Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Melissa Waters, 95, died Dec. 21 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in New York City, Sister Melissa was raised in Washington, D.C., before entering the Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1950. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Rosary College, River Forest; a master’s degree in English from the University of Minnesota; and a doctorate in ministry from the Aquinas Institute of Theology in Dubuque, Iowa.

She taught in Illinois, New York, Minnesota and Alabama. She served in congregation leadership as director of ongoing formation and then as provincial until 1980, when, after having completed her doctorate, she was called to Rosary College, now known as Dominican University, where she served for 38 years. She was an English teacher, associate dean for advising, assistant professor and administrator of the Rosary in London program. She retired in 2018.

“Sister Melissa’s great gift was establishing and continuing relationships with every group of people on campus, particularly students,” said Dominican Sister Marcella Hermesdorf, professor emerita of English at Dominican University. “The students loved her and she was a great advocate for them. She was so supportive and affirming to all. You never left Sr. Melissa’s office without feeling better about yourself and any situation you were dealing with.”

She is survived by her brother, Richard.

Father James L. Barrett, 79, died Dec. 15. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Evanston, and St. Margaret Mary Parish.

Born in Chicago, he attended Brother Rice High School; St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona, Minnesota; the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary; and Loyola University Chicago.

After being ordained in 1982, Father Barrett served as associate pastor of St. Luke, River Forest; St. Zachary, Des Plaines; and Queen of All Saints Basilica. He was pastor of St. Joan of Arc for about 10 years and of St. Margaret Mary for another 10 years before he retired.

Father Jeremiah Boland remembered his close friend as the consummate parish priest. “He loved the rhythm of parish life,” Boland said. “He set deep roots wherever he served, cultivating many lifelong friends. He was a Vatican II priest through and through. He really believed in building community and bringing people together.”

Deacon Carlos Soria, 92, died Dec. 17. He was ordained in 1978 and ministered at St. Sylvester Parish, now part of Jesus, Bread of Life Parish.

Born in Torreon, Mexico, he was a professional cyclist and had a deep love for woodworking, according to his family.

Deacon Soria is survived by his wife, Leticia, and their children George, Maria, Alejandra, Carlos, Steve, Patricia and Moses; 18 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Deacon Guido Pozo Sr., 80, died Dec. 23. He was ordained in 2001 and ministered at the former Resurrection Parish, now part of Our Lady of Mercy Parish, and St. Alphonsus Parish (Wellington Avenue).

Born in Ecuador, Deacon Pozo practiced law there and taught bilingual education in Chicago, in addition to serving as a deacon.

He is survived by his wife, Maria Eugenia; his children Mariana Ruiz, Guido Pozo Jr. and Daniel Pozo; and six grandchildren.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Catherine (Jules) Meyering, 97, died Dec. 7 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Evanston, she professed vows with the Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1952. She earned a bachelor’s degree in French from Rosary College, now Dominican University, in River Forest, and a master’s degree in French from Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

For 32 years, she taught at Trinity High School, River Forest. She also taught in Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa. She ministered for five years at Holy Family Hospital, Des Plaines, before retiring to the motherhouse in 2007.

School Sister of St. Francis Gwen Floryance, 97, died Dec. 10 in Milwaukee.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Gwen entered the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1946 and made her final vows in 1954.

Beginning in 1950, Sister Gwen ministered in Illinois and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Joseph, Wilmette (1957-1962), and at Blessed Agnes (now St. Agnes of Bohemia) (1962-1963).

Sister Gwen retired in 2004 and ministered through her art and through prayer and presence in Milwaukee at St. Joseph Center (2004-2019) and at Sacred Heart retirement home since 2019.

She is survived by her sister, Loretta Lieske.

Franciscan Sister of Chicago Mary Francine (Theresa) Labus, 89, died Dec. 15.

She was born in Chicago and began as a postulant in her congregation while attending Madonna High School. She professed first vows in 1953 and final vows in 1960.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr and St. Louise de Marillac, La Grange Park.

She studied at Loyola University Chicago and ministered in novice direction for her community before serving as principal and superior at St. Pancratius, teaching at Madonna High School and then serving as principal at Five Holy Martyrs.

She then served in the leadership of her congregation, including as a councilor and secretary general. She later ministered in Crown Point, Indiana, and worked in formation and mission integration.

She retired in 2013.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Maggie (Marie Josette) Hopkins, 81, died Dec. 16 at her home in Madison, Wisconsin.

