Divine Word Father Eric Vargas, 67, died Feb. 27 in Techny.

Born in New York City, he joined the Society of the Divine Word in 1963 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1975.

In the early years of his priesthood, he ministered in Naranjito, Puerto Rico. He also did pastoral work on the East Coast and in California.

He was granted early retirement for health reasons in 2004 and moved to Techny in 2008.

He is survived by his sister, Rita Santiago.

Deacon Jaime Juarez, 85, died March 25. He was ordained in 1974.

Deacon Juarez had served at St. Benedict Parish in Chicago. He lived in Schaumburg when he died. He is survived by his wife, Carmen. He also was a father and grandfather.

Dominican Father David Matthew Hynous, 83, died March 24 in Chicago.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Philip Neri and St. Odilo schools and Fenwick High School, Oak Park. He went to Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, for two years to prepare to enter the Dominicans in 1952. He was ordained in 1959.

He studied canon law at the Angelicum in Rome and taught at the college level before serving as secretary for the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C., from 1979 to 1981. He was vicar provincial for the Dominicans for four years and then served the Archdiocese of Chicago’s marriage tribunal as vice chancellor from 1986 to 1995. In 1995 he was called to Rome as procurator general for the Dominican Order.

In 1997 he returned to the tribunal in the Archdiocese of Chicago before serving on the tribunal in the Diocese of Joliet.

Sister of St. Casimir Teresita Miksas, 95, died March 24. She was a member of the congregation for 76 years.

Born in Chicago, she attended Immaculate Conception Parish in Brighton Park. She entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1936, and made her final vows in 1944.

She ministered in elementary and high schools in Illinois, Pennsylvania and Nebraska.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago she taught St. Anthony, Cicero (1939-1943); St. Casimir, Chicago Heights (1943-1947); and Maria High School (1964-1971; 1978- 1983).

In addition to teaching, Sister Teresita served as local superior, as part of the SSC leadership team, and superintendent of SSC Schools.

Mercy Sister Paulina Small, 89, died March 22 in Chicago.

Born in Chicago, she was educated by the Sisters of Mercy, first at Little Flower School and then Mercy High School. She entered the community in 1945.

She taught at Little Flower (1948-1949); Our Lady of Mount Carmel (1949-1956); St. Joan of Arc, Evanston (1956-1958); St. Joseph the Worker, Wheeling (1961-1962); and St. Thomas Aquinas (1968-1970), as well at schools in the Diocese of Rockford and in Wisconsin.

In 1977, she began ministering in health care, working for 22 years, she was a discharge planner and clerk at Mercy Hospital Chicago.