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Sr. Sarah Ann Braig
BVM Sister Sarah Ann Braig, 72, died Jan. 29 at Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa.
Born in Iowa, she entered the BVM congregation in 1965 and professed final vows in 1975.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Sarah taught first grade at St. Peter, Antioch. She also ministered as a teacher and in health care in Iowa, Oregon and Missouri.
She is survived by brothers Thomas and James Braig and sister Betsy Ann Cerutti.
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Fr. Frederick Ciesla
Resurrectionist Father Fred Ciesla, 93, died at Maryhaven in Glenview Jan. 28. He was a member of the Congregation of the Resurrection since his first vows in 1942 and a priest since 1949.
Father Fred spent his entire apostolic career as a teacher in Chicago, serving as an instructor of theology for more than 50 at Archbishop Weber and Gordon Tech high schools.
He also served as an assistant principal. His greatest love was music and his devotion was directed to the school choir, band and glee club.
He is survived by his sister Irene.
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Fr. Casimir Tadla
Resurrectionist Father Casimir Tadla, 95, died Jan. 25 at Nazarethville Nursing Home, Des Plaines.
He professed his first vows as a member of the Congregation of the Resurrection 75 years ago and was a priest for 68 years.
He served in parishes in Illinois, northern and southern California, Maryland, Ontario (Canada), Florida and Mexico.
He is survived by his sister Genevive.
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Fr. Robert Grib
Jesuit Father Robert Grib, 75, died Jan. 25 in Clarkston, Michigan.
Born in Chicago, he attended Five Holy Martyrs School and St. Ignatius High School before entering the Jesuits in 1958. He made first vows in 1960.
He served in India from 1965-1996, returning to Chicago to be ordained at St, Thomas More Church in 1972. He taught high school and seminary students in India, teaching English to Hindi speakers and Hindi to English speakers, served in Jesuit formation and as a parish priest and youth director.
After returning to the Chicago area, Father Grib served as pastor at St. Ignatius Parish and associate pastor at Our Lady of the Brook, Northbrook, before directing retreats at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House, Barrington.
He then served as associate pastor at St. Juliana Parish (2002-2009), took a semester sabbatical, and spent the next year in residence at St. Francis Borgia Parish, where he also assisted with music ministry. After that, resided at St. Eugene, where his brother, Jesuit Father Phil Grib, is a priest in residence. In 2015, Father Grib moved to Michigan to care for his health.
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Fr. William Mannion
Father William Dennis Mannion, 78, died Jan. 20. He was pastor emeritus of Our Lady of Hope Parish, Rosemont, and was a resident at the Presence St. Benedict Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Niles.
Born in Chicago, he He attended St. Dorothy School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1963.
Father Mannion served as assistant pastor of St. Emeric, Country Club Hills (1963- 1967); Holy Name Cathedral (1967-1975); St. Christina (1975-1977); and St. John of the Cross, (1977-1988). During this time, Father Mannion served as defender of the bond at the Metropolitan Tribunal, as well as a member of the Diocesan Clergy Personnel Board (Priests’ Placement Board). He was named pastor of St. Athanasius Parish in Evanston in 1989.
Ten years later, Father Mannion became pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish and served there until his retirement in 2008, when he was named pastor emeritus.
Father Mannion is survived by his brother, Robert Mannion.
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Fr. Robert Erickson
Viatorian Father Robert Erickson, 75, died Jan. 15 at Alden Estates of Evanston. Born in Springfield, Illinois, he made his first vows in Arlington Heights in 1959 and was ordained in 1967.
He taught at St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights (1967-1973) before serving as a teacher and administrator at other high schools in Illinois. In 1994, he returned to the Archdiocese of Chicago to serve as treasurer of the Viatorian Province of Chicago. After his retirement in 2010, he continued to minister at Holy Family, Inverness, and other parishes in Arlington Heights area.
He also served as a retreat director, leader of Scripture studies and spiritual director.
He is survived by his brother Thomas Erickson.
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Deacon Raymond Ward
Deacon Raymond Ward, 65, died Jan. 15. He was ordained in 1989 and served at St. Jerome Parish.
He worked as sound man for Chicago’s Wilderness Road and other bands.
He is survived by his wife, Kathryn, his children Raymond, Joanna, Nathaniel, Elizabeth and Kathleen Ward; grandchildren Evelyn and Liliana Ward; and siblings Donna Ward, Mark Ward, Andrea Johnston, Paula Ward and Matthew Ward.
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Fr. Robert Herne
Father Robert George Herne, 93, died Jan. 14. He was pastor emeritus of Our Lady of the Brook Parish, Northbrook, and was recently a resident at the Bishop Timothy J. Lyne Residence for Retired Priests in Palos Park.
Born in Chicago, he attended St. Columbanus School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1947.
Father Herne served as assistant pastor at St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1947-1952); Holy Name Cathedral (1952-1960); St. Joseph, Wilmette (1960-1964); and St. Richard (1964-1968). He was pastor of Our Lady of the Brook Parish (1968-1991), and was named pastor emeritus there. Before moving to the Bishop Lyne Residence, he was a resident of Sacred Heart Parish, Palos Hills.
Because of his great devotion to the Blessed Mother, Father Herne was an active member of the Legion of Mary throughout most of his life as a priest.
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Fr. George Reynolds
Dominican Father George John Dominic Reynolds, 84, died Jan. 13 at Resurrection Life Center in Chicago.
Born in Chicago, he attended Ascension School, Oak Park, and St. Eulalia School, Maywood.
After attending one year of high school at Quigley Preparatory Seminary, he transferred to Fenwick High School in Oak Park, graduating in 1948.
He studied at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, for two years before entering the Dominican Order in 1951. He professed his first vows in 1952 and was ordained in 1959.
Father Reynolds taught high school at Fenwick and in Texas. He also served in pastoral ministry of parishes and Newman Centers in Minnesota, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Louisiana, Georgia and Wisconsin. In 2014, Father Reynolds moved to Chicago and lived at St. Pius V Priory on limited service.
He is survived by two sisters, Margaret Sallade and Sandy deBlaker.
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Sr. Ruth Anne Kelly
Adrian Dominican Sister Ruth Anne (Mary Ralph) Kelly, 77, died Jan. 10 in Adrian, Michigan.
Born in Michigan, she was in the 61st year of her religious profession. She ministered in elementary and secondary education for 44 years in Illinois and Michigan.
She taught at Queen of Angels (1955-1956) and St Celestine, Elmwood Park (1956-1967)
Sister Ruth Anne is survived by a brother, Francis P. Kelly Jr., and sisters: Margaret Rose Kelly, Barbara Kelly and Patricia Kelly.
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