Obituaries

Sr. Marie Brendan Harvey

Development Coordinator

Providence Sister Marie Brendan (Mary Therese) Harvey, 90, died Dec. 27 in Eagle River, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, Sister Marie Brendan entered the Sisters of Providence in 1946 and professed final vows in 1953.

She taught music at the elementary, high school and college levels, then did pastoral ministry, liturgical consultation and development work in Indiana. Illinois, Michigan and Montana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a development assistant at the University of Illinois (1990-1995) and was alumnae coordinator for Providence High School at Mother Theodore Guerin High School (1995-2003).

Br. Lionel Julian Roy


Educator

Marist Brother Lionel Julian Roy, 86, died Dec. 25 in Lincroft, New Jersey.

Brother Lionel Julian was born in Massachusetts and entered the Marist Brothers Postulancy in 1946 and professed first vows in 1949. He taught in schools in New York, South Dakota, Texas, Florida and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he served at Marist High School from 1979 until he retired in 1998.

Fr. Paschal LoBianco

Missionary

Divine Word Father Pascal LoBianco, 95, died Dec. 19 in Techny. He was a missionary in Ghana.

Born in Chicago, he grew up in Dubuque, Iowa, and began studying with the Divine Word Society in 1935.

Father LoBianco was assigned to Ghana after being ordained in 1950. He worked tirelessly in establishing churches, rectories, convents and 19 government-approved elementary schools, as well as a hospital, nursing school and teachers’ college. He later served as vicar general of the then-Diocese of Accra.

After 32 years in Ghana, Father LoBianco returned to the United States and served in the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois. He retired to Techny in 1997.

Sr. Claire Marie McLevy

Teacher

BVM Sister Claire Marie (Clarene) McLevy, 92, died Dec. 20 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, she entered the BVM congregation in 1942 and professed final vows in 1950.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Claire Marie taught elementary school at Our Lady of Angels and was a staff worker at Wright Hall. She also taught at schools in Missouri and California.

Sr. Maris Stella Beaufait

Teacher

Adrian Dominican Sister Maris Stella (Mary Jane) Beaufait, 94, died Dec. 18 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 74th year of her religious life.

Sister Maris Stella ministered in Illinois and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita (1943); Our Lady of Good Counsel (1943-1945); and St. Joseph, Homewood (1945-1953).

Sister Maris Stella is survived by a sister, Elizabeth Ann Carrier.

Sr. Barbara Wetterer

Educator

Adrian Dominican Sister Barbara (Marie Giles) Wetterer, 88, died Dec. 15 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she was in the 69th year of her religious profession.

Sister Barbara served in schools and dioceses in Florida, Illinois, Puerto Rico, Arizona, California, Michigan, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1953-1957).

Sr. Jean Edward Selcke

Teacher, Librarian

Adrian Dominican Sister Jean Edward (Violet Ellen) Selcke, 101, died Dec. 15 at the Dominican Life Center, Adrian, Michigan.

Sister Jean Edward was born in Chicago and graduated from John Marshall High School before entering the Adrian Dominicans. She was in the 82nd year of her religious life.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mary Mt. Carmel (1946-1951); St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1959-1964); and St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1964-1967). She was an assistant librarian and catalogue typist at Sawyer/Maywood Public Library, Oak Park (1970-1971), and Maywood Public Library, Maywood (1971-1978).

Deacon James Sanford

Class of 1986

Deacon James Sanford, 78, died Dec. 22. He was ordained in 1986 and served at St. Emily Parish, Mount Prospect.

Deacon Sanford served in the U.S. Army and was a lithographer for almost 40 years. Beginning in 1992, he served as a pastoral associate at St. Emily.

He is survived by his wife, LaVerne; his children Theresa Reppen, Catherine Sikyta, James Sanford Jr. and Mary Okragly; and his grandchildren Shannon, Rebecca, Connor, Matthew, Ashley, Melanie, Joseph and Savannah.

Deacon John McMahon

Class of 1983

Deacon John “Jack” McMahon, 89, died Dec. 21. He was ordained in 1983 and served at St. Ignatius Parish and St. Bede Parish, Ingleside.

As a boy, he was an altar server at St. Angela Parish, and he entered the Passionist Monastery in Kansas before discerning that he was called to marriage. He sometimes worked three jobs to support his family, including stints as a bridge tender on the Chicago River and as an electrician in the water department for the City of Chicago.

He also served in the U.S. Army during the occupation of Rome in 1946-1947, and then served many roles for the VFW posts in West Chicago, Skokie and Fox Lake.

He was involved in his parishes, serving as president of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul, on the Pastoral Council and as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at St. Ignatius.

After retiring, he entered the diaconate and spent time visiting the sick and elderly, delivering Meals on Wheels, preaching and officiating at baptisms and weddings.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret, children Maureen McMahon, Mary Kocourek, Rosemary Rosen, Meg Christensen, Eileen McMahon, Daniel McMahon, Jacqueline Floan, John McMahon and Paul McMahon; 16 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; as well as his brother, Larry McMahon.

Fr. Donald Ahearn


Pastor Emeritus

Father Donald Joseph Ahearn, 91, died Jan. 1 after a brief stay in hospice at St. Benedict Nursing and Rehab Center, Niles. He was pastor emeritus of St. Juliana Parish.

Born in Chicago, he attended Presentation B.V.M. School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained by Cardinal Samuel Stritch in 1951.

Father Ahearn served as assistant pastor at St. Gertrude, Franklin Park (1951-1959); St. Barbara, Brookfield (1959-1966); St. David (1966-1970); All Saints (1973-1974); and Our Lady of Ransom, Niles (1974-1975). He was administrator and pastor of St. Nicholas (State Street) (1970-1973) and administrator of Holy Rosary Slovak Parish (1973). He was named pastor of St. Juliana in 1975, and served in that capacity until he retired in 1995 and was named pastor emeritus.

Father Ahearn also served as chaplain of St. Patrick High School, as a member of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Review Board and School Board Advisory Committee, and as assistant vicar for senior priests.

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