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Sr. Alexis Searfoss
Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Alexis Searfoss, 93, died Oct. 30, in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.
Born in Chicago, Sister Alexis made her first religious profession in 1943 and her final profession in 1946. She ministered in education and pastoral ministry in Wisconsin, Illinois and New Jersey.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Alexis taught at SS. Faith, Hope, and Charity, Winnetka (1949-1957) and St. Thomas More (1963-1966).
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Sr. Anne Marie Doran
Mercy Sister Anne Marie (Bernice, Mary Bertina) Doran, 89, died in Chicago Oct. 25. Born in Chicago, she worked for the Sisters of Mercy while attending Mercy High School, and she entered the community in 1946.
Until 1971, she taught in Catholic grade schools in Chicago and Park Ridge, as well as other areas of Illinois and Wisconsin.
She left teaching to pursue a ministry in health care, and worked as a licensed practical nurse for almost 30 years in what is now known as Presence Health in Aurora, Illinois.
She is survived by siblings Margaret Hastings, Barbara J. Novotny and Richard Doran.
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Sr. Ann Mary Cizikas
Sister of St. Casimir Ann Mary Cizikas, 91, died Oct. 17 at Mother Theresa Home in Lemont.
A native of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Sister Ann entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1945 and made her final vows in 1953.
She ministered in schools and health care facilities in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Nebraska.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at Our Lady of Vilna School (1959-1962), Providence of God School (1962-1964), St. Casimir School, Chicago Heights (1967-1970), St. Anthony School, Cicero (1970-1972), Loretto Hospital (1978-1983), and the infirmary of the Sisters of St. Casimir (1983-1987).
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Sr. Juliana Amenda
Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Juliana Amenda, 94, died Oct. 10 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.Born in Wisconsin, Sister Juliana made her first religious profession in 1954 and her final profession in 1957. She taught and ministered as a physical therapist in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Juliana taught at St. Thomas More (1954-1957).
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Deacon James Davis
Deacon James Davis, 90, of Forest Park, died Nov. 9. He was ordained in 1979 and was retired from minsitering at St. Martin de Porres Parish.
He was born in North Carolina and served two years in the U.S. Army. He married his late wife, Fannie Knox, in 1944. The couple were married for 59 years.
Deacon Davis worked as an officer in the Illinois State Police for 25 years. In 1963, he was baptized Catholic. He sent his children to Catholic schools and was among the first black permanent deacons ordained in the archdiocese.
In retirement, Deacon Davis ministered as a chaplain at Mercy, Cook County and Loretto hospitals and worked as a certified addictions counselor in the community.
Deacon Davis is survived by his children Portia Shaw, Gail Davis and Kevin Davis; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
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Deacon J. Brendan Foley
Deacon J. Brendan Foley, 85, died Nov. 8 at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. He was ordained in 1989 and served at Our Lady of the Wayside Parish in Arlington Heights.
Born in New Jersey, Deacon Foley served in the Army during the Korean War, graduated from Seton Hall University and was a sales representative for the DuPont and Day-Glo companies.
His greatest enjoyment for the last 30 years was decorating his yard for Halloween.
He is survived by his children Elizabeth Foley-Roland and Brendan “BJ” Foley and his brothers Quentin and Brian Foley.
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Fr. Patrick Cecil
Father Patrick Cecil, 64, died Nov. 14 at Skokie Hospital. Father Cecil was pastor of St. Mary of the Woods Parish.
Father Pat, as he was known, was born in Chicago and attended St. John Brebeuf School in Niles and St. Joseph School in Elgin, Illinois, before entering Quigley Preparatory Seminary, and later Niles College Seminary at Loyola University Chicago, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in theater. He graduated from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary and was ordained in 1978.
He served as associate pastor of St. Angela (1978-1984); St. Zachary, Des Plaines (1984-1991); and St. Mary, Buffalo Grove (1992-1996). He was pastor of St. Patrick, Wadsworth (1996-2010) before being named pastor of St. Mary of the Woods.
Father Cecil was a dean in Vicariates I and II and a member of the archdiocesan Priests’ Placement Board.
Father Cecil is survived by his brothers Jim and Bill, and his sisters Janice and Diane.
