Deacon Thomas R. Carvlin, 97, died Oct. 21.

He was ordained in 1977 and served at the former Ascension-St. Susanna Parish, now part of Lord of Mercy Parish, in Harvey.

Deacon Carvlin served in France and Germany during and after World War II, including showing Holocaust footage to German citizens.

He met his wife of 71 years, “Tommy,” after moving to Chicago. At the Chicago Tribune, he was national news editor during the Nixon administration and the 1968 Democratic Convention.

He is survived by his wife, Maureen Evanne (nee Thomas); sister Joyce Murphy; children Mary Carvlin, Peter Carvlin, Anne Bridges, Martha Carvlin, Monica Regan and Elizabeth Carvlin Fuesel; 14 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Marianist Brother Al Kuntemeier, 92, died Oct. 13 in San Antonio, Texas.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Brother Al was in religious life for 75 years.

He taught at Marianist high schools in Missouri and Indiana and served as vocation director for his province before teaching, coaching and serving as a counselor at St. Michael High School in Chicago (1972-1976).

He then taught and coached at high schools in Oklahoma and Texas, retiring from teaching in 2014 at 83 to serve the Marianist Residence Community in San Antonio and as chaplain to the St. Mary’s University tennis team.

Benedictine Sister Patricia (Patrick) Crowley, 84, died Oct. 14 at St. Scholastica Monastery.

She was born and raised in Wilmette and attended St. Joseph School. She entered the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago in September 1958 and made her final vows in 1965.

She taught at St. Lambert, Skokie; Queen of All Saints; and St. Scholastica Academy. She also served as executive director of the Howard Area Community Center, Deborah’s Place and Chicago Continuum of Care; prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago; and board president of Bethany House of Hospitality. She was a spiritual director and ministered to homeless women through the Ignatian Spirituality Project.

Franciscan Sister of Chicago M. Diane Marie Collins, 73, died Aug. 4.

Sister Diane Marie entered the congregation in 1968, made her first vows in 1971 and professed perpetual vows in 1977.

She served at Madonna High School from 1973 to 1991, teaching from 1973 to 1986, then serving as the school social worker after earning a master’s degree in social work from Loyola University Chicago. She also served as local superior (1990-1991).

After moving to the Lemont motherhouse, she served as formation director (1991-1994) and formation team member (1995-1999); general vicar (1993-1998); chair of Franciscan Village/Mother Theresa Home Board of Directors (1993-1998); St. Anthony Medical Center board of directors (1993-1999); chairman of Madonna High School board of directors (1994-2001).

She was general councilor and general secretary (1998-2003) while serving as principal of Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond, Indiana. She served in a variety of positions in community leadership, including general minister (2003-2013), chair of Region 3 of the Franciscan Federation (2004-2006); second vice president (2006-2007) vice president (2007-2008) and president (2008-2009).

She also was a campus minister in Chicago (2013-2019) and evangelization director at St. John Berchmans Parish (2019-2023).

Sister Joan (Joseph Elaine) Marconi, 89, died Sept. 14 in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Joan ministered in elementary and secondary education, occupational therapy and administration  in Michigan, Illinois and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Aquinas High School (1961-1967).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Emeric Bauch, 96, died Sept. 21 in Footville, Wisconsin.

Born in Minnesota, Sister Emeric made her first religious profession in 1950 and her perpetual profession in 1953. She served as a culinary artist and as a nurse’s aide and licensed practical nurse in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Wyoming, Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa, South Carolina and Georgia.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Emeric served as culinary artist at St. Vincent Ferrer Convent, River Forest (1957-1959), and Visitation Convent (1967-1968).

Father Albert R. Adamich, 101, died Sept. 21. He was pastor emeritus of Queen of Peace Parish in North Chicago, now part of Most Blessed Trinity Parish in Waukegan, and the oldest priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago when he died.

Father Al, as he was known, was born in Joliet and attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein before being ordained in 1948. He celebrated 75 years of priestly service in May 2023.

After ordination, Father Adamich was assistant pastor of Mother of God, Waukegan; St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates; and St. Symphorosa. He also served as moderator of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women in 1979. Later, he was associate pastor of Most Holy Redeemer, Evergreen Park, and pastor of Mother of God for 20 years. He was named pastor emeritus in 1992.

Father Adamich resided at Most Holy Redeemer after his retirement was a beloved figure in the parish.

Father James Hyland, pastor of Most Holy Redeemer, remembered Father Adamich’s great love of the Mass and the Eucharist.

“He really loved what he did as a priest,” Hyland said, “and even in retirement he continued to minister to the people in the parish.”

