Deacon John “Jack” McMahon, 89, died Dec. 21. He was ordained in 1983 and served at St. Ignatius Parish and St. Bede Parish, Ingleside.

As a boy, he was an altar server at St. Angela Parish, and he entered the Passionist Monastery in Kansas before discerning that he was called to marriage. He sometimes worked three jobs to support his family, including stints as a bridge tender on the Chicago River and as an electrician in the water department for the City of Chicago.

He also served in the U.S. Army during the occupation of Rome in 1946-1947, and then served many roles for the VFW posts in West Chicago, Skokie and Fox Lake.

He was involved in his parishes, serving as president of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul, on the Pastoral Council and as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at St. Ignatius.

After retiring, he entered the diaconate and spent time visiting the sick and elderly, delivering Meals on Wheels, preaching and officiating at baptisms and weddings.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret, children Maureen McMahon, Mary Kocourek, Rosemary Rosen, Meg Christensen, Eileen McMahon, Daniel McMahon, Jacqueline Floan, John McMahon and Paul McMahon; 16 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; as well as his brother, Larry McMahon.

Father Donald Joseph Ahearn, 91, died Jan. 1 after a brief stay in hospice at St. Benedict Nursing and Rehab Center, Niles. He was pastor emeritus of St. Juliana Parish.

Born in Chicago, he attended Presentation B.V.M. School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained by Cardinal Samuel Stritch in 1951.

Father Ahearn served as assistant pastor at St. Gertrude, Franklin Park (1951-1959); St. Barbara, Brookfield (1959-1966); St. David (1966-1970); All Saints (1973-1974); and Our Lady of Ransom, Niles (1974-1975). He was administrator and pastor of St. Nicholas (State Street) (1970-1973) and administrator of Holy Rosary Slovak Parish (1973). He was named pastor of St. Juliana in 1975, and served in that capacity until he retired in 1995 and was named pastor emeritus.

Father Ahearn also served as chaplain of St. Patrick High School, as a member of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Review Board and School Board Advisory Committee, and as assistant vicar for senior priests.

Adrian Dominican Sister Diana (Mary Agatha) Miller, 98, died April 14 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 78th year of her religious life.

Sister Diana ministered in Michigan, Illinois and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1943-1951) and St. Denis (1982-1984).

Sister Diana is survived by a brother, Philip Miller, and a sister, Jane Springer.

BVM Sister Therese (Rita Maurice) Fox), 86, died April 11 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Chicago, she entered the BVM congregation in 1952 from St. Dorothy Parish. She professed final vows in 1960.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Therese taught at St. Gilbert, Grayslake; was principal at Our Lady of Lourdes; and served as elementary school counselor at Our Lady of the Angels, St. Ita, St. Constance and St. Mary of the Lake. She also taught in New York, Iowa and Missouri.

Sister of St. Casimir Salvatore Ciuckyte, 93, died April 10.

Sister Salvatore was born in Lithuania, where she entered the Sisters of St. Casimir. During World War II she fled to Germany before immigrating to the United States and entering the Sisters of St. Casimir in Chicago in 1947. She made her final vows in 1955.

She ministered in elementary schools in Illinois, Indiana, California, Pennsylvania, Florida, Massachusetts, New Mexico and Ohio. In the Archdiocese of Chicago she served as teacher at Holy Cross (Back of the Yards); All Saints; Nativity BVM; St. Anthony (Cicero); Providence of God; St. George (Bridgeport); and Immaculate Conception (44th Street). She was principal of St. George and St. Anthony.

ister Salvatore also served in pastoral ministry at Immaculate Conception Parish and Nativity BVM Parish. Most recently Sister Salvatore participated in the ministry of prayer (2014-2017) at Franciscan Village in Lemont.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marie Juan Maney, 89, died Dec. 2 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. Born in Wisconsin, Sister Marie Juan made her first vows in 1947 and her final vows in 1950. Nebraska and Minnesota.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marie Juan taught at St. Luke, River Forest (1955- 1958), and St. Sabina (1959-1967). She served as liturgist and music director at St. Cajetan Parish (1984-1988).

She is survived by her sisters Eileen Nettesheim and Margaret Loughney.

Sister of St. Casimir Angeline Juronis, 93, died April 6.

Born in Massachusetts, Sister Angeline entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1941 and made her final vows in 1949. She ministered in Illinois, Pennsylvania and Nebraska. In the Archdiocese of Chicago she served as dietician at Holy Cross Hospital; Maria High School; St. Norbert Convent, Northbrook; St. Anthony Convent, Cicero; and the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Casimir. Most recently Sister Angeline participated in the ministry of prayer (2015-2017) at Franciscan Village, Lemont.

Loretto Sister Anne Michelle LaMarre, 88, died Nov. 28 in Kentucky.

Born in Kankakee, Illinois, she entered the Sisters of Loretto in 1946 and made final vows in 1952.

Sister Anne Michelle taught Catholic primary grades, kindergarten and preschool for six decades in Illinois, including more than 27 years at St. Paul of the Cross in Park Ridge, and in Missouri and Texas.

While teaching, Sister Anne Michelle became known to many of her students as Mother Goose, dressing the part when she read to her young charges. The most important thing in teaching little ones, she said, was to love each child, to let each child know that he or she was lovable and was loved.

At St. Paul of the Cross, she taught primary grades and preschool from 1982 to 2006. She spent three more years there as a teacher assistant and librarian.

Mercy Sister Norena Gawronski. 92, died April 7.

Born in Wisconsin, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in Des Plaines in 1942. She made her final vows in 1948.

For 30 years, she taught primary and secondary grades in Catholic schools across the Chicago and Milwaukee archdioceses. Her work also expanded into the arts; she played the piano and organ and she directed plays.

She also taught religious education at St. Clotilde and served as a pastoral minister for one year at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish.

She then ministered to the poor in West Virginia as a health aide. Sister Norena moved to Mercy Convent in Chicago in 2008.

Sister of Christian Charity M. Madeline (Martha Clara) Portner, 104, died on April 5 at Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette.

Born in Minnesota, she entered the postulancy in 1935. She professed perpetual vows in 1943.

Sister M. Madeline taught elementary school in Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and Louisiana before serving as librarian at St. Teresa School (1984-1990). She also served as a tutor at Josephinum Convent (1999-2001). She worked in the Sacred Heart Convent library in Wilmette (2001-2006) before retiring in 2007 from active ministry.