Divine Word Father David Mayer, 80, died Dec. 6 in Techny.

A missionary in Japan for almost 45 years, Father Mayer served as professor of American literature and language at Nanzan University in Nagoya and was an expert on the works of Flannery O’Connor, James T. Farrell, Japanese-American writer Toshio Mori and urban ethnic writers.

In his book “The American Neighborhood Novel” (University of Nagoya Press: 1986), Father Mayer developed the genre of the neighborhood novel, fiction that either celebrates or criticizes the values and relationships of an urban group closely knit by their common identity and physical presence.

Born in 1938 in Missouri, Father Mayer professed religious vows in 1958.

In addition to degrees from St. Mary’s Seminary in Techny, he earned a master’s degree in English from Georgetown University and a doctorate in English from the University of Maryland.

Ordained in 1966, Father Mayer taught at Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa, until 1968. He began teaching at Nanzan University in 1974.

A prolific writer, Father Mayer penned academic works, essays and book reviews, as well as fiction and poetry.

Father Mayer returned to the United States for home leave in spring of 2018 and stayed for health reasons.

Sister of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis Marianne Wiora, 93, died Dec. 7.

In her 70 years of religious life, she was a teacher, principal, missionary and pastoral minister who did education with the elderly.

She served in the Archdiocese of Chicago; in South Bend, Indiana; and in Puerto Rico.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Patricia Kinser, 93, died Dec. 9 in Ohio.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, she was in her 75th year of religious life.

For nearly 30 years, Sister Patricia served students and their families as an elementary teacher and principal at schools in Ohio and Illinois. After her retirement, she ministered in the Cincinnati area as a school secretary and volunteered in several inner-city ministries.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Peter Canisius School (1955-1957, 1967-1969).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Julianne (Mary Leonard) Josten, 92, died Dec. 10 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in South Dakota, Sister Julianne made her first religious profession in 1946 and her perpetual profession in 1949. She taught for 30 years and served as principal for five years. Sister Julianne served as activities director for three years, as convent administrator for three years and assistant in the General Finance Office for 15 years. She served in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, California, Minnesota and Washington.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Julianne taught at St. Mary, Evanston (1946-1949), and Immaculate Conception (1949-1955). She served as administrator at Trinity Convent, River Forest (1985-1988).

Father James P. Roache, 84, died Nov. 19. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1959.

Father Roache attended St. Francis de Sales School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary, the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary and the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy.

He was ordained to the priesthood on Dec. 20, 1959, in Vatican City.

He served as assistant pastor at Holy Name Cathedral, communications representative for the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace, moderator of the curia and vicar general.

Father Gregory Sakowicz, rector of Holy Name Cathedral, recalled how much Father Roache loved the people of God and being a priest.

“Something most people would not know about Jim is that he celebrated Mass every Tuesday for over 50 years at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago,” he said.

Deacon Edward M. Gadomski, 97, died Nov. 28. He was ordained in 1976 and served at St. Linus Parish, Oak Lawn.

He was married to his wife, Emily, for 64 years. He is survived by his children Rosanne McKinney, Mark Gadomski and Linda Perez; and six grandchildren.

Adrian Dominican Sister Anne Bernadette (Ruth Marie) Stein, 92, died Nov. 1 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 71st year of her religious life.

She ministered in California, Illinois and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Aquinas High School (1957-1960) and Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1960-1962).

Sister Ann Bernadette is survived by a sister, Barbara Pendolino.

Viatorian Father James F. Crilly, 89, died Nov. 2 at Addolorata Villa in Wheeling.

He was one of three missionaries who established a Viatorian school and parish in Bogotá, Colombia, in the early 1960s.

Father Crilly was born in Chicago and graduated from St. Philip High School before making first vows in 1950. He was ordained in 1956.

He taught at Illinois high schools for five years before going to Bogotá in the summer of 1961. He was one of the three founding Viatorian Fathers of the Foundation of Colombia and the all-boys school, Colegio San Viator.

In 1973, he returned to the United States to become formation director and coordinator of vocations and taught for one year at St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights. In 1977, he was named pastor of St. Viator Parish before being appointed assistant provincial for the Province of Chicago in 1979, serving the province in that position until 1983.

Felician Sister Mary Agna (Lucille) Gorlewski, 102, died on Nov. 2, in Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. Joseph School and Good Counsel High School. She entered the Felician Sisters in 1934 and professed her final vows in 1942. She ministered as a teacher and principal in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. She also served as organist in a number of parishes.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Stanislaus, Posen (1948-1950); Our Lady of the Gardens (1957-1959); Good Counsel High School (1965-1966); and Our Lady of Ransom, Niles (1973-1974).

Deacon Kenneth A. Bell, 93, died Oct. 27. He was ordained in 1978 and served at St. Domitilla Parish.

He is survived by his children, Christine Bell, Monica Gieser, Stephen Bell, Marty Bell, Phil Bell, Greg Bell, Therese Stellato, John Bell and Paul Bell; 21 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Deacon Bell and his late wife, Jeanne, lived for 20 years in Hillside and 41 years in Berkeley. He was an auditor and an accountant for several insurance companies and, in his 70s, became a business manager for Mary Queen of Heaven Parish in Cicero and St. Clare of Montefalco Parish.

At St. Domitilla, he served on the parish council, numerous committees, worked with the lectors, participated in the Christian Family Movement, and taught baptism classes with his wife Jeanne before becoming a deacon. After ordination, he led the Sorrowful Mother novenas, baptized babies and married couples, led a Bible study for more than 20 years and was a part of the Men’s Christ Renews His Parish team and then the men’s prayer group. The thing he loved doing the most was preaching the homilies at Mass on Sundays, according to his family.

In 2016, after his wife died, he moved to Casa San Carlo in Northlake, where he served on the liturgy committee and wrote meditations for the daily Masses.