Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Damienne (Damien S.H.) Grismer, 91, died Jan. 15.

Born in Ohio, she made her first vows in 1950 and her final vows in 1955. She spent 16 years teaching at Ohio elementary schools before teaching in a drug recovery program in Tinley Park (1970-1975). She served as bursar, prepared probation reports, rationed cigarettes, supervised the property and participated in the clinical operation of the house.

In 1975, she returned to Ohio, where she taught high school.

Mary Claire Gart Restivo, 83, died Feb. 17 in Chicago.

She worked at the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Chicago for 42 years, from 1960 to 2002, starting as a staff writer and retiring as managing editor. She also had served as acting editor.

During her time at the paper, which was known as the New World, Chicago Catholic and the Catholic New World while she worked there, she served under four cardinal archbishops and several editors, and she mentored generations of young writers.

She was known for her professionalism as well as her kindness.

She is survived by her husband, Angelo Restivo, to whom she was married for 37 years, and her three daughters.

Sister of St. Joseph Marie Frances Basile, 91, dies March 8.

Sister Marie graduated from St. Willibrod High School and was a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph for 67 years.

She taught first through seventh grades during her first 16 years in community in the various parishes in LaGrange, LaGrange Park, Lyons, Hillside, Riverside and Chicago. 

She continued to serve in surrounding parishes as religious education coordinator and catechist. 

Sister Marie then moved into the ministry as a companion to the elderly in a local nursing home, and finally as congregation chapel sacristan.

Loretto Sister Elizabeth “Betty” (Marian Francis) McWilliams, 85, died March 9.

Born in Rockford, she entered the Sisters of Loretto in 1953 and made her final vows in 1961.

Throughout her 64 years of service, Sister Betty served in many positions, including 18 years as a teacher, 20 years as an innovative hospice care leader and provider in Highland Park, and 12 years for the Loretto Community in health care and administrative roles in Denver. She particularly was known for her hospice work at Highland Park Hospital, whose hospice program was one of the first in the country. Sister Betty created some of the earliest standards of care for home hospice and helped form one of the first medical ethics committees in the country.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Betty taught at Holy Cross (1964-1967) and Immaculate Conception, Highland Park (teacher 1969-1972, principal 1972-1978), She was a parish worker in Deerfield (1978-1982). She worked in a hospice office in Highland Park for a year (1982-1983) and then served as hospice coordinator at Highland Park Hospital in Glenview from 1983 to 1993.

Divine Word Father Arnold Steffen, 91, who served as provincial superior of Papua New Guinea, died March 12 in Techny.

Born in Iowa, he entered the Divine Word Seminary at age 14 in 1943. He professed religious vows in 1949 and was ordained a priest in 1955.

Father Steffen served for 59 years in Papua New Guinea, witnessing many economic and social changes on the island nation that gained independence in 1975. When he arrived in 1957, roads in the Mount Hagen area were few, and missionaries tended to travel by airplane, on horseback and on foot.

According to Divine Word Brother Aloysius Aisi Oa, who grew up in Papua New Guinea and currently serves at Sts. Anselm and Elizabeth parishes in Chicago, Father Steffen was so attuned to the land and its people that he was affectionately called the “Mountain Goat.”

“People know him well in Papua New Guinea,” said Brother Aloysius. “Many people tell stories about him. He could communicate well with the people, and he walked everywhere. He was very energetic and strong.”

In 1972, Father Steffen was called upon to serve as acting superior. The following year, he became president of Holy Spirit Regional Seminary, which served as the primary major seminary of Papua New Guinea and the British Solomon Islands Protectorate. Father Steffen was elected regional superior in 1976.

In 1981, he completed his administrative work and returned to parish ministry.

In 2016, Father Steffen moved from Papua New Guinea to Techny for retirement. He is survived by one brother, Ralph Steffen.

Adrian Dominican Sister Sharon (Therese Michelle) Beckmann, 80, died March 16 in Toledo, Ohio.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 62nd year of her religious life.

Sister Sharon ministered in elementary education, religious education and pastoral work in Illinois and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Carthage (1964-1967); St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1967-1970); and St. Cyprian, River Grove (1991-1995) and was principal of St. James, Maywood (1989-1991).

She is survived by three sisters: Kathryn Martin, Therese Graham and Marcia Anstiss; and a brother, Joseph Beckmann Jr.

Deacon Earl Dahl, 88, died March 1. He was ordained in 1983 and served at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Streamwood.

Deacon Dahl was born on the Northwest Side of Chicago and joined the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, serving as a medic in Germany from 1951 to 1955. He met his wife, Doris, at Riverview Park and the couple married in 1957.

He was a member of the Carpenters Union and a custom cabinet maker. In 1962, he and his wife bought the Streamwood home where he lived until his death.

Deacon Dahl was baptized and raised Lutheran. He entered the Catholic Church at St. John the Evangelist at the urging of his wife and especially his daughters. He served the parish as an active deacon for 31 years.

Deacon Dahl and Doris Dahl loved to travel the world and the family loved to camp.

He is survived by his wife and his daughters, Pam and Darlene.

Deacon Vito DiCanio, 91, died March 4. He was ordained in 1984.

He served at St. Mary, Evanston, and St. Emily, Mount Prospect, and was a chaplain at Resurrection Hospital. He was a retired superintendent of parks and recreation for the city of Evanston and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

He is survived by his wife, Frances, his children Teddy DiCanio, Joseph Semkiu and Michael Semkiu; and three grandchildren.

Adrian Dominican Sister Patricia (William Francine) McCarty, 85, died Feb. 12 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, Sister Patricia was in her 66th year of religious life.

She ministered in elementary education, congregational leadership, campus ministry and higher education in Iowa, Illinois and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was principal of Queen of Apostles, Riverdale (1967-1970); and co-provincial (1970-1972) and administrator (1972-1975) of the St. Dominic Province, Hometown.

Sister of St. Casimir Milda Blinstrubas, 88, died Feb. 15 in Lemont.

Born in Lithuania, she emigrated to the United States in 1948 after fleeing Lithuania and living in a refugee camp in Germany. She settled in the Southwest Side neighborhood of Marquette Park. 

She made her first vows of religious profession in 1951 and professed final vows in 1957.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Marywood College in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and served as a first-grade teacher for 49 years in New Mexico, California, Maryland, Florida and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Vilna, Pilsen (1952-1954); Nativity BVM, Marquette Park (1954-1956, 1960-1965, 1986-1987, 1996-2005) and St. Norbert, Northbrook (1971-1974). After she retired from full-time teaching, she tutored students for an archdiocesan program.

Most recently, Sister Milda participated in the ministry of prayer and presence at Franciscan Village’s Mother Theresa Home in Lemont.