Claretian Father Thomas P. Joyce, 85, died April 6 in Arcadia, California.

Born in Chicago, he entered St. Jude Seminary in Momence, made his first religious profession in 1951 in California and was ordained a priest in 1959 in Chicago.

TJ, as he was known, served as a teacher and campus minister.

In 1972, he returned to Chicago as superior of the Claretian Provincial Residence in Oak Park. Over the next 30 years, TJ served at Holy Cross/IHM and Our Lady of Guadalupe parishes, as director of the pre-novitiate program and vocations and superior of Claret House, the Claretian formation house. From 1975 to 1997, TJ served as a staff member at the 8th Day Center for Justice.

In 2002, his missionary work called him to Kingston, Jamaica, where he served until 2006. He served in various local Claretian communities until he retired in 2016.

He is survived by the last of his five brothers, John Joyce.

Mercy Sister Rita Corkery, 86, died at Mercy Circle April 10.

Born in the Pullman area of Chicago, she was taught by Sisters of Mercy at Holy Rosary School and Mercy High School. After high school, she entered the community in 1949. 

She began her career in teaching at St. Mary of the Lake School in 1952 and continued in the ministry of education for almost 40 years. She held a variety of teaching and administrative positions from primary grades through college level.  

Following her retirement from education, Sister Rita changed careers, working as a part-time hospital chaplain at St. Francis Hospital, Blue Island, while she cared for her mother. After her mother’s death, Sister Rita continued her work in chaplaincy, taking on a position at Little Company of Mary Hospital, Evergreen Park, for 10 years.

In 2006, Sister Rita retired once again due to declining health. In 2011, she began living at Smith Village, a residential care facility in Chicago where she could receive more assistance, and she came to be known there as a volunteer chaplain and friend. She moved to Mercy Circle in 2017.

Adrian Dominican Sister Marie Amada (Marie Concepta Apodaca) Garcia, 98, died April 10 in Adrian, Michigan. 

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she was in the 78th year of her religious life.

Sister Marie Amada ministered in Illinois, Arizona, New Mexico, Iowa, Michigan, California and Nevada.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1940-1941, 1944-1945).    

Sister Marie Amada is survived by a sister, Rita Lawrence.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Margaret Ellen (Brice) Brennan, 91, died April 17 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, she attended St. Sylvester School. She made her first religious profession in 1947 and her final profession in 1950. 

She served as a culinary artist and as a nurse in Oklahoma, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Wyoming and Iowa, as well as Florence, Italy.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Margaret Ellen served as a culinary artist at Trinity Convent, River Forest (1948-1952) and at Visitation Convent, Chicago (1965-1967). She ministered as a licensed practical nurse at Misericordia Home South (1978-1979); Queen of Peace Convent, Burbank (1989-1992); and Trinity Convent, River Forest (1989-2001). Sister Margaret Ellen served as prioress at Queen of Peace Convent, Burbank (1986-1989).

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Mildred “Micki” Flynn, 80, died Jan. 24 in Cincinnati.

She was in her 64th year of religious life.

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Sister Micki attended Notre Dame High School. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Victor, Calumet City; St. Mary, Des Plaines; and St. Anne, Barrington. 

She also taught college courses in Illinois, Missouri and South Dakota, and was a spiritual director in South Dakota and Illinois.
Sister Micki is survived by her siblings Mary Holland, Patty, Robert, William and John.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Anne (Monica Marie) McCarrick, 87, died Feb. 6 in Cincinnati.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, she was in her 70th year of religious life.

Sister Anne spent many years as an elementary school teacher in Chicago and in Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio. Sister Anne was a specialist in Montessori education. She was also vice-chancellor for the Diocese of Columbus for eight years. In 1992, Pope Paul II awarded Sister Anne the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (For Church and Pope) Medal for her service to the church of Columbus. 

Sister of the Living Word Joyce Roehl, 80, died March 9 in Arlington Heights.

Born in Hamtramck, Michigan, she entered the Sisters of Christian Charity in Wilmette in 1962 and was one of the founding members of the Sisters of the Living Word in 1975. 

She ministered as teacher or principal at St. Isaac Jogues, Niles, and at St. Jerome, St. Priscilla and St. Cornelius schools in Chicago. Once she retired from teaching and administration, Sister Joyce volunteered as the receptionist at the Living Word Center in Arlington Heights.

Jesuit Father Robert L. Bireley, 84, died March 14 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

Father Bireley was best known for his prolific writing in the field of European history. He was a professor at Loyola University Chicago, where he taught and mentored students for more than 45 years. 

Born in Evanston, Father Bireley attended Loyola Academy, Wilmette, before entering the Society of Jesus as a novice in 1951. His Jesuit formation took him across the country and around the world.

Upon earning his doctorate in history in 1972, Father Bireley began working at Loyola University Chicago.

In 2017, Father Bireley moved to the St. Camillus senior Jesuit health care community in Wauwatosa, where he remained until his death. 

BVM Sister Patricia (Liberata) Potok, 83, died March 18 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Chicago, she entered the BVM congregation in 1953 from St. Cornelius Parish. She professed first vows in 1956 and final vows in 1961.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Pat taught elementary school at Holy Cross and Blessed Sacrament in Chicago. She also taught in Iowa and Mississippi and ministered as a nurse for the BVM congregation in Dubuque.

She is survived by a sister, Phyllis Reale.

Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Edith Louise Merhar, 88, died March 19 in Ohio.

Born in Cleveland, she entered the congregation in 1949.

Sister Edith Louise’s ministries brought her to five states and 44 years of teaching. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Elizabeth Seton High School, South Holland (1963-1964 and 1968-1969).