Obituaries

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Fr. Robert Mallonee

Educator

Divine Word Father Robert Mallonee, 83, a dean of students at Catholic Theological Union, died June 11 in Techny.

Born in Ohio, Father Mallonee entered the Society of the Divine Word after receiving a bachelor’s degree in history at age 22.

While still a seminarian, he served as a lecturer of history at Divine Word College in Miramar, Massachusetts. While studying theology at Divine Word Seminary at Techny, he worked on a master’s degree in history from Loyola University in Chicago. Later, he earned a doctor of ministry degree in pastoral counseling while serving as associate professor of pastoral care at CTU in Chicago.

Father Mallonee professed vows in 1962 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1967. For his first assignment, he held a dual role as director of the library and director of the pastoral program at Divine Word Seminary at Techny. During this time, he also completed another master’s degree, this one in library science from Rosary College (now Dominican University) in River Forest.

In 1971, he became an associate professor of pastoral care and the following year was appointed dean of students at CTU. During his 16-year tenure at CTU, he was invited to serve a year as a visiting professor in pastoral care at Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City, Philippines.

He returned to Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay in 1985 as director of the Arnoldus Library and lecturer in pastoral psychology and co-founded the Philippine Theological Library Association.

In 1990, he was assigned to Miramar Retreat Center, where he served as a spiritual director and counselor for more than 25 years.

Father Mallonee moved to Techny in 2017.

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Sr. Carolyn Farrell

Educator

BVM Sister Carolyn Farrell, died June 14 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Iowa, she entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1953 and professed final vows in 1961.

Sister Carolyn was interim president of Mundelein College, associate vice president at Loyola University and founding director of the Gannon Center for Women and Leadership.

She also was an elementary teacher at St. Tarcissus and schools in Iowa.

During her tenure as director of continuing education at Clarke University, she served on the Dubuque City Council and as mayor. Sister Carolyn also served two terms as regional representative in the BVM Congregation and as founding director of the BVM Women’s Office.

She returned to Dubuque to become the director of the Roberta Kuhn Center and served as a member of the board of trustees at Clarke University. 

She is survived by siblings Dolores Zeller, James Farrell, Margaret Whitman and Thomas Farrell.

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Fr. Leo Dusheck

Educator, chaplain, rector

Divine Word Father Leo Dusheck, 86, died June 15 in Techny.

Born in Pennsylvania, he began his studies with the Society of the Divine Word in 1947, professed religious vows in 1953 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1961.

During his academic career, he taught mathematics and sciences at Divine Word seminaries in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.’

In 1979, Father Dusheck’s ministry shifted gears. He became a hospital chaplain in Pittsburgh and for six years prayed for and with those in need.

In 1985, he was chosen to lead the Techny community as rector. In an interview shortly after his election, he expressed his interest in finding innovative ways to care for the retired and infirm members of the Society of the Divine Word.

Upon completing two terms as rector, he returned to Pittsburgh, where he served another six years as a hospital and prison chaplain. In 1996, he once again made Techny his home and worked in the infirmary. He moved to New Jersey in 1999 to assist at a parish until his health necessitated moving back to Techny in 2019.

He is survived by his sister, Marie Dusheck.

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Sr. Marion Hangsterfer

Educator

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marion (Francisca) Hangsterfer, 86, died June 18 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, Sister Marion made her first religious profession in 1958 and her perpetual profession in 1961.

She was a teacher and principal, literacy volunteer and development office worker, and she served in Wisconsin, Illinois, Oklahoma, California, Texas and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marion taught at St. Brendan (1969-1977).

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