School Sister of Notre Dame Claire Marie (Barbara Mary) Czerwiec, 85, died Dec. 23, 2023, at Christ Hospital, Oak Lawn.

Born in Chicago, she was a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 65 years.

She served in Wisconsin and Illinois as an elementary school teacher, formation directress, pastoral associate, pastoral minister and counselor, in provincial leadership, and as a psychotherapist and spiritual director for more than 65 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Margaret of Scotland School, was a pastoral psychotherapist at the Institute for Living in Winnetka and was a pastoral counselor and spiritual director at St. Alexander Parish, Palos Heights

She is survived by her sisters Nancy Czerwiec and Carole Kuberski.

Little Sister of the Poor Clotilde de la Passion (Irene Mary Jardim), 83, died March 8 at St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly in Palatine.

Born in Newark, New Jersey, she moved to Oakland, California, with her family. She became familiar with the Little Sisters of the Poor during her high school years by volunteering in their Marian Aides program.

She entered the Little Sisters of the Poor as a postulant shortly after graduating from high school, and made her first profession of vows in 1961. She made her final profession in 1965.

During her life as a Little Sister of the Poor, she completed studies in nursing and served as a nurse in several of their homes for the elderly, often as the director of nursing.

Sr. Clotilde is survived by her brother, George Jardim, and her sister, Judy Jardim.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Ellen (Marie Alphonse) Gevelinger, 80, died March 13 at her home in Madison, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, she made her first religious profession in 1963 and her perpetual profession in 1968. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin from Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest; a master’s degree in religious studies from Mundelein College; a master’s degree in educational administration from St. Xavier College (now Saint Xavier University); and a doctorate in education leadership from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Sister Mary Ellen taught at Queen of Peace High School, Burbank; and Trinity High School, River Forest; was dean of students at St. Thomas the Apostle High School and Unity Catholic High School; and was executive assistant to the president at Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest. She also ministered in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and was vicaress (2000-2006) and then prioress (2011-2016) of the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Lois (Thomaselle) Carey, 93, died March 19 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Mary Lois made her first religious profession in 1951 and her perpetual profession of vows in 1954. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest; a master’s degree in education and elementary administration from Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa; and a master’s degree in applied theology from the School of Applied Theology, Berkley, California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Thomas the Apostle and St. Sabina. She taught and was a principal at other schools in Illinois and in New York, Iowa and California.

She also ministered in Michigan and Washington.

She is survived by a brother, Mark Carey.