Born in Milwaukee, she professed vows with the Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1966. She earned a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Mundelein College and a master’s degree in theology from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.   

Sister Maggie taught at Trinity High School, River Forest, as well as in Minnesota and Wisconsin. She served as her congregation’s vocation director at Sinsinawa and served in youth ministry at Cardinal Stritch College, Milwaukee.

For several years, she served on the Edgewood High School Board of Directors. Sister Maggie served for more than 30 years at Edgewood University, Madison, as an educator and vice president of mission.

She is survived by a brother, John Hopkins; and a sister, Frances Quinn.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Helen (Marcellus) Hurley, 89, died Dec. 18 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, she professed vows with the Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1956. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in curriculum.

She taught at St. Patrick, Lemont, and St. Richard. She also ministered in California, Iowa, Washington and New York, as well as in Wisconsin, where she was an associate professor in early childhood education at Edgewood College, Milwaukee, and a pastoral associate.

Franciscan Father Paul (Nikola) Maslach, 89, died Jan. 3.

Born in what is now Bosnia and Herzegovina, he attended elementary school in Italy before arriving in the Unites States in 1951.

He attended St. Joseph High School in Westmont, starting his studied in theology and philosophy there before graduating in 1955.

He entered the Order of Friars Minor that year, and continued his studies in New Hampshire and Washington, D.C. He made first vows in 1956 and solemn vows in 1969 before being ordained a priest in 1962.

He was an associate pastor of Sacred Heart Croatian Parish (1962-1964). After assignments in Milwaukee and St. Louis, he was pastor of St. Jerome Croatian Parish (1976-1979).

After ministering in Pennsylvania, he returned to Chicago as guardian (1982-1985, 1994-1995) and custos (1985-1994, 2009-2012) of St. Anthony Friary.

He was pastor of Sacred Heart Croatian (1995-2000) before again ministering in Milwaukee. His final pastoral assignment was as director of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac Mission in Chicago (2012-2017).

He resided at St. Anthony Friary in his retirement.

Providence Sister Rosemary (Rose Clare) Rafter, 93, died Dec. 1 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Bloomington, Illinois, Sister Rosemary moved to Indiana with her family as a child. She entered the Sisters of Providence in 1951 and professed perpetual vows in 1958.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, a master’s degree in education from Indiana State University and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from George Williams College of Aurora University.

In her 75 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered in education, community leadership and pastoral ministry in Illinois, New Hampshire and Indiana, including a term as provincial of her community’s motherhouse province.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Andrew (1963-1965) and served as director of student services and Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1977-1980).

She is survived by two sisters, Joan Whitehouse and Sue Rafter.

Deacon Emiliano Rodriguez Sr., 97, died Nov. 16. He was ordained in 1974 and ministered at St. Sebastian and St. Bonaventure parishes before he retired in 2001.

He is survived by his children Carmelo Rodriguez, Amparo Mendoza, Julia Rodriguez-Coss, Herman Rodriguez and Emiliano Rodriguez Jr.; eight grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

Deacon Dennis M. Cristofaro, 77, of Colon, Michigan, died Nov. 21. He was ordained in 2014 and served at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Orland Hills.

Born in Chicago, Deacon Cristofaro graduated from Mendel Catholic High School in 1966 and married Barbara Cimbala the following year. They were married for 57 years before his wife died in 2024.

Deacon Cristofaro worked for the Chicago Transit Authority for more than 25 years, beginning as a mechanic and retiring as a maintenance manager. After his retirement, he and his wife moved to Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he served as a deacon at St. Elizabeth Seton. During his time in Illinois, he also served as a trustee on the Orland Hills village board.

He continued his diaconate ministry in Michigan, and served in municipal government in Colon.

He is survived by his children Brian Cristofaro, Denise Keel, Rosemary Burklow and Jennifer Camacho; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and his siblings Jo Chiappetta and Mario Cristofaro.

Deacon Daniel G. Carroll, 78, died Nov. 25. He was ordained in 1982 and served at St. Walter Parish, St. Benedict Parish and St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Orland Park.

Deacon Carroll was a graduate of Little Flower School, Leo High School and DePaul University Law School.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary Ellen; his children Maura and Daniel Carroll; three grandchildren; and his brothers Dennis, James and Gerard Carroll.

School Sister of Notre Dame Carol (Mary Joseph) Brunner, 78, died Nov. 18 at Ascension Resurrection Life Center.

Born in Chicago, she was a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 58 years.

