Obituaries

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Sr. Mary Rita McSweeney

Educator, program director

Adrian Dominican Sister Mary Rita (Michael Sean) McSweeney, 78, died Sept. 7 in in Adrian, Michigan. 

Born in Detroit, she was in the 59th year of her religious life.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Queen of Apostles, Riverdale (1959-1962); taught (1967-1972) and was principal (1974-1981) at Infant Jesus of Prague, Flossmoor; taught at St. Albert the Great, Burbank (1972-1974); was principal at St. Clare of Montefalco (1981-1983); and taught at St. Cajetan (1983-1990). She then ministered as a program director for the elderly at Marillac House Social Center (1991-2017).

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Sr. Richard Bussing

Educator

Providence Sister Richard (Dorothy Ann) Bussing, 95, died Sept. 5 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indiana, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1940 and professed final vows in 1948. During her 77 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered in education and as a caregiver and pastoral associate in Illinois, North Carolina, California, Texas, Indiana and Montana.  

She was skilled in many crafts and made many Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls through the years. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Andrew (1944-1948), St. Sylvester (1951-1955) and St. Mel (1965-1966). 

Sister Richard is survived by two brothers, Sylvester and Jerome Bussing.

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Sr. Kathleen Moriarty

Educator, counselor

Mercy Sister Kathleen (Sheila Marie) Moriarty, 81, died died of pneumonia Aug. 20 at Mercy Circle.

Born in Chicago, she was the oldest of 10 children. She was taught by Sisters of Mercy at St. Joachim School and Mercy High School in Chicago. She entered the convent in 1954, at 18.

She began her ministry teaching first grade at schools in Chicago and Libertyville, as well as in other Illinois and Wisconsin communities.

She eventually served as principal at St. Joan of Arc, Skokie, and St. Joachim. She ministered the longest at Mother McAuley High School, where she taught math from 1978 to 1983. After being plagued with arthritis, she underwent a knuckle-replacement surgery. Because it became too hard to hold the chalk and teach, she earned a counseling degree. She ministered at Mother McAuley as a counselor for an additional 22 years, until 2006. 

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Deacon Morris Bohannon

Class of 1985

Deacon Morris Bohannon, 92, died on Sept. 3. He was ordained in 1985 and had served at St. Clotilde Parish.

He served for 29 years in the U.S. Army and worked for 26 years for the U.S. Postal Service in Chicago, overseeing the administration of postal systems in 13 states.

He was retired from ministry in the Archdiocese of Chicago and had been living in St. Louis.

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Ida; his daughter, Victoria; four grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and a sister.

Deacon Terry Dineen

Class of 1978

Deacon Terry Dineen, 79, died Aug. 26. He was ordained in 1978 and had served 18 years at St. Thomas of Villanova Parish, Palatine.

He also ministered at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.

Dineen was born in Milwaukee and worked for International Paper and Hudson Pulp & Paper.

His wife, Judith, predeceased him; he is survived by his children, Amy Close and Julie, Paul and Pete Dineen; and 11 grandchildren.

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