Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Anne (Monica Marie) McCarrick, 87, died Feb. 6 in Cincinnati.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, she was in her 70th year of religious life.

Sister Anne spent many years as an elementary school teacher in Chicago and in Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio. Sister Anne was a specialist in Montessori education. She was also vice-chancellor for the Diocese of Columbus for eight years. In 1992, Pope Paul II awarded Sister Anne the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (For Church and Pope) Medal for her service to the church of Columbus. 

Sister of the Living Word Joyce Roehl, 80, died March 9 in Arlington Heights.

Born in Hamtramck, Michigan, she entered the Sisters of Christian Charity in Wilmette in 1962 and was one of the founding members of the Sisters of the Living Word in 1975. 

She ministered as teacher or principal at St. Isaac Jogues, Niles, and at St. Jerome, St. Priscilla and St. Cornelius schools in Chicago. Once she retired from teaching and administration, Sister Joyce volunteered as the receptionist at the Living Word Center in Arlington Heights.

Jesuit Father Robert L. Bireley, 84, died March 14 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

Father Bireley was best known for his prolific writing in the field of European history. He was a professor at Loyola University Chicago, where he taught and mentored students for more than 45 years. 

Born in Evanston, Father Bireley attended Loyola Academy, Wilmette, before entering the Society of Jesus as a novice in 1951. His Jesuit formation took him across the country and around the world.

Upon earning his doctorate in history in 1972, Father Bireley began working at Loyola University Chicago.

In 2017, Father Bireley moved to the St. Camillus senior Jesuit health care community in Wauwatosa, where he remained until his death. 

BVM Sister Patricia (Liberata) Potok, 83, died March 18 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Chicago, she entered the BVM congregation in 1953 from St. Cornelius Parish. She professed first vows in 1956 and final vows in 1961.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Pat taught elementary school at Holy Cross and Blessed Sacrament in Chicago. She also taught in Iowa and Mississippi and ministered as a nurse for the BVM congregation in Dubuque.

She is survived by a sister, Phyllis Reale.

Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Edith Louise Merhar, 88, died March 19 in Ohio.

Born in Cleveland, she entered the congregation in 1949.

Sister Edith Louise’s ministries brought her to five states and 44 years of teaching. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Elizabeth Seton High School, South Holland (1963-1964 and 1968-1969).