Father Thomas I. Healy, 94, died Jan. 15. He was pastor emeritus of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish (Belmont Avenue).

Born in Chicago, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1952.

Father Healy served as assistant pastor of St. Gertrude and St. Ferdinand. He also was a professor at St. Mary of the Lake Junior College in Niles and Niles College of Loyola University in Chicago, and chaplain of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women. In 1977, Father Healy became pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, a position he held until 2001. He retired in 2002.

Retired Auxiliary Bishop John Gorman was one of Father Healy’s classmates. Bishop Gorman remembered Father Healy as very bright and studious.

“Father Healy shepherded his parish well and was loved by his parishioners,” Bishop Gorman said. “He had a constant love for the history of the church and was a very fine theologian. He served with patience and was a wonderful priest.”

Deacon Daniel Patiño, 81, died at home Jan. 17. He was ordained in 2001 and served at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.

He is survived by his children, Daniel Patiño, Monica Peace, Cristina Swiatnicki and Rocio (José) Palacios; six grandchildren; and his brother, Gustavo Patiño. His wife, Maria (“Cuco”), died in 2019.

Deacon José Vázquez, 76, died Jan. 17. He was ordained in 1986 and served at Maternity B.V.M. Parish, which is now part of San José Luis Sánchez Del Río Parish.

He served as president of the National Hispanic Diaconate Council for many years and as president of Neighborhood Housing Services in the 1980s.

After retiring from Coca Cola in the early 2000s, Deacon Vázquez spent much of his retirement organizing tours abroad and traveling around the world.

He and his wife, Ivette, were married for 52 years.

He is survived by his children, José Jr., Lynette, José J. and Lisandra, and five grandchildren.

School Sister of Notre Dame Mary John (Geraldine) Zielinski, 90, died Nov. 29, 2020.

Born in Chicago, she was baptized at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish. She entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame at the Milwaukee motherhouse in 1949, professed first vows in 1952 and professed final vows in 1958.

She came to the community with a “feel” for tools, having worked in a Chicago hardware store, and “when she decided to accept a religious life, she set only one condition—that she be permitted to bring her carpentry tools with her when she took the veil,” her community said. 

She ministered in the printing room and as a cook and refectorian and as a licensed building engineer, heading a crew of four men at the community’s campus in Mequon, Wisconsin.

In 1984, Sister Mary John moved to the Academy of Our Lady in Chicago, where she served as maintenance supervisor and consultant for the physical plant there. When the school was sold to the International Charter School—Longwood Campus in 1999, she continued on staff until she retired in 2003. In 2005, she moved to Marian Village in Homer Glen, Illinois, and in 2008 to Resurrection Life Center, in Chicago, where she resided until her death.

Redemptorist Father Kenneth Sedlak, 74, died Dec. 19 in Liguori, Missouri, after suffering from several health issues.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he entered the Redemptorist seminary system, made his first profession of vows in 1967 and his perpetual vows in 1970. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1972.

After earning a degree in spiritual direction, Father Sedlak joined the faculty of Holy Redeemer College in Waterford, Wisconsin, and built a spiritual director program for students. He served in the youth apostolate at Sacred Heart Retreat Center in Rolling Meadows during the 1980s.

He was assigned as associate pastor of St. Michael Parish (Cleveland Avenue) in 1990, and dedicated the next 30 years to that parish community. In addition to offering spiritual direction, Fr. Sedlak hosted numerous parish prayer services and was involved in many parish programs, notably RCIA. He also co-founded Pathways, which sponsors programs for young professionals seeking to integrate body, mind, and spirit, and served on the core team of Stillpoint, a contemplative outreach center.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Francesca “Fran” Koller, 89, died Jan. 19 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, she made her first religious profession in 1952 and her perpetual profession in 1955.

She was a teacher, pastoral minister, chaplain and assistant prioress who ministered in Illinois, Minnesota, South Carolina, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Tennessee and Alaska, as well as Trinidad and Tobago. She also was a talented singer and watercolor artist.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Visitation School.

She is survived by a sister, Janet Nelson; and a brother, Emil Koller.

Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sister Mary Ellen (Roland) Beck, 87, died Jan. 19 at Resurrection Life Center.

She was in religious life for 70 years and taught and was a principal in Illinois, Arizona, Michigan and California. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Adrian and St. Bride.

She brought her love of music and sports to all her interactions with students, no matter their age or background, and was able to say she loved each of her assignments, community leaders said. 

She retired in 2000. 

Father Paul C. Burak, 74, died Jan. 11. He was the former pastor of St. Michael Parish, Orland Park.

