Deacon Donald Palmer, 68, died Nov. 8. He was ordained in 1999 and had served at St. Joseph Parish, North Orleans Street.

Deacon Palmer, who was retired because of ill health, was living in Wisconsin at the time of his death.

Felician Sister Mary Avitta (Irene) Nowak, 88, died Nov. 1, in Our Lady of the Angels Care Convent.

Born in Blue Island, she attended St. Isidore School, Blue Island High School and St. Louis Academy. She entered the Felician Sisters in 1950 and professed her final vows in 1958. She ministered in various elementary schools throughout Illinois and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Mary Magdalene (1950-1951); St. Helen (1951-1957); Holy Innocents (1957-1961); Ascension, Evanston (1961-1963); St. Bronislava (1975-1980); St. Stanislaus, Posen (1980-1988); and St. Linus, Oak Lawn (1988-2005).

BVM Sister Mary Kay (Meda) Dum, 84, died Nov. 8 in Dubuque, Iowa. 

Born in Oklahoma, she entered the BVM congregation in 1951 and professed final vows in 1959.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Kay taught at St. Gertrude. She also ministered in Oklahoma, Arizona, California, Iowa, North Carolina and Florida.

She is survived by a sister, Elizabeth Kennington, and brothers William and Michael Dum.

Adrian Dominican Sister Romona (Jane Lucian) Nowak, 72, died Nov. 8 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, Sister Romona graduated from Aquinas Dominican High School. She was in her 51st year of religious life.

Sister Romona ministered in education and as a chaplain and pastoral care associate in Illinois, California, Indiana and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita School (1967-1972) and Aquinas High School (1972-1976); was religious education director at St. Ann, Lansing (1981-1984); and taught at St. Ailbe (1986).

She is survived by her brother, Robert Nowak.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Margaret (Terza) Muellenmeister, 93, died Nov. 14, in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Minnesota, Sister Margaret made her first religious profession in 1946 and her final profession in 1949. She taught, tutored, served as culinary artist, ministered as a parish visitor and served on support staff. She served in Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Wyoming, Wisconsin, New York, South Dakota, Oregon and Montana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Margaret taught at Visitation (1949-1952) and served as a culinary artist at Trinity High School, River Forest (1952-1954).