    Father John W. Tapper, 82, died May 20. He was pastor emeritus of St. Ansgar Parish in Hanover Park.

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

    He served as assistant or associate pastor at Our Lady of the Wayside, Arlington Heights; Santa Maria del Popolo, Mundelein; St. Francis de Sales, Lake Zurich; St. Alphonsus Liguori, Prospect Heights; St. Ansgar, Hanover Park; and St. Cecilia; Mount Prospect. In 2006, he was given the title of pastor emeritus.

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