Born in Chicago, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1972.

He was associate pastor of St. Kilian Parish and in 1981 was appointed pastor of St. Catherine of Genoa. He went on to serve as pastor of Our Lady of the Ridge, Chicago Ridge, and St. Michael, Orland Park. Burak also served as dean at Deanery V-D and V-E and, for a few years, the cardinal’s liaison to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement.

Deacon Francis P. Henry, 78, died Jan. 10. He was ordained in 1992 and served at Nativity of Our Lord Parish.

He is survived by his siblings Tom Henry, Joan Donay and John Henry and several nieces and nephews.

School Sister of Notre Dame Gloria (Maria Elvira) Rosales, 96, died Dec. 4 at Resurrection Life Center from COVID-19.

Born in Chicago, she later recalled her mother telling her how she went all day at the 1926 Eucharistic Congress “without a whimper,” even though she was only 2 years old.

She attended Sancta Maria Incoronata School, and every day after class she taught her Mexican-born parents the English she had learned in school.

She professed first vows in 1943 and final vows in 1949.

Sister Gloria served as a primary, kindergarten and early childhood teacher in Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois, including at St. Ambrose and St. Margaret of Scotland.

She was a school administrator and counselor in Illinois, and she worked in special education at Nipper School in Park Ridge (1973-1978). 

Sister Gloria retired to Marian Village in Homer Glen in 2007 and in 2020 she moved to Resurrection Life Center.

School Sister of Notre Dame Patricia (Mary Benedict) Ostdick, 90, died Dec. 6 at Resurrection Life Center after a long struggle with COVID-19.

Born in Elgin, she entered the candidature of Schools Sisters of Notre Dame in Milwaukee in 1947, professing first vows in 1950 and final vows in 1956. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s of pastoral studies in communication arts.

From 1950 to 1968, she taught primary grades in Illinois and Wisconsin, including at St. Michael, St. Margaret of Scotland and St. Alphonsus Schools in Chicago.

She then taught at the intermediate and secondary levels and served as local leader for her community at St. Michael, Chicago. She taught college in Maryland before returning to Chicago in 1983 and teaching intermediate grades at St. Stanislaus Kostka; St. Domitilla, Hillside; and St. Procopius. 

From 1993 to 2005, Sister Pat served as community leader and patient advocate for elderly sisters at St. Benedict and at St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged.

She retired to St. Pius X, Stickney, in 2001, and to the Academy of Our Lady Convent in 2004. In 2005, she moved to retirement at Marian Village in Homer Glen and in 2011 to Resurrection Life Center.

School Sister of Notre Dame Zita (Dorothy Clementine) Gilles, 94, died Dec. 11.

Born in Peoria, she entered the community’s juniorate at the Academy of Our Lady in Chicago in 1940. She was received into the novitiate in Milwaukee in 1945, and she took her final vows there in 1952.

Sister Zita then served as a primary teacher in several schools in Wisconsin and Illinois, and as a hospital librarian in Peoria.

In 1984, Sister Zita returned to teaching intermediate grades at St. Columba. Two years later, she became a staff member in the finance department at the Academy of Our Lady, a position she held for 10 years. After two years, she became the director of the department.

In 1996, she began offering pastoral care for the older sisters in the community, first as local leader at St. Stanislaus Kostka Convent, then at Resurrection Life Center, while living in the Foster Avenue community.

From 2002 to 2014, Sister Zita continued to live at Foster Avenue, first during a sabbatical and then in prayer and presence. In 2014, she joined the community at Marian Village in Homer Glen, and in 2017 moved to the Resurrection Life Center, where she died.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Catriona M. K. (Teresa Avila) MacLeod, 89, died Dec. 19 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Lincoln, England, and raised in Scotland, she earned undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Andrews.

She made her first profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1959 and her perpetual profession in 1965.

Sister Catriona taught and served in administration at universities and shared her knowledge through seminars and biblical workshops across the globe. She was appointed by Pope Paul VI as a member of the ad hoc Commission on the Role of Women in Church and Society (1973-1975) and as a consultor of the Sacred Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes (1973-1979).

Sister Catriona served her community as assistant in the novitiate at the motherhouse in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin (1964-1968), while also serving as assistant in the archives preparing and organizing papers for what became the positio for advancing the sainthood cause of Dominican Father Samuel Mazzuchelli. She was elected general councilor for the congregation leadership team (1977-1982).

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Catriona taught at Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest (1955-1957, 1959-1962 and 1978). She served as associate dean for Rosary College Graduate School of Fine Arts, Florence, Italy, 1970-1972.