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Sr. Renee Richie
Adrian Dominican Sister Renee (Lois Janette, Januaria) Richie, 82, died Sept. 23 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Born in Detroit, she was in the 63rd year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.Sister Renee ministered in Illinois for 30 years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Carthage (1954-1961); Queen of Apostles, River dale (1965-1966); St. Denis (1966-1969); and St. Joseph, Homewood (1969-1970). She was principal at St. Clare of Montefalco (1970-1975) and St. James, Maywood (1980-1989) and she was a pastoral minister at St. Agatha (1975-1980).
She is survived by a brother, Owen Richie.
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Sr. Mary Martin Kilianski
Felician Sister Mary Martin (Theodosia) Kilianski, 85, died Sept. 23 in Our Lady of the Angels Convent.
Born in Poland, she later relocated to Chicago where she entered the Felician Sisters postulancy in 1950 and professed her final vows in 1958. She ministered in elementary schools as a teacher in Illinois, Alabama and Wisconsin. She also ministered at St. Andrew Life Center in Niles, as well as in France and Rome.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Andrew Life Center, Niles (1952-1955, 1972-1976, 1987-2006), Holy Innocents (1955-1957), St. Helen (1957- 1958), SS. Peter and Paul (1960-1961), St. Bruno (1961-1963), St. Turibius (1963- 1966) and the cardinal’s residence (1984- 1986).
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Br. James Mullen
Divine Word Brother James Mullen, 80, a jack-of-all trades and lifelong learner, died Sept. 5 in Techny.
Born in Pennsylvania, he entered Divine Word seminary in 1950 and later transferred to the Divine Word Brother Candidate School. He professed religious vows in 1956.
He ministered in New York, in Papua New Guinea and for 14 years in Italy, working as a draftsman in the Divine Word Architectural Department at the society’s worldwide headquarters.
Based in New Jersey for the past 25 years, Brother Jim was known among immigrants and the marginalized in Trenton for his work with Catholic Charities, Martin House Learning Center and the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK). He retired to Techny earlier this year.
He is survived by his siblings Maureen Mullen, Meg Kessler, Kathy Niemic and Gerard Mullen.
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Sr. Rosemary Conlon
Adrian Dominican Sister Rosemary (James Maureen) Conlon, 90, died June 15 in Adrian, Michigan.
Born in Chicago, she graduated from Mercy High School before entering religious life. She was in the 71st year of her religious profession.
She ministered in education and as a hospital chaplain and pastoral associate in Michigan, Illinois and Florida.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Rosemary was a reading consultant for the Chicago School Board (1959-1963); a teacher at Santa Maria del Popolo, Mundelein (1963-1964); St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1964-1968); and Our Lady of Loretto, Hometown (1968-1970); a language arts consultant at the Chicago School Board (1970-1974); a chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital (1984-1988); and a pastoral associate at St. Mary, Evanston (1988-1994).
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Deacon Sabino Sanchez
Deacon Sabino Sanchez, 64, died Oct. 24. He as ordained in 1997 and served at St. Francis of Assisi Parish (Roosevelt Road).
Born in Mexico, Deacon Sanchez had lived in Chicago since 1980. He had been disabled and unable to work, but he liked being a deacon “because he liked helping people. Any time of the day or night, if someone called an needed help, he would go,” said his daughter, Lizet Arredondo.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Marina, and daughters Lizet, Jenny and Lisma.
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Deacon Terry Albano
Deacon Terry Albano, 62, died Oct. 13. He was ordained in 1999 and served at Our Lady of the Ridge Parish.In addition to serving as deacon, he was the troop chaplain for Chicago Ridge Boy Scout Troop 665.
He is survived by his wife, Helene; children David, Christopher, Peter, Matthew and Mary Albano, and five grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers Anthony and Thomas Albano.
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Sr. Benedicta McCorry
Mercy Sister Benedicta McCorry, 98, died Sept. 21 at Mercy Circle.
She was born in Milwaukee and she entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1936.
Sister Benedicta spent 21 years as an educator and an administrator at Catholic schools in Chicago and Milwaukee. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Justin Martyr (1939) and St. Joachim (1939-1941) and then was principal at St. Finbarr (1953-1957) and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (1957-1960).
She then served on the Provincial Council of Sisters of Mercy Chicago Province for 16 years, from 1960 to 1970, and again from 1973 to 1979 serving as Provincial Secretary.
