School Sister of Notre Dame Jenny (Mary August) VandenBergh, 91, died July 20, 2020, in New Lenox.

Born in Evanston, she was a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 70 years. She served in Illinois and Wisconsin as grade school teacher and principal, manager for Catholic Charities, pastoral minister at Resurrection Life Center and minister of prayer and presence at Marian Village.

School Sister of Notre Dame Margaret Ann Curtin, 93, died March 22, 2020, at Resurrection Life Center.

Born in Chicago, she was a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 72 years.

She served in Wisconsin and Illinois as a grade and high school teacher, local leader, provincial councilor, school secretary, volunteer at Misericordia Home, province development staff member and minister of prayer and presence at Marian Village, Homer Glen, and Resurrection Life Center.

She is survived by her siblings, School Sisters of Notre Dame Joan Marie and Susan Marie Curtin, Michael Curtin, Dennis Curtin and Margaret Healy.

School Sister of Notre Dame Joanna Brigan, 87, died Aug, 27 at Marian Village in Homer Glen.

Born in Chicago, she was a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 67 years. She served in Wisconsin and Illinois in dietary service, food service, housekeeping and hospitality, and in the ministry of prayer and presence at Marian Village.

School Sister of Notre Dame Mary Bann, 79, died March 28, 2020, at Resurrection Life Center.

She was a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 60 years, and she served in Illinois and Missouri as a grade school teacher, student, postulant director and assistant director of religious education, and she did community service at Marian Village in Homer Glen, and then ministry of prayer and presence at Marian Village and finally at Resurrection Life Center.

Deacon Anthony John Towey, 79, died Feb. 22. He was ordained in 2003 and served at St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish, Des Plaines.

Deacon Towey loved to travel and had visited all 50 United States as well as Ireland. He was an avid performer in the St. Stephen variety shows for almost 30 years.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Patricia Connolly; his children Elizabeth Beasley, Kathryn Szamocki, Anthony Towey, Teresa Cook and John Towey; 19 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Sister Suzanne (Louis) Smith, 86, died on Feb. 3 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Washington, D.C., Sister Suzanne entered the Sisters of Providence in 1954 and professed final vows in 1961.

During her 67 years as a Sister of Providence, she served as a teacher in Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Washington, D.C., and in the motherhouse.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Providence High School (1956-1959).

Providence Sister Ruth Ellen (Ellen Susan) Doane, 84, died Feb. 5 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Born in Indiana, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1954 and professed final vows in 1961.

During her 67 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered as a teacher in Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts and Germany, did parish work in Indiana and Iowa and served in ministries related to the congregation.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Athanasius, Evanston (1956-1961); Providence-St. Mel (1980-1985); and Our Lady of the Westside (1985-1988).

She is survived by two brothers, Paul and Mark Doane.

Adrian Dominican Sister Marie Therese (Thomas More) Emery, 97, died Feb. 5 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in St. Louis, she was in the 74th year of her religious life.

Sister Marie Therese ministered in education in Ohio, Illinois and Michigan, before working for the state of Michigan as a fleet safety project supervisor and at Michigan State University, where she was a traffic safety specialist for two years, a traffic safety program administrator for 11 years, and a technology lab director for 10 years. She was also an engineering/automotive consultant for AAA for a year in Washington, D.C.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Benedictine Sister Mariella (Carol) Hathorn, 81, died unexpectedly Feb. 7 at St. Joseph Court-St. Scholastica Monastery.

Sister Mariella was born in Pennsylvania and entered the Benedictine community at St. Joseph Monastery, St. Marys, Pennsylvania, in 1957. She made her first profession in 1959 and her final vows in 1962. Sister Mariella had a 28-year career in education in Pennsylvania, serving mostly middle grades as well as in administration as principal. In 1987, she was elected prioress of St. Joseph Monastery and served two terms there.

She then spent a sabbatical time at St. Scholastica Monastery in Chicago. During the years at St. Scholastica, Sister Mariella discerned a call to transfer her stability to St. Scholastica Monastery in Chicago and requested permission to do so in 1998.