She is survived by a sister, Johanna Fraser.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Margaret “Peggy” (Mary Leon) Glynn, 87, died Dec. 31 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Minnesota, she made her first profession in 1954 and her perpetual profession in 1958. She was a teacher, principal, director of religious education and pastoral minister in Illinois, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska and Oregon.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Visitation (1954-1957).

She is survived by three sisters, Elizabeth Kanz, Dominican Sister Mary Liana Glynn and Sharon Oberman; and a brother, Martin Glynn.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Elizabeth (Julianne) Toohey, 85, died Jan. 3 at her home in Richfield, Minnesota.

Born in Nebraska, she made her first profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1956 and her perpetual profession in 1959. She taught music, was a liturgist and did spiritual direction and formation work in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, as well as Florence, Italy.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Elizabeth taught music and coordinated the music programs at Visitation, St. Basil and St. Richard (1969-1970).

She is survived by a sister, Mary “Margaret” Johnson.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Zita Simon, 75, died Jan. 5 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Minnesota, she made her first profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1965 and her perpetual profession in 1970. She served in the culinary arts and as an educator, pastoral associate, parish administrator and director of religious education in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Illinois, Oklahoma and Alaska.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Zita served as a culinary artist at Queen of Peace Convent, Burbank (1970-1971), and primary education aide at St. Brendan (1971-1977). She taught at St. Sabina (1992-1995).

She is survived by a sister, Bernice Bergstrom, and two brothers, James Simon and Joe Simon.

Mercy Sister Mary Joan (Joseph Marie) Lang, 90, died Jan. 6.

Born in Iowa, she followed her sister, Sister Mary Avellino, into the Sisters of Mercy, entering the community in 1957 and professing perpetual vows in 1965.

For more than 30 years, Sister Joan taught in various parochial schools in Park Forest, Des Plaines, Park Ridge and Chicago, as well as in Iowa. She also was assistant principal at Mary, Seat of Wisdom School, Park Ridge, from 1970 to 1978.

Sister Joan went into pastoral care in 1994, serving at St. Benedict Home in Niles. Six years later, however, she returned to teaching, serving as a part-time substitute at St. Angela. She stayed at St. Angela for nearly 15 years, teaching part-time as well as assisting as support staff.

Jesuit Father Charles “Chuck” W. Niehaus, 75, died Jan. 10 in Clarkston, Michigan.

Born in Cincinnati, he was ordained in 1972 and spent his life in pastoral ministry to the Latino community, including at Holy Family (Roosevelt Road) (1976-1983), St. Ignatius Parish (1992-1995) and St. Procopius (1995-2003, 2012-2013).

Father Niehaus spoke and worked in Spanish without ever having lived in a Spanish-speaking country. During formation, he participated in the “Horizons for Justice” program in which North American Jesuits spent some weeks in Latin America to directly experience situations of social injustice.

He is survived by a brother, William, and sisters Clarissa and Carol.

Daughter of Charity Sister Margaret (Margaret Catherine) Polheber, 91, died Jan. 10 in Evansville, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, Sister Margaret graduated from Jones Commercial High School in 1947 and entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis in 1951.

Sister Margaret worked in the business offices and as an administrator at hospitals in Tennessee, Indiana, California, Texas and Wisconsin.

In 1975, she was missioned to Chicago, where she served as a parish visitor at St. Patrick Parish for two years and then did outreach to the elderly with St. Vincent de Paul Senior Services until 1981.

She then became provincial treasurer in Evansville and later served in a variety of ministries in Alabama, Tennessee and Maryland, in addition to Indiana.

Father Joseph E. Auer, 89, died Dec. 14. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former associate pastor of St. Linus Parish, Oak Lawn.

Born in Pittsburgh, he moved to the Chicago area and attended St. Edmund School, Oak Park; Quigley Preparatory Seminary; and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1957.

He was assistant pastor of St. Thomas More; St. Angela; Most Holy Redeemer, Evergreen Park; and St. Bridget. He was pastor of St. Catherine Laboure, Glenview, and associate pastor of St. Ferdinand; Queen of the Universe; St. Theresa, Palatine; and St. Linus.

Father William Finnegan, pastor emeritus of Our Lady of the Woods, said he will miss his classmate with whom he was blessed to live at the Bishop Timothy Lyne Residence for the past three years.

“Joe was always a very friendly parish priest,” Finnegan said. “He loved being with people and he dedicated his life to that end. He had a wonderful smile and was very humble and gentle.”