She then served as director of the Carmel Prayer Center in Chicago (1979-1993).
She is survived by her siblings, Mercy Sister Aquinice McCorry, Teresa Jonas, Daniel McCorry and Mary Mullins.
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Sr. Agnes Therese Zaroski
Sister of St. Joseph Agnes Therese Zaroski, 85, died Sept. 19.
She was in her 64th year of religious life.
Sister Agnes taught at St. John Fisher and St. Hugh, Lyons, and was principal at St. Francis Xavier, LaGrange. She was religious education coordinator at Divine Infant, Westchester, and St. Thomas of Villanova, Palatine.
She is survived by her siblings, Roland Zaroski, and her sisters Jeanette Courtis and Florence Bettis.
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Sr. Janet Michael Hudspeth
Adrian Dominican Sister Janet Michael (Peggy Joan) Hudspeth, 84, died Sept. 18 in Adrian, Michigan.
Born in Petersburg, Illinois, she was in the 65th year of her religious life.
Sister Janet Michael ministered in Michigan, Illinois and Iowa in education, hospital chaplaincy and administration.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Albert, Burbank (1963-1965).
Sister Janet Michael is survived by a sister and brother, Janet and David Hudspeth.
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Sr. Mary Paul Schultz
Sister of the Resurrection Mary Paul (Therese) Schultz, 88, died Sept. 13.
Born in Minnesota, she entered the Sisters of the Resurrection in 1946.
Sister M. Paul was an emergency room nurse, director of nursing associate administrator and mission representative at Resurrection Medical Center.
She helped create Resurrection Retirement Community and served as its executive director for 21 years, and she served as the local superior for the Sisters of the Resurrection for almost 16 years.
She is survived by her brothers Raphael and Jim, and her sisters Margaret and Resurrection Sister Maria Schultz.
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Sr. Mary Gloriette Kawalko
Felician Sister Mary Gloriette (Stella) Kawalko, 95, died Sept. 7 In Our Lady of the Angels.
Born in Chicago, she attended Good Counsel High School, entered the Felician Sisters postulancy in 1939 and professed final vows in 1947.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Helen (1941-1942, 1960-1961); St. Joseph (1942-1960, 1964-1965, 1990-2000); St. Linus, Oak Lawn; (1961- 1963); St. Wenceslaus (1965-1979), and St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates (1979-1990).
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Sr. Virginia Therese Conway
Adrian Dominican Sister Virginia Therese (Eleanor) Conway, 90, died Sept. 10 in Adrian, Michigan.
Born in Chicago, she graduated from Aquinas High School and she was in her 69th year of religious life.
In the archdiocese, she taught at St. Columbanus (1948-1952), did social service (1952- 1955) and social work (1966-1967) at St. Matthew, assisted at Aquinas High School (1955-1957, 1967- 1970); did substance abuse ministry at Catholic Charities (1970- 1971); was a doctor’s assistant at the BVM Scholasticate (1971-1972); was a receptionist at Wright Hall (1972-1973); was chaplain at St. Francis Hospital, Blue Island (1976- 2003) and was a patient liaison at Oak Tree Health Care, Oak Forest (2003-2005).
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Sr. Patricia Dillon
Adrian Dominican Sister Patricia (Leo Ann) Dillon, 88, died Sept. 6 in Adrian, Michigan.
Born in Michigan, she was in her 70th year of religious life.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught for five years at Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette.
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Sr. Jane McDonnell
BVM Sister Jane (Bonaventure) Mc- Donnell, 95, died Aug. 30 in Dubuque, Iowa.
Born in Iowa, she entered the BVM congregation in 1943 and professed final vows in 1951.
Sister Jane taught at The Immaculata and served as coordinator for an ecumenical peace and justice organization.
She also ministered in Iowa, California and North Dakota.
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Sr. Audrey Hull
Adrian Dominican Sister Audrey (Raymond Clare) Hull, 93, died Aug. 28 in Adrian, Michigan.
Born in Miami, she was in the 68th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
She spent 27 years ministering in education in Oak Park as well as in Michigan, Florida and Guayama, Puerto Rico.
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Sr. Maureen Scott
Mercy Sister Maureen Scott, 74, died Aug. 24.