“He’s such an inspiration,” Deacon Mark Phelan told Chicago Catholic in 2022, for an article featuring Father Al’s 100th birthday celebration at the parish. He’s a man of God. He prays for everyone. He prays constantly,” Phelan said. “He’s just the most wonderful man I ever met. He really is.”

Longtime parishioner Winnie Ligda said in 2022 that Father Al didn’t want any kind of celebration for his centenary, but parishioners overruled him.

“We all looked at him and said, ‘Too bad for you,’” Ligda joked. “He’s a good man,” she said.

When Ligda’s husband was ill, Father Al visited him in the hospital, in the nursing home and at her own home.

“He came repeatedly, and he was just wonderful. He was that way with all the parishioners. He’s a very kind, loving and compassionate man,” she said.

On the same occasion, Father Adamich said the secret to his long life was intercessory prayer.

“If you have to pay people to pray for you, do so,” he quipped. “Never pass up the chance to ask people to pray for you.”

Father Steven W. Patte, 79, died Sept. 20. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former pastor of St. Ita Parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Patte attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1969.

After ordination, Father Patte was assistant pastor of Holy Name Cathedral, St. Joseph, Wilmette; and Church of the Holy Spirit, Schaumburg.

He also served as associate pastor of St. Zachary, Des Plaines; St. Joseph, Round Lake; St. Mary of Vernon, Indian Creek; and St. Emily, Mount Prospect. He was pastor of St. Helena of the Cross and St. Ita Parish. In addition, he was a professor at St. Mary of the Lake University for two years.

He retired from ministry in 2015.

Father Leon J. Rezula, pastor emeritus of St. Julian Eymard in Elk Grove Village, was a classmate of Father Patte. “He was a very hard-working, zealous priest with a variety of experience,” Rezula said.

Deacon John “Jack” L. Malone, 89, died Sept. 4. He was ordained in 1987 and served at St. Germaine Parish, Oak Lawn.

He also served as a chaplain at Cook County Jail and Little Company of Mary Hospital for many years.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary; his children Jack Malone, Kathy Walsh, Ruth Turner, Michael Malone, Sheila Brew and Dan Malone; 17 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Felician Sister Mary Odelle (Veronica) Siskoski, 92, died Aug 17, at Swedish/North Shore Hospital.

Born in Michigan, she attended elementary school there. When her family moved to Chicago, she attended Parker School and St. Joseph High School. She entered the Felician Sisters in 1950 and professed her final vows in 1958. She ministered in elementary schools as a teacher and principal in Illinois, Wisconsin and Brazil for over 30 years. Later, she also ministered in supportive services at Felician Senior Living Community in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, for 22 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Helen (1952-1953, 1990-1994); St. Turibius (1955-1957); Sts. Peter and Paul (1957-1959, 1986-1987); St. Hedwig, Niles (1959-1960); St. Isidore, Blue Island (1960-1961); Holy Innocents (1962-1964); St. John of God (1964-1965); and St. Linus, Oak Lawn (1972-1973).

Sr. Larina Williams

School Sister of St. Francis Larina Williams, 87, died Aug. 17 at West Allis Memorial Hospital in Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, Sister Larina was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1956, made her first profession of vows in 1958 and her final vows in 1964. 

Beginning in 1958, Sister Larina ministered in the Archdiocese of Chicago for more than half a century. She taught at Holy Angels School in her home parish (1958-1960, 1964-1972 and 1985-2000) and was assistant principal there (2000-2006). She also taught at St. Martin (1960-1962) and St. Clara (1962-1964), taught and was assistant principal at St. Kilian (1972-1984) and taught at Ascension/St. Susanna School in Harvey (1984-1985).

In her retirement, Sister Larina resided in a local convent in Homer Glen (2007-2013) and in Milwaukee.

Sister Larina is survived by her brothers Herbert and Michael and sisters Latoski McCarty and Monica Waters.

Viatorian Father Richard J. Pighini, 79, died Aug. 21 at Addolorata Villa in Wheeling.

A Viatorian for 43 years, Father Richard made his first vows in 1980 and was ordained a priest in 1985.

He attended Maine East High School in Park Ridge before earning a bachelor’s degree in communication design from University of Illinois and a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union. He served in the Peace Corps in Hawaii (1967-1969), taught at Illinois high schools before being ordained and ministered in parishes in Kankakee and Bourbonnais after ordination.

He moved to the retirement community at the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights in 2022. He was always known for his care for the liturgy, as well as the beauty of the gardens and landscapes of the parish grounds.

Father Richard is survived by his sisters, Carlotta Polenzani and Claudette Schmied of Naperville.

Father Michael G. Scherschel, 59, died Aug. 10. He was pastor of the recently united Sts. Matthew and Hubert Parish in Hoffman Estates.