Her first assignment in Chicago was as director of the St. Joseph Court infirmary.

She is survived by her sisters, Jean Klaiber and Sally Lanzel.

Divine Word Father Paul Gootee, 93, died Feb. 10 in Techny. He was a missionary known for faith and community development in Indonesia.

Born in Indiana, he followed his older brother into the Divine Word formation program in 1941, attending Divine Word Seminary in East Troy, Wisconsin. He professed vows in 1948 and was ordained a priest in 1955.

For more than half of century, Father Gootee worked among the Dawan-speaking people of Timor, a southeastern island of Indonesia. While caring for the people, he faced many challenges, such as famine, poor crops, scarce rain, political unrest and migration of the youth to more populated areas, yet the hardships did not deter him. In response, he built churches, schools and medical clinics, dug wells, constructed irrigation systems, installed electricity and shared the Catholic faith.

During Father Gootee’s 55 years on the island, he provided pastoral care throughout the Diocese of Atambua and worked with farmers’ unions and a consumer cooperative to foster economic justice in the region.

Father Gootee returned to the United States and was assigned to Techny in retirement in 2011.

He is survived by two sisters, Agnes James and Medical Mission Sister Patricia Gootee.

Adrian Dominican Sister Patricia (Charles Thomas) O’Reilly, 93, died Feb. 10 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Ohio, she was in the 75th year of her religious life.

Sister Patricia was an educator, hospital chaplain and pastoral minister in Michigan, Illinois and Nevada.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1946-1948); was office and plant supervisor at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Westchester (1977-1978); and was a pastoral minister at Resurrection Hospital (1987-1989).

She is survived by a sister, Kathleen O’Reilly.

Divine Word Father Xavier (Patrick Joseph) Cooney, 79, died Feb. 11 from complications of COVID-19 at Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview. He was a missionary who served in Papua New Guinea and Appalachia.

Born in Pittsburgh, he entered the Society of the Divine Word in 1959 and professed religious vows in 1962. When he professed perpetual vows as a brother in 1968, he took the name Xavier.

For his first assignment, Brother Xavier was sent to Papua New Guinea to work in the Alexishafen carpentry shop. Three years later, he traveled up the coast to begin training as a pilot. Over the decades, Divine Word Missionaries had developed Wirui Air Service to transport supplies and people to missions that were difficult to reach by land.

By the end of the 1970s, Brother Xavier began to hear the call to the missionary priesthood. He was assigned to the Papua New Guinea Highlands for pastoral experience before beginning studies at St. Paul’s Seminary in Kensington, Australia.

He was ordained in 1983 and was assigned to Kundiawa town parish in Papua New Guinea’s central, mountainous region, where he provided pastoral care until he was transferred to the Chicago Province in 1989.

In the United States, Father Cooney provided pastoral care in West Virginia.

Because of health issues, Father Cooney moved to Techny in 2020.

He is survived by two brothers, Martin and John Cooney.

Adrian Dominican Sister Leontia “Lee” (Michael Therese) Cooney, 85, died Feb. 12 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 65th year of religious life.

She ministered in Illinois, the Bahamas and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mary Star of the Sea.

Father Phillip C. Kiley, 75, died Feb. 2. He was the former associate pastor of St. George Parish (Ewing Avenue).

Born in Berwyn, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1978.

After ordination, Father Kiley served as associate pastor of All Saints (South State Street), Holy Angels, St. Charles Lwanga, Resurrection (Nelson Street), St. Francis de Sales (Ewing Avenue) and St. George (Ewing Avenue) parishes. He retired in 2015.

Father John Clemens, retired pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish, Rosemont, had known Father Kiley since their years at Quigley Preparatory Seminary.

“Phil was a very dedicated priest, a person who thought of others before himself,” Clemens said. “He was very dedicated to working with the poor, had a good sense of humor and was loved by a lot of good friends, lay and clergy.”

Deacon Juan Ponce de Leon, 69, died Jan. 31. He was ordained in 2011 and served at St. William Parish.

