Sister of St. Casimir M. Rosalinda Grigonis, 96, died Oct. 9.

Born in Gary, Indiana, Sister Rosalinda entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1938 and made her final vows in 1947.

She taught in schools in New Mexico, Nebraska and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Vilna School (1940-1941), Providence of God School (1941), Immaculate Conception School, Brighton Park (1942-1946, 1947-1949), St. Anthony, Cicero (1949), Nativity BVM School (1952-1955), St. George, Bridgeport (1965-1967), St. Joseph, South Chicago (1968-1969) and St. Peter and Paul (1955-1965), where she also served as principal. She ministered at Maria High School as math teacher and assistant principal (1971-1989). She then served as assistant to the general treasurer before moving to Franciscan Village in 2014, where she served in the ministry of prayer and presence. 

Loretto Sister Betty Obal, 75, died Oct. 12 at the Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Kentucky.

Born in Nebraska, Sister Betty was received into the Sisters of Loretto in 1984 and made her final vows in 1993. She served mostly in Denver, Chicago and New York, where she worked at the United Nations in Loretto’s NGO office.

From 1987 to 1995, Sister Betty lived in Chicago. During this period, she lived in a variety of settings, including at the Catholic Worker house in Uptown Chicago. She also worked part-time and full-time in a number of positions, including as associate director of alternative housing for women with disabilities and for the Institute of Women Today Sisterhouse, an ecumenical group where more than 15 female ex-offenders, religious sisters, teachers and homeless people shared community. During this time, Sister Betty also initiated the Accessibility Project, a Loretto-funded study that resulted in improved policies and standards in the Chicago archdiocese for inclusion of persons with disabilities. In addition, she was a substitute teacher in several Chicago-area school districts. 

She is survived by her sister, Delores Jacobs, and her brother, Thomas Obal.

Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth Mary Corona (Teresa) Molenda, 92, died Oct. 14 in Grand Prairie, Texas, where she ministered to elderly sisters, leading them each day in prayers, exercises, songs and poetry.

A native of Argo, she had been in religious life for 76 years. She began her teaching ministry at St. Hyacinth School in Chicago in 1945. She taught for 61 years in Illinois, Florida and Texas.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Hyacinth, St. Susanna, St. Josaphat, St. Stanislaus, Holy Trinity, St. Adalbert, St. Hedwig and St. Camillus.

Adrian Dominican Sister Mary (Michael Celeste) Saynay, 91, died Oct. 21 in Adrian, Michigan.

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

Sister Mary ministered in Michigan, Illinois and Ohio.

In Chicago, she taught at St. Columbanus (1949-1952) and St. Mary Star of the Sea (1952-1955).

She is survived by two brothers, Joseph and Lawrence Saynay, and seven sisters: Margaret Rogers, Barbara Barba, Lillian Grochowski, Bernadine Eschrich, Constance Saynay, Rosalie Spellecy and Adrian Dominican Sister Barbara Mary Saynay.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Phyllis (Mary Regina) Dugan, 90, died Oct. 22 in Ohio.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, she was in her 73rd year of religious life.

In Chicago, she served as the principal of Notre Dame High School for Girls (1972-1982). After a short sabbatical, Sister Phyllis returned to work as a consultant to secondary schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago (1983-1988), and later became assistant superintendent for secondary education in the Diocese of Cleveland. In 1993, she returned to Columbus, and served as the director of pastoral services for the diocese until health issues made it necessary for her to retire in 2002.

Maryknoll Sister Barbara Ann (Rose Barbara) Walenty, 90, died Oct. 24 in Maryknoll, New York.

She was born in Detroit and had been a Mary-knoll sister for 61 years.

She served as a hospital operating room supervisor in Kansas City before being sent to Hong Kong in 1963. She studied Cantonese and served there as an operating room supervisor and supervisor of the student nurse hostel. In 1973, she returned to the United States and ministered in hospitals and Catholic communities in Chinatowns in New York and Boston.

In 1979, she was assigned to St. Therese Chinese Catholic School in Chicago, where she served as school nurse and teacher’s aide until 1986, when she returned to Michigan to care for her elderly parents. 

In 1999, she returned to Chicago to retire, but continued to volunteer as a part-time religious education and art teacher at St. Therese School, where she remained until 2008.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Margaret (Elenara) Mihm, 101, died Oct. 26 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Washington, D.C., Sister Margaret made her first religious profession in 1943 and her final profession in 1946.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Margaret taught at St. Thomas More (1949-1955) and Queen of Peace, Burbank (1976-1977, 1978-1980). She served as assistant business officer at Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest (1967-1968), and as the secretary for the Eastern Province of the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation while living in River Forest (1989-1992) and secretary of Project OPUS (Order of Preachers in the United States) (1993-2000).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Kathleen (Donaldus) Malone, 80, died Oct. 29, 2018, in Lancaster, Wisconsin.

Born in Nebraska, she made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1958 and her perpetual profession in 1961. She taught for 39 years and served in educational administration for 18 years. Sister Kathleen served in Wisconsin and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Visitation (1960-1965).