Born in Chicago, Father Scherschel attended Cary-Grove Community High School in Cary; the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio; and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.

Father Scherschel was ordained to the priesthood at the age of 43 in 2007. After ordination, Father Scherschel was associate pastor of St. William Parish (2007-2011). He then served as the associate vocation director for Vicariate IV of the Archdiocese of Chicago. He also served on the formation faculty at St. Joseph College Seminary (2011-2017).

Father Scherschel became pastor of St. Hubert Parish in 2017 and most recently led the formation of Sts. Matthew and Hubert Parish, unifying the two community parishes as one.

Father Robert Rizzo met Father Scherschel when he succeeded him as pastor at St. Hubert Parish. “I was totally delighted when he was named pastor because he is truly a kind, gentle and super authentic person,” Rizzo said. “He truly lived his faith day in and day out.”

Deacon Thomas M. Paluch, 77, died Aug. 17. He was ordained in 1997 and served at St. John Brebeuf Parish, Niles, in the Archdiocese of Chicago and Holy Family Parish, Shorewood, in the Diocese of Joliet.

His wife, Julianne Paluch, predeceased him.

He is survived by his children, Maggie Malinowski and Becky Paluch, and three grandchildren, as well as eight siblings.

Adrian Dominican Sister Joan (Margaret Patrick) Murphy, 97, died July 28 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 77th year of her religious life.

Sister Joan ministered in elementary and secondary education, pastoral ministry and religious education and volunteered in health care in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, Colorado, California, Alabama and Kentucky, and volunteered in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1946-1950); St. Rita of Cascia (1950-1951); Santa Maria Del Popolo, Mundelein (1959-1962); Infant Jesus of Prague, Flossmoor (1962-1963); and St. Philip Neri (1963-1964).

Adrian Dominican Sister Mary Kathryn (Helen Maureen) Cliatt, 88, died July 30, in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Miami, she was in the 66th year of her religious life.

Sister Mary Kathryn ministered in elementary and secondary education, pastoral ministry, social work and retreat ministry in Illinois, Florida and Georgia, and ministered as a mentor and spiritual advisor to orphans in Kenya.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Queen of Angels School.

She is survived by a sister, Martha Lim.

Adrian Dominican Sister Marilyn (Marilyn Loretto) Uline, 86, died July 31 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Ohio, she was in the 67th year of her religious life.

Sister Marilyn ministered in elementary and secondary education, campus ministry, pastoral ministry, adult education, advocacy, clerical work and business.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a social justice advocate at the Eighth Day Center (1975-1980); worked with the Divine Word Theologate as a secretary and in research (1981-1983); taught at St. Mary of Perpetual Help High School (1983-1984) and was a registered representative of First Investors Corp. (1985-1999).

Sister Marilyn is survived by sisters Lois Nugent, Margaret Boyce, Joanne Schutz and Carol Uline and a brother, Franciscan Father Cyprian Uline.

Msgr. Robert F. Trisco, 93, died July 29. He was a professor emeritus of church history at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Born in Chicago, Msgr. Trisco attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he earned a licentiate of sacred theology degree in 1955 and a doctoral degree in ecclesiastical history in 1962.

He was ordained a priest in Rome in 1954.

After ordination, Trisco began his service at the  Catholic University of America in 1959. He was a professor of church history and served as the Kelly-Quinn Distinguished Professor of Church History from 1999 until 2000, when he was granted emeritus status.

 In recognition of his many contributions to the church and in academia, Trisco was named an honorary prelate with the title of monsignor in 1992 and a protonotary apostolic supernumerary in 2005. He was named a decorated knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in 1993 and promoted to the rank of knight commander in 1998. He was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Belmont Abbey College in 1992 and was given the Centennial Award by the American Catholic Historical Association in 2019.

Deacon Gerald A. Fox, 94, of La Grange Park, died Aug. 1. Deacon Fox was ordained in 1993 and served at St. Barbara, Brookfield, and Divine Providence, Westchester.

Deacon Fox was general manager of a Buick dealership before being ordained a deacon.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; his children Patricia Fitch, Kathryn Fox and Fred Fox; and one granddaughter.

Deacon James Janicek, 79, died Aug. 9. He was ordained in 2005 and served at St. Michael Parish in Orland Park.

Deacon Janicek started his career repairing typewriters for IBM before moving into management, said St. Michael pastor Father Frank Kurucz. As a deacon, he enjoyed preaching and celebrating baptisms, and he was involved in parish life ministries, making all the pierogis and sauerkraut when the parish hosted a Polish night.

“He thought everyone was family,” Kurucz said.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sharon; his children, Jeffrey Janicek, Cheryl Doyle and Kimberly Janicek; and three grandchildren.