Deacon Ponce de Leon and his family had been parishioners at St. William for 30 years, and were instrumental in starting the Guadalupana Society and other ministries to Latino families there. He also was involved in Boy Scouts with his two sons. After ordination, Deacon Ponce de Leon did Spanish-language baptismal preparation and preparation for other sacraments. Parish staff members said he was a “gentle and kind spirit.”

He is survived by his wife, Helen; sons John and Joe; one grandson; his brother, Edmund Ponce de Leon, and his sister, Rosita Hale.

Dominican Sister Mary Willard (Elizabeth) Reagan, 95, died Dec. 1, 2020, in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 76th year of her religious life.

Sister Mary Willard ministered in education in Illinois and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Edmund, Oak Park (1944-1950).

She is survived by a sister, Eugenie Reagan Beall.

Resurrection Sister Maria Schultz, 90, died Dec. 23 at Resurrection Life Center. She was a member of the Sisters of the Resurrection for 70 years.

Sister Maria was born in Minnesota, the youngest of eleven children. After completing high school, she traveled to Chicago where she joined her sister, Sister Mary Paul Schultz, as a Sister of the Resurrection. Sister Maria made her first vows in 1952 and her final vows in 1957.

Sister Maria taught just about every grade in various schools that included St. Casimir; Queen of the Rosary, Elk Grove Village; and St. Thecla, where she spent 17 years.

Sister Maria served as provincial treasurer and in administrative roles at the provincial home for many years.

In 2018, Sister Maria moved to Resurrection Life Center.

Dominican Sister Mary Elizabeth (Therese Johanna) Scheibel, 95, died Jan. 9 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she went to Aquinas High School. She was in the 77th year of her religious life.

Sister Mary Elizabeth ministered in elementary education and secretarial services in Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico and Illinois. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2003.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Infant Jesus of Prague, Flossmoor (1964-1967); Our Lady of Loretto, Hometown (1967-1968); and St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1968-1972).

Dominican Sister Esther (Consolata Marie) Ortega, 86, died Jan. 14 in Toledo, Ohio.

Born in Arizona, she was in her 65th year of religious life.

Sister Esther served in education and pastoral ministry and adult education in Illinois, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan, in 2012.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Albert the Great, Oak Lawn (1957-1962), and St. Edmund, Oak Park (1962-1964).

She is survived by a brother, Raul Ortega, and a sister, Connie Gomez.

Dominican Sister Dorothea (Raymund Ann) Gramlich, 81, died Jan. 21 in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Dorothea served in education and other ministries in Illinois, Michigan and Iowa.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1959-1962), and St. Mary, Star of the Sea (1969-1970).

She is survived by three brothers: John, Mark and Greg Burgeson; and one sister, Ann Cane.

Dominican Sister Ann Rena (Marilyn) Shinkey, 87, died Jan. 22 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Streator, she was in her 60th year of religious life. She ministered in education in Michigan and Illinois. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2011.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Edmund, Oak Park (1962); Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1962-1964); Aquinas High School (1964-1967); and Mother McAuley High School (1984-1992).

Dominican Sister Kathleen (Stella Joseph) Sutherland, 88, died Jan. 22 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 70th year of her religious life.

Sister Kathleen ministered as an educator, catechist and receptionist in Illinois, Ohio and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita Elementary School (1951-1954), St. Laurence Elementary School (teacher, 1955-1960; teacher and religious education coordinator 1960-1961); and Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1961-1964).

She is survived by three brothers: Father Thomas Sutherland, Daniel Sutherland and Patrick Sutherland; and four sisters: Mary Hosfeld, Marion Faris, Judy Sutherland and Margaret Missig.

Dominican Sister Margaret Ann (Louis Arthur) Swallow, 97, died Jan. 23 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 73rd year of her religious life.

Sister Margaret Ann ministered in education, parish work and nursing care in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and New York. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2009.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary School (1949-1954).         

Providence Sister Jacquelyn (Theodata) Hoffman, 85, died Jan. 25 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indiana, Sister Jackie entered the Sisters of Providence in 1950 and professed final vows in 1957.

