Dominican Sister Esther (Consolata Marie) Ortega, 86, died Jan. 14 in Toledo, Ohio.

Born in Arizona, she was in her 65th year of religious life.

Sister Esther served in education and pastoral ministry and adult education in Illinois, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan, in 2012.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Albert the Great, Oak Lawn (1957-1962), and St. Edmund, Oak Park (1962-1964).

She is survived by a brother, Raul Ortega, and a sister, Connie Gomez.

Dominican Sister Dorothea (Raymund Ann) Gramlich, 81, died Jan. 21 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 63rd year of her religious life.

Sister Dorothea served in education and other ministries in Illinois, Michigan and Iowa.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1959-1962), and St. Mary, Star of the Sea (1969-1970).

She is survived by three brothers: John, Mark and Greg Burgeson; and one sister, Ann Cane.

Dominican Sister Ann Rena (Marilyn) Shinkey, 87, died Jan. 22 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Streator, she was in her 60th year of religious life. She ministered in education in Michigan and Illinois. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2011.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Edmund, Oak Park (1962); Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1962-1964); Aquinas High School (1964-1967); and Mother McAuley High School (1984-1992).

Dominican Sister Kathleen (Stella Joseph) Sutherland, 88, died Jan. 22 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 70th year of her religious life.

Sister Kathleen ministered as an educator, catechist and receptionist in Illinois, Ohio and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita Elementary School (1951-1954), St. Laurence Elementary School (teacher, 1955-1960; teacher and religious education coordinator 1960-1961); and Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette (1961-1964).

She is survived by three brothers: Father Thomas Sutherland, Daniel Sutherland and Patrick Sutherland; and four sisters: Mary Hosfeld, Marion Faris, Judy Sutherland and Margaret Missig.

Dominican Sister Margaret Ann (Louis Arthur) Swallow, 97, died Jan. 23 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 73rd year of her religious life.

Sister Margaret Ann ministered in education, parish work and nursing care in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and New York. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2009.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary School (1949-1954).         

Providence Sister Jacquelyn (Theodata) Hoffman, 85, died Jan. 25 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indiana, Sister Jackie entered the Sisters of Providence in 1950 and professed final vows in 1957.

She ministered as music teacher for 50 years in schools in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, including at St. Francis Xavier, Wilmette (1966-1974), and Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1974-1982).

Sister Jackie is survived by a sister, Patricia Tummey.

Dominican Sister Helen (Thomas Albert) Laier, 88, died Jan. 26 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 69th year of her religious life.

She ministered in education, nursing and care for family members in Michigan and Illinois. Sister Helen became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2015.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Kilian (1958-1960).

Sister Helen is survived by her sister, Teresa Trumbull.

Providence Sister Charles (Marjorie Mae) Van Hoy, 91, died on Jan. 27 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indiana, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1949 and professed final vows in 1956. She ministered as teacher, school librarian and pastoral associate in Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Washington, D.C., and was the director of activities at the motherhouse for 12 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mel (1953-1956).

Mercy Sister Mary Ludmilla Benda, 94, died Jan. 27 in Chicago.

Sister Ludmilla grew up in Ohio and earned a nursing degree before entering the Sisters of Mercy in 1947. She ministered as a nurse and nursing supervisor in Iowa and Chicago, serving as Mercy Hospital Davenport’s administrator in Iowa for six years and then as administrator of Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago for six more years.

She also served as a pastoral associate, worked in home health care, was director of a diocesan volunteer program and held several professional leadership roles.

In Davenport, she began Fr. Conroy’s Vineyard of Hope in honor of her late friend, Father James Conroy. The ministry fed and provided showers, laundry and clothing to 80 to 150 mostly homeless people every Sunday for 13 years.

She moved to Mercy Circle in Chicago in 2018 because of poor health.

Divine Word Father Charles Heskamp, 94, died Jan. 28 in Techny.

He formed a generation of Divine Word missionaries. Among his students, he counted future professors, provincials and a Vatican ambassador.

Born in Cincinnati, Father Heskamp worked in a hardware store after high school. When he was not drafted to serve in World War II, he took this as a sign that he was being called by God to live a life of service.

He entered the Society of the Divine Word in 1946, professed religious vows in 1950 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1958.

Even though he requested to be assigned overseas after his priestly ordination, he cheerfully accepted his assignment to remain in the United States. During his academic career, Father Heskamp served as principal of Divine Word seminaries in Ohio, Wisconsin and New Jersey.

In addition to teaching and administrative work, he served as a pastor in Louisiana and West Virginia.