She attended St. Clotilde School and Mercy High School before entering the Sisters of Mercy in 1959. She professed final vows in 1967.
She taught at St. Joseph, Libertyville; St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Ethelreda and Siena High School.
After earning a doctorate in social psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, she taught and was an administrator at Barat College, Lake Forest (1975-1984) at Saint Xavier College (1984-1994) and DePaul University (1996-2012), where she was visiting professor and assistant director of the graduate School of Public Services.
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Sr. Ann Kevin O’Connor
Sister Ann Kevin (Theresa Ann) O’Connor, 91, died Aug. 24 in St. Mary-of-the- Woods, Indiana.
Born in Summit, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1943 and professed final vows in 1951. She ministered in education and as clerk and in record-keeping.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Genevieve (1955- 1960); Maternity BVM, (1964-1966); and Trinity High School, River Forest (1991-1994).
She is survived by a brother, Maurice.
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Fr. August Langenkamp
Divine Word Father August “Gus” Langenkamp, 87, died Aug. 23 in Techny.Born in Ohio, he professed vows in 1949 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1957.
He was one of the first Divine Word missionaries to work in Ecuador, starting in the Diocese of Guaranda, where he was one of 14 priests ministering to 130,000 Catholics in a 1,200- square-mile area.
He is survived by his brother, Father Arnold Lang.
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Deacon Norbert Lesnieski
Deacon Norbert Lesnieski, 88, of Lemont, died Sept. 23. He was ordained in 1972 as a member of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s fist class of permanent deacons, and he served at SS. Cyril & Methodius Parish for 44 years.
Deacon Lesnieski was founder and bandleader of “The Mello- Tones,” and he was the band’s lead vocalist and saxophone player. He was a co-founder of the Lemont Park District and served as president of the Lemont Park District Board for over 35 years, and he was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He was also an active member of the Jaycees.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jerri; his children James Lesnieski and Suzette Sniegowski; grandchildren Anne Becker, Christina Strehlau, Michael Lesnieski, Josh Sniegowski and Aubrey Sands; and three great-grandchildren.
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Deacon Michael Romano
Deacon Michael Romano, 100, died Sept. 16 at Resurrection Hospital. He was ordained a deacon in 1974.
He served at St. Genevieve Parish for about 15 years. From the late 1980s until his retirement in 2013, he served as a minister in several hospitals. His most recent assignment was to St. Joseph Hospital.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Lois, and his sister, Phyllis Romano.
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Deacon Roberto Rivas
Deacon Roberto Rivas, 57, died Sept. 11.
Deacon Rivas was ordained in 1994 and served at Blessed Sacrament Parish. In 2000, he and his wife, Ana, started Camino y Esperanza, a pastoral ministry for marriages and families.
He is survived by his wife and children, Roberto Jr., Jessica Eileen and Ricardo Rivas.
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Fr. Donald Ehr
Divine Word Father Donald Ehr, 87, a beloved parish priest in African-American parishes in Chicago, died Aug. 19 in Techny.
Born in Iowa, he entered the Divine Word high school seminary in East Troy, Wisconsin in 1943 at age 14. He professed religious vows in 1948 and was ordained in 1955. He was sent to Rome to complete a doctorate in systematic theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. When he returned to the United States in 1960, he served as professor of dogma at St. Mary Seminary in Techny.
In 1968, he was elected provincial superior of the Society of the Divine Word’s Eastern Province and served three three-year terms. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Father Ehr was rector of Divine Word Seminary in Washington, D.C. and Bordentown, N.J., while also working as a hospital chaplain.
He was named pastor of Chicago’s St. Elizabeth Parish in 1984 and remained until 2000. He then was a priest-in-residence at St. Anselm Parish until the week before he died.
He is survived by three brothers, Ronald, Irvin and Francis Ehr, and two sisters, Mary Vogel and Marlene Chaudoir.
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Sr. Mary Jamesita Keller
BVM Sister Mary Jamesita Keller, 80, died Aug. 15 in Dubuque, Iowa.
Born in Joliet, Illinois, she entered the BVM congregation in 1954 and professed first vows in 1961.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Jamesita taught elementary school at St. Thomas of Canterbury, St. Eugene and St. Joseph, Round Lake.
She is survived by a brother, James Keller.
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