She served as an elementary school teacher at St. James, Highwood, St. John de la Salle and St. Constance, as well as in Dixon and DeKalb, Illinois.

She also taught at Madonna High School and served as the director of vocations for the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

Sister Carol was a nurse at Ravenswood Hospital and St. Francis Nursing and Rehab in Evanston and a medical advocate for SSND sisters at Resurrection Life Center.

Father Francis L. Schouten, 96, died Nov. 7. He was a former member of the Society of the Divine Word and the former associate pastor of St. Eugene Parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Schouten attended St. Willibrord School; Divine Word Seminary in East Troy, Wisconsin; and Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa, before continuing his studies in philosophy and theology in Techny, the  North American headquarters of the Divine Word Missionaries, where he was ordained in 1955.

For the first half of his priestly life, Schouten was a member of the Society of the Divine Word who ministered for years as a missionary in Ghana after being assigned there in 1956. He served as a parish priest, built schools and churches and taught at a secondary school outside Accra, the capital.

When his health declined, he returned to Chicago and assisted at Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Evergreen Park for several years.

“Father Schouten was well regarded by the people of Most Holy Redeemer,” said Father Michael G. Foley, vicar for priests. “He was a gentle soul.”

Schouten decided to become a diocesan priest and was incardinated in the Archdiocese of Chicago with the blessing of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin in 1990. He served as associate pastor at St. Eugene Parish until he retired in 1999.

After retirement, Schouten continued to assist at Most Holy Redeemer until 2020.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marjorie (Stella Maris) Buttner, 96, died Nov. 7 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Boston, Sister Marjorie professed vows in 1953. She earned a master’s degree of education in guidance and counseling from Loyola University Chicago.

Sister Marjorie’s ministry was dedicated to teaching and archival work. She taught at Visitation High School and at schools in Wisconsin and Montana. She served as the congregation archivist at Sinsinawa Mound in Wisconsin for nearly 20 years.

She is survived by her sister, Carole Maloof.

Father Robert J. McGlinn, 95, died Oct. 18. He served in the Archdiocese of Chicago, in Latin America and in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Born in Chicago, Padre Roberto, as he was known, attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1955.

He served as assistant pastor of St. Francis Xavier, La Grange, and Precious Blood. He then served at San Miguelito Panama Mission. After returning to the United States in 1968, he earned a graduate degree in bilingual education at the University of Wisconsin. After obtaining the degree, he was invited to the Diocese of Comayagua in Honduras to care for priestless Catholic parishes.

When the permanent diaconate was established in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Padre Roberto was appointed to direct the formation of Hispanic candidates. In the early 1970s, he assisted in the migrant ministry in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, while also returning frequently to help the Diocese of Comayagua.

In 1991, he became administrator of Cristo Rey Parish in Racine, Wisconsin, where he served for 16 years.

In 2007, Padre Roberto was appointed administrator of St. Hyacinth and St. Vincent de Paul parishes of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Then he was offered the opportunity to gather the Hispanic people scattered across western Waukesha County into a worship community which now has a home at St. Jerome Church in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

In his 80s and 90s he remained active in priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, volunteering at the Racine Correctional Institution, at Catholic Charities Day Care and at New Perspective Senior Living Center while continuing his dedication and priestly ministry to the Hispanic people of Racine, Milwaukee and western Waukesha County at St. Jerome Parish.

Sister of St. Joseph Marybeth McDermott, 93, of La Grange Park, died Oct. 18.

Sister Marybeth had been in religious life for 74 years. After earning a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University, she spent more than 40 years ministering in schools run by the Sister of St. Joseph of La Grange.

For 15 years she was the program director of School on Wheels Literacy Bus, where she was a teacher and trainer of teachers for ESL, GED, and citizenship training. According to her community, Sister Marybeth was a fierce advocate for immigrants.

Springfield Dominican Sister M. Elise (Elizabeth Christine) Bocke, 108, died Oct. 24 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield.

Born in Quincy, Illinois, she joined the Dominican Sisters of Springfield in 1937 and made her first profession of vows in 1939.

She taught in the Illinois communities of Springfield, Chicago, Cary, Aurora and Chicago Heights.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. John Bosco (1964), before becoming a language arts curriculum consultant for the archdiocesan Office of Catholic Education. (1964-1973)St. Edward (1985-2010), where she was a reading specialist and taught English language learners. She taught English and reading at Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights (1973-1983), and concluded her teaching years at St. Edward (1985-2010), where she was a reading specialist and taught English language learners.