Providence Sister Margaret (James Patrick) Lynch, 79, died Nov. 3 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, Sister Peggy entered the Sisters of Providence in 1961 and professed final vows in 1969. She earned master’s degrees from Loyola University Chicago in religious education and later in religious studies.

She taught in junior high and high schools and ministered in parishes and adult education centers. Serious health problems brought her to the motherhouse in 2010.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Alexander, Palos Heights (1966-1967), and Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1976-1977).

School Sister of Notre Dame Joellyn (LaVerne) Grandchamp, 96, died Nov. 5 at Marian Village in Homer Glen.

Born in Blue Island, she was a member of her congregation for 76 years. She taught primary grades in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. She also a volunteered in province offices and food pantries and as a tutor at St. Margaret of Scotland School. 

She is survived by her siblings Floyd, Harold and Richard Grandchamp and Carol Bauer.

Father Francis G. Scanlan, 87, died Oct. 19. He was a former associate pastor of St. Damian Parish, Oak Forest, and a retired lieutenant colonel and Army chaplain of the Illinois National Guard.

Born in Chicago, Father Scanlan attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1961.

He was assistant pastor of St. Eugene, St. Mel-Holy Ghost and Incarnation, Palos Heights. He was associate pastor of St. Andrew and St. Bede the Venerable, and retired as associate pastor of St. Damian in 2005. Father Scanlan also served as a U.S. Army chaplain for the Illinois National Guard for nearly 30 years, from 1966 to 1995.

Frieda Bertello, director of the Healing Ministry at St. Damian Parish, knew Father Scanlan since he started at St. Damian.

“He was able to relate to any age group, probably because of his wisdom and experience and his ability to be young in spirit,” Bertello said. “His homilies were brief, but always on point, and he usually squeezed in a humorous line or two. The parishioners loved it.”

Bertello added, “Father Jerry treated everyone with kindness and respect, and you usually left with a joke or a laugh. We expect there will be more laughter in heaven now that he’s home with the Lord.”

Deacon James O’Malley, 95, died Sept. 9. He was ordained in 1974 and served at the O’Hare Airport Interfaith Chapel.

Deacon O’Malley was a World War II veteran who served in Germany, and later worked for Culligan International as a chemist, lab manager and marketing specialist.

After being ordained, he served at his home parish, St. Mary, Des Plaines. He became associate chaplain at the O’Hare Interfaith Chapel in 1986.

He retired from active ministry in 2017.

His wife, Rita Ann, died in 2010. He is survived by his children Thomas O’Malley, James O’Malley Jr., Margaret Jean Wolski, Christine Ann Groves and Erin Lynn Johnson; 14 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Dominican Father Jack O’Malley.

Deacon Irwin E. Hotcaveg, 96, died Oct. 24. He was ordained in 1988 and served at St. Ferdinand Parish until his retirement in 2014.

Deacon Hotcaveg was a U.S. Army World War II veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Lou; his children Cindy, Judi and Susan; one grandchild and two great-grandchildren.

Viatorian Father John E. Eck, 85, died Oct. 4 at Addolorata Villa in Wheeling.

Born in Springfield, Illinois, Father Eck professed his first vows in 1955 and was ordained in Chicago on June 8, 1963.

He was a high school teacher in Peoria before entering the Viatorian Seminary. After being ordained, he taught at St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights (1963-1966). He also taught in Rock Island before serving as director of affiliates and novice master for the province. He then taught at Prologue High School, Chicago (1983-1990).

He served as a parochial vicar (1999-2005) and pastor (2005-2009) of St. Viator Parish.

He retired in 2009 to Kankakee and returned to the Viatorian Province Center retirement residence in Arlington Heights in 2016.

He is survived by his sister, Patricia Precht, and his brothers, Donald and Richard Eck.

Sister of St. Joseph Sister Rita Stalzer, 98, died Oct. 4. 

She was a member of her community for 79 years. She had bachelor’s and master’s degrees in library science from Rosary College and Dominican University in River Forest, as well as master’s degrees in English literature, theology and pastoral studies from Loyola University Chicago.

Sister Rita was a teacher and librarian at Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park (1947-1968) and a librarian at Loyola University Chicago for 40 years, including two years as the director of the library at Loyola’s Rome Campus. 

In retirement, Sister Rita worked as a St. Thomas Hospice volunteer and as congregation librarian. 

