Viatorian Father Simon P. Lefebvre, 92, died Jan. 13 at the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights.

Born in Quebec, Canada, Father Lefebvre made his first vows in Montreal in 1946, his final profession in 1956 in Arlington Heights and was ordained the same year in Chicago.

As a Viatorian, he taught in Peoria, Illinois; Las Vegas; Quebec; and California. He also taught at the secondary school and university levels in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Father Lefebvre spent the rest of his ministry in parish work in California.

He moved to the Viatorian retirement residence in 2016.

Father Lefebvre is survived by his brothers, Jean and Louis, and his sisters, Jean Coolins and Lena Baker.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Jan Brynda, 84, died Jan. 23 at Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn.

Born in Chicago, Sister Jan made her first religious profession in 1955 and her perpetual profession in 1958. She taught for 17 years and was principal for seven years and educational supervisor, instructor and consultant for 25 years. Sister Jan ministered as a pastoral associate for 12 years and director of adult faith formation for three years. She served in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Jan served as education consultant for Mercy Home for Boys and Girls (1991-1993); pastoral associate at St. Jane de Chantal Parish (1993-2000); and director of adult faith formation at St. Benedict Parish, Blue Island (2000-2003). She ministered at Dominican University, River Forest, in the School of Education as an academic advisor and adjunct instructor (2003-2012) and supervisor of student teachers (2003-2008) as well as at the Sr. Mary Nona McGreal Center for Dominican Historical Studies as a volunteer (2012-2020).

She is survived by a sister, Dominican Sister Eileen Brynda.

Deacon Gilberto Cintron, 87, died Jan. 7. He was ordained in 1975 and served at St. Hedwig Parish.

Deacon Cintron was born in Puerto Rico. He was married to his wife, Maria, for 62 years. He had nine children and more than 30 grandchildren and was a father figure to many more.

Benedictine Sister Eleanore (Rita) Hillenbrand, 95, died Oct. 29 at St. Joseph Court-St. Scholastica Monastery.

Born in Chicago, Sister Eleanore attended St. Hilary School and St. Scholastica High School. She was accepted into the community as an aspirant in 1942 and she professed her final vows in 1947. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in English from DePaul University. She taught at St. Hilary, St. Symphorosa and St. Lambert, Skokie, as well as in Colorado. She served at St. Scholastica High School (1957-1992), including as chair of the English Department. In her community, she served as the director of studies and executive secretary to the prioress.

Benedictine Sister Ann (Charlotte) Sharp, 99, died Dec. 27 at St. Joseph Court-St. Scholastica Monastery

A native of Chicago, Sister Ann attended Sullivan High School for two years before transferring to St. Scholastica High School becoming a postulant of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago during the fall of 1937, her senior year. She professed final vows in 1949.

Sister Ann attended De Paul University for both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. While completing her studies, she began teaching at Queen of All Saints in 1940 as a member of the original faculty. In 1945, she taught middle- to upper-grade students at Mother of God in Waukegan.

During her remaining 23 years in elementary education, Sister Ann taught at St. Symphorosa, St. Joseph and St. Lambert, Skokie, as well as in Colorado. In 1968, she joined the faculty at St. Scholastica Academy, and she served as dean from 1973 through 1978.

She was elected prioress of the community in 1978 and served until 1982. During her term, St. Joseph Court, a two-winged facility, was built at the north end of the 1906 monastery building, to be the health care facility for the sisters.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Lucille (Mauricio) Gardner, 84, died Dec. 30.

Born in Peoria, Illinois, Sister Lucy made her first religious profession in 1955 and her perpetual profession in 1958. She served in education and as a consolation minister in New Jersey, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma and Texas.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Lucy taught at Visitation (1957-1960) and St. Barnabas (1967-1971) and was principal at the combined St. Patrick/St. Alphonsus School, Lemont (1979-1984).

She is survived by a sister, Mildred Banister.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Marie Shields, 81, died Dec. 31 in Cincinnati.

Born in Chicago, she was in her 64th year of religious life.

Sister Marie taught in mostly inner-city parish schools in Ohio for 14 years. She later served for 51 years in Columbus, Ohio, doing parish ministry.

Sister Marie loved her work, and the parishioners loved her. She sparked parish support for a local food pantry and homeless shelter, for farm projects in Ghana and Ecuador and for national social justice groups like Network, Pax Christi and Bread for the World. She started an initiative to collect new clothes for people who needed them and connected the parishioners to the work of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur around the world.

She retired in 2019.

Felician Sister Mary Ruthilia (Helen) Kobitta, 90, died Jan. 3 at Swedish Covenant Hospital.

She attended St. Joseph elementary and high schools on the South Side of Chicago. She entered the Felician Sisters postulancy in 1947 and professed her final vows in 1955.  She ministered for 49 years in elementary schools as a teacher in Illinois and Wisconsin. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. James (1949-1951), St. Wenceslaus (1951-1952); St. Mary Magdalene (1952-1955); St. Isidore, Blue Island (1960-1966); St. Linus, Oak Lawn (1973-1983); and St. Turibius (1987-1997).

Providence Sister Mary Maxine Teipen, 91, died Jan. 5 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indianapolis, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1946 professed final vows in 1953.

Of her 74 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered in education for 21 years in Indiana and Illinois, including at St. Mel (1948-1953). She later was treasurer for her community, provincial and a member of the congregation’s general council.

Sister Mary Maxine is survived by a sister, Mary Lou Dunlop.

Sister of St. Joseph Alice Vincent, 87, died Jan. 3.

Born in Vermont, she was in religious life for 68 years.

Sister Alice was an elementary teacher in the Archdiocese of Chicago for 37 years before serving as a hospital chaplain in Missouri for 16 years. 

She retired to LaGrange Park in 2007 and continued to do congregational ministry work as a volunteer until 2010.

She is survived by siblings Daniel, Robert, Andy, Lawrence, John, Mary, Laurette and Lucille.