She ministered as music teacher for 50 years in schools in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, including at St. Francis Xavier, Wilmette (1966-1974), and Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1974-1982).

Sister Jackie is survived by a sister, Patricia Tummey.

Dominican Sister Helen (Thomas Albert) Laier, 88, died Jan. 26 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 69th year of her religious life.

She ministered in education, nursing and care for family members in Michigan and Illinois. Sister Helen became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2015.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Kilian (1958-1960).

Sister Helen is survived by her sister, Teresa Trumbull.

Providence Sister Charles (Marjorie Mae) Van Hoy, 91, died on Jan. 27 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indiana, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1949 and professed final vows in 1956. She ministered as teacher, school librarian and pastoral associate in Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Washington, D.C., and was the director of activities at the motherhouse for 12 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mel (1953-1956).

Mercy Sister Mary Ludmilla Benda, 94, died Jan. 27 in Chicago.

Sister Ludmilla grew up in Ohio and earned a nursing degree before entering the Sisters of Mercy in 1947. She ministered as a nurse and nursing supervisor in Iowa and Chicago, serving as Mercy Hospital Davenport’s administrator in Iowa for six years and then as administrator of Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago for six more years.

She also served as a pastoral associate, worked in home health care, was director of a diocesan volunteer program and held several professional leadership roles.

In Davenport, she began Fr. Conroy’s Vineyard of Hope in honor of her late friend, Father James Conroy. The ministry fed and provided showers, laundry and clothing to 80 to 150 mostly homeless people every Sunday for 13 years.

She moved to Mercy Circle in Chicago in 2018 because of poor health.

Divine Word Father Charles Heskamp, 94, died Jan. 28 in Techny.

He formed a generation of Divine Word missionaries. Among his students, he counted future professors, provincials and a Vatican ambassador.

Born in Cincinnati, Father Heskamp worked in a hardware store after high school. When he was not drafted to serve in World War II, he took this as a sign that he was being called by God to live a life of service.

He entered the Society of the Divine Word in 1946, professed religious vows in 1950 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1958.

Even though he requested to be assigned overseas after his priestly ordination, he cheerfully accepted his assignment to remain in the United States. During his academic career, Father Heskamp served as principal of Divine Word seminaries in Ohio, Wisconsin and New Jersey.

In addition to teaching and administrative work, he served as a pastor in Louisiana and West Virginia.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Elizabeth “Liz” (Valerian) Barribeau, 96, died Feb. 3 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Liz made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1944 and spent 18 years with the congregation before transferring her religious vows to the Mount St. Mary’s Abbey of Trappist nuns in Wrentham, Massachusetts, who in 1964 established a new foundation — Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey — near Dubuque, Iowa.

Sister Liz became a foundress of that congregation, then returned to the Sinsinawa congregation in 1985. She made her perpetual profession with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1988.

Sister Liz ministered in education and pastoral ministry in Illinois, Minnesota, Alabama, Iowa, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New York and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Liz taught at St. Sabina (1944-1947) and St. Mary, Evanston (1947-1949).

She is survived by two brothers, James and William Barribeau.

Divine Word Father Donald Skerry, 85, died Feb. 3 in Techny.

For more than 50 years, Father Skerry helped to lead the Society of the Divine Word in North America through changing times, including serving as provincial administrator during a time of transition.

Born in Massachusetts, he entered the society in 1948 and professed vows in 1954.

Divine Word leadership sent Father Skerry to the Collegio del Verbo Divino in Rome after his ordination in 1962. He received a doctorate in sacred theology in 1966 and returned to the United States, where he undertook assignments in education, formation and administration.

From 1966 to 1969, he served as director of studies at St. Mary’s Seminary at Techny. When the Society of the Divine Word joined the academic collaborative of Catholic Theological Union, he and the Divine Word seminarians moved to Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, where he served as rector at Divine Word Theologate for five years before being assigned to the faculty of Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa.

In 1979, he was appointed vice provincial of what was then the Northern Province, and then the provincial administrator of the newly formed Chicago Province.

He is survived by his brother, George Skerry.