She is survived by her brother, Charles E. Stalzer.

Franciscan Sister of Chicago Anne Marie (Jean) Knawa, 93, died Oct. 12.

She entered the community in 1952, professed first vows in 1954 and professed final vows in 1959.

Sister Anne Marie taught at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr (1953-1955); St. Louise de Marillac, La Grange Park (1957-1964) and Madonna High School (1964-1988). She also taught in Cleveland.

While at Madonna, she wrote the history of her community (1973-1988) and served as local secretary (1974-1975) and local treasurer (1983-1988).

She served at the motherhouse as community historian and as a caregiver (1988-1990), then served for 11 years at St. Anthony Media Center in Crown Point, Indiana. From 2001 to 2013, she served at the Lemont motherhouse, planning and overseeing projects, leading the Franciscan community life subcommittee and serving as a catechist at St. Alphonsus Parish, Lemont.

Sister Anne Marie retired in 2014.

Father James D. Beath, 69, died Sept. 29. He was associate pastor of Divine Savior Parish, Norridge.

Born in Chicago, Father Beath attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1979.

He served as assistant pastor of St. Gertrude, Franklin Park; St. Mary of Celle, Berwyn; St. Peter, Skokie; St. Albert the Great, Burbank; St. Barbara, Brookfield; Divine Infant Jesus, Westchester; Divine Savior, Norridge; St. Mary of the Assumption; St. Thomas of Canterbury; St. Dorothy Parish; St. Mary, Star of the Sea; and St. Edward Parish.

Father Alec J. Wolff, presiding judge of the Metropolitan Tribunal of the archdiocese, said that his longtime friend had a heart of gold. “If somebody needed help, he was there. You didn’t have to ask — he was just there for you.”

According to Wolff, Beath had numerous hobbies, but music was the one he treasured the most.

Sister of the Holy Child Jesus Jeanne Adams, 94, died Sept. 11.

A member of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus for 75 years, Sister Jeanne ministered worldwide as an educator, researcher, pastoral minister and historian. She was briefly imprisoned during the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War and studied both Arabic and Creole to better serve the people of Israel, Palestine and Haiti.

She moved to Waukegan with her family as a child, and attended St. Anastasia School and Holy Child High School. She began her teaching ministry at St. Ignatius School (1949-1951) in Chicago. After five years in Pennsylvania, she served the next 20 years in the society’s African province. She later served in Israel, Palestine, Haiti and Jamaica.

She is survived by her sister, Kathy Reed.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Louis “Louie” Russley, 87, died Sept. 16 in Footville, Wisconsin.

Born in Cincinnati, Sister Mary Louis made her first religious profession in 1962 and her perpetual profession in 1967. She taught high school and college science; was director of the Dominican Education Center in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin; and was a pastoral associate before attending Loyola University Chicago School of Law, graduating in 1987. She ministered in law for the next 18 years. She ministered in Illinois, Wisconsin and Florida.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Louis taught at Trinity High School, River Forest (1962-1964); was a staff attorney with attorney Anne Burke in Chicago (1986-1988); was an assistant public defender for Cook County Juvenile Court (1988-2005); and taught at Dominican University, River Forest (1994-1996).

Daughter of Charity Sister Dorothy (Dorothy Lorraine) Olinger, 89, died Sept. 18 in Evansville, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, Sister Dorothy graduated from St. Gregory High School before entering the Daughters of Charity in 1952.

 She ministered in Louisiana, Alabama, Illinois, Mississippi, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Maryland and Tennessee.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Francis de Sales, Lake Zurich (1969-1973); and was a registrar at St. Louise de Marillac High School, Northfield (1993-1994).

Adrian Dominican Sister Frances (David Therese) Barfield, 90, died Sept. 19 in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Frances spent over 30 years ministering in elementary education and parish ministry in Illinois, Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1950-1953).

She is survived by siblings Genevieve Due and Albert Barfield.

Providence Sister Agnes Maureen (Theresa) Badura, 92, died Sept. 24 in St.-Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, Sister Agnes Maureen entered the Sisters of Providence in 1947 and professed final vows in 1955. 

She ministered as a teacher for 47 years in schools in Indiana; Illinois; Washington, D.C.; California; Florida; and Oklahoma, the last 39 of which were as a math teacher.

Retiring from teaching in 1989, she used her mathematical skills at Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center, and then, in 1995 at the Motherhouse Central Business Office.

