Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary (Muritta) Hemeyer, 88, died Jan. 7 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Sister Mary made her first religious profession in 1950 and her perpetual profession in 1953.

Sister Mary served in Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Wyoming.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary taught at Visitation (1950-1953) and served as secretary at Trinity High School, River Forest (1981-1982).

Jesuit Father John R. (Jack) Crocker, 88, died Jan. 8.

Born in Chicago, he was a Jesuit for 70 years.

After earning his doctorate, Father Jack taught in the Department of Clinical Psychology at the Child Guidance Center in Hines VA Hospital (1967-1969). He then spent eight years at Loyola University Chicago, where he was the director of the Speech Pathology Center at the medical center and was an assistant professor of physical medicine and associate professor of psychology.

While he was at Loyola University, he spent a year at the Rome Center (1973-1974).

After spending two years in Chicago as the provincial assistant for planning and higher education (1992-1994), he returned to Rome and was the socius to the Delegate for International Houses for one year before becoming the superior and director of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem (1995-1998).

After another two years in Chicago, Father Jack returned to Italy, where he was the assistant to the rector of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome (2000-2001) and the minister of the Anthony Baldinucci Community in Florence.

In 2004, Father Jack returned to the United States for the last time and focused on spiritual and pastoral ministries: the Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth, Wernersville, Pennsylvania (2004-2006); Jesuit Retreat Center at Milford, Ohio (2006-2008); in the Chicago area (2008-2012); and at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House, Barrington (2012-2013). He moved to Colombiere Center in Michigan in 2013.

Felician Sister Mary Suzanne (Sandra Mary) Bacia, 74, died Jan. 9 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in Chicago, she attended Sts. Peter and Paul School and St. Joseph High School. She entered the Felician Sisters in 1962 and professed her final vows in 1970. She ministered in elementary schools as a teacher and librarian in Illinois and Wisconsin. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Bruno (1965-1966, 1982-1985); St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates (1967-1967); St. John of God (1967-1968, 1985-1986); Sacred Heart (1968-1971); St. Bronislava (1971-1972); St. Stanislaus, Posen (1973-1978); Good Shepherd (1978-1980); and St. Helen (1987-1989).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marielle Schmitt, 100, died Jan. 15 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, she made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1938 and her perpetual profession in 1941.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marielle taught at St. Luke, River Forest (1945-1951), and served as librarian at St. Giles, Oak Park (1973-1979).

Deacon Robert Brauch, 89, of Lake Barrington died Dec. 14. He was ordained in 1989 and served at St. Anne Parish in Barrington.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Helen; children Mary Afflerbach, Claire Quinn, Jayne Haller, Kristin Plescia, Beth Gavin, Kay Carley and Marty, John and Rob Brauch; 29 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Jean Scott.