In 2002, she returned to the Archdiocese of Chicago. In the archdiocese she taught at St. Angela (1955-1958); Marywood High School, Evanston (1965-1969); and Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1980-1984); was a clerk at Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center (1989-1995); and volunteered in the SPRED Office (2002-2011).

Felician Sister Mary Margaret (Mary Leonilda) Narloch, 97, died Sept. 27 at Mother of Good Counsel Convent.

Born in Wausau, Wisconsin, she entered the Felician Sisters in 1943 and professed her final vows in 1951. She ministered in elementary and high schools as a teacher, vice principal and principal in Illinois, and she served as administrator at a day care center in Wisconsin, before serving as the provincial treasurer and the president of Felician Health Care Inc. for 14 years. 

Later, she was the administrator of Villa St. Joseph in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. While there, she also was a tutor, visitor to the sick and helped with the outreach ministry. In 2016, Sister Mary Margaret returned to Mother of Good Counsel Convent in Chicago, where she helped in the International Cord Rosary Center.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Wenceslaus (1945-1952), St. Hedwig (1952-1953), Holy Innocents (1953-1956), St. Bronislava (1956-1957), Good Counsel High School (1957-1963, 1967-1976) and St. Joseph High School (1965-1967).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marya Dugard, 92, died Oct. 2 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Peoria, Sister Marya made her first religious profession in 1950 and her perpetual profession in 1953. She was a teacher, pastoral associate, family caregiver, support staff member and visitor to the ill and elderly in Illinois, Wyoming and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marya taught at Visitation (1950-1953); St. Sabina (1958-1960); St. Barnabas (1964-1969); St. Mary, Evanston (1969-1970); and St. Basil (1970-1972).

She is survived by a sister, Lorraine Dugard; and two brothers, Edward Dugard and Michael Dugard.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Constance Lennartz, 92, died Oct. 3 in Footville, Wisconsin.

Born in Oak Park, Sister Connie made her first religious profession in 1952 and her perpetual profession in 1955. She was a teacher and principal and a pastoral minister, and she directed a program for adults preparing to join the Catholic Church for 19 years.

Guiding people as they grew in their faith was important to her. She served in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, South Carolina, Alabama and Oklahoma.

According to her community, she loved serving on committees, volunteering in choirs and walking in marches that supported justice issues.

In the archdiocese, Sister Connie taught at St. Luke, River Forest (1984-1985).

Father John (Jack) M. Thinnes, 84, died Sept. 10. He was pastor emeritus of Holy Cross Parish, Deerfield.

Born in Evanston, Father Thinnes attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1964.

He was assistant pastor of Sts. Faith, Hope & Charity, Winnetka, and St. Francis Xavier, La Grange. He was associate pastor of St. Mary, Des Plaines; St. Gilbert, Grayslake; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glenview. He was pastor of Holy Cross before he retired in 2008.

“I will sorely miss Father Jack’s friendship, sense of humor, intellect and his voice of reason,” said Father John M. Ryan, retired archdiocesan priest and one of Father Thinnes’ classmates. “He loved the church and he looked upon his priesthood as a special blessing from God. He loved his people and was faithful to them for 58 years.”

Deacon Aloysius Memmel, 93, died Sept. 18. He was ordained in 1977 and served at St. Paul of the Cross, Park Ridge.

Deacon Memmel was a Korean War veteran and past Commander of Mel Tierney VFW Post 247. He was a fourth-degree member of the Maria Council Knights of Columbus and a longtime Scout leader of Troop 24 in Park Ridge and recipient of the Silver Beaver, St. George and the Bronze Pelican awards. He was also a proud member of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Catholic Committee of Scouting.

He is survived by his wife, Bette; his children Terence and Kevin Memmel and Kathleen  Azzi; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Deacon Paul D. Schmidt, 79, died Sept. 21. He was ordained in 2001 and served at St. James, Arlington Heights while working as business manager at Holy Cross Parish, Deerfield.

Deacon Schmidt was born in Detroit and grew up in Michigan. He came to Arlington Heights in 1980 after a job transfer.

He served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including active duty in the Vietnam War. He died after years of intermittent illness, originating with his contact with Agent Orange.

He became a deacon after retiring from his corporate career and started a second career as a parish business manager at Holy Cross, where he served until June.

He is survived by his wife, Paulette, his children Jennifer and David Schmidt, and three grandchildren.