Sister of Christian Charity Mary Mercedes (Marie) Johnson, 91, died Sept. 27 at Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette. She was 91 years old.

Born in Minnesota, she entered the candidacy in 1941. She made first vows in 1946 and perpetual vows in 1952.

For 46 years, she ministered as a cook in convents in Wilmette, Chicago and other cities in the Midwest, and at the Generalate in Rome.

In 1992 she volunteered to go to Fulton, Missouri, where she embarked on a new ministry: parish visitor and director of an after-school program. She returned to Wilmette in 2008.

Adrian Dominican Sister Hilda Nadine (Carl Edward) Sheehan, 81, died Oct. 4, while attending a Dominican Sisters Conference at the Mary-knoll Sisters in Ossining, New York.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 62nd year of her religious life.

She was an educator in Illinois, Michigan, California and Georgia, and a family nurse practitioner and primary care nurse in Kentucky and Michigan. In 2017 she was appointed vicaress of the Adrian Dominican Vicariate, where she served until her death.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mary of Mount Carmel (1957-1961); St. Rita Elementary (1961-1965); Bishop Quarter, Oak Park (1965-1966); and Queen of Angels (1966-1968).

She is survived by three sisters: Laurine Jessop, Sharon Crisan and Jacqueline Noonan; and one brother, Carl.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marie Amanda Allard, 91, died Oct. 7 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Kewanee, Illinois, Sister Marie Amanda made her first religious profession in 1947 and her final profession in 1950.

After teaching and serving as a principal for 21 years, Sister Marie Amanda was elected prioress of the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation for two terms, serving from 1967 to 1977 and leading the congregation through the changes of the Second Vatican Council.

Sister Marie Amanda also ministered in diocesan administration, including director of education, director of the permanent diaconate program and as director of lay ministry formation, totaling 19 years. She served in Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, Texas and Oklahoma. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marie Amanda taught at Epiphany (1947-1954).

Daughter of Charity Phyllis Nolan, 83, died Oct. 9.

Born in Chicago, Sister Phyllis graduated from the Immaculata and entered the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul from St. Bartholomew Parish in 1953.

She taught in Missouri, Nevada, Puerto Rico and Texas.

In 1979, she went as a missionary to Bolivia, serving in catechetical and pastoral ministry in Trinidad, La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba before returning to the United States in 2000.

She then served in pastoral ministry in Texas and Arkansas, and as a legal assistant, English as a Second Language teacher and advocate for unaccompanied minors in Texas before returning to the Seton Residence in Evansville, Indiana, in 2014.

Father Anthony Adducci, 67, died Sept. 30. He retired in 2016 after serving most recently as chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago.

Born in Chicago, Father Adducci attended St. Anthony of Padua School, Quigley South Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1976.

He served as associate pastor at St. Ferdinand and Holy Rosary before serving as chaplain at St. Anne Hospital, St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital and most recently at St. Joseph Hospital.

Father Dennis Zalecki, a classmate and pastor emeritus of St. Anastasia Parish in Waukegan, had known Father Adducci since their high school years at Quigley South. “He was a very good priest and friend, and humor was one of his outstanding characteristics.”

According to Father Zalecki, although Father Adducci’s health had been fragile, he always maintained a sense of hopefulness.

Sister of St. Casimir M. Michaeline Pakrosnis, 88, died Sept. 7 at Mother Theresa Home in Lemont.

A native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Sister Michaeline entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1948 and made her final vows in 1956. 

She ministered in Sisters of St. Casimir institutions and local convents in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, New Mexico, Maryland and Florida. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at Providence of God Convent (1954-1955); St. Bartholomew Convent, Waukegan (1955-1956); St. Norbert Convent, Northbrook (1964-1965); and the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Casimir (1973-2007).

She served in the ministry of prayer and presence at the SSC Motherhouse and Franciscan Village (2007-2018). 

Sister of St. Joseph Dorothy (Kathleen) Lynch, 88, died Sept. 12.

She had been in religious life for 69 years, and she earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University and two master’s degrees, one from Loyola and one from DePaul University.

She was on the leadership team at Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, and at St. Paul High School.

Sister Dorothy was president of the Sisters of St. Joseph of La Grange, executive director of the Christian Life Center in La Grange and pastoral associate at St. Francis Xavier Parish, La Grange.

She is survived by her siblings Vincent Lynch, Servite Father Myles (Tom) Lynch and Norine (John) King.

Felician Sister Mary Presentia (Lucy) Nitecke, 101, died on Sept. 16 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in Milwaukee, she entered the Felician Sisters in 1936 and professed her final vows in 1944. She served primarily as a music teacher for more than 40 years at various schools in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas and North Dakota. She also ministered at St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee as a medical records clerk for 30 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Helen (1936-1937, 1965-1966); St. Joseph (1938-1938, 1960-1961); St. Bruno (1939-1940); St. Mary Magdalene (1944-1947, 1966-1967); St. Stanislaus, Posen (1947-1948, 1973-1975); Holy Innocents, (1948-1949); St. John of God (1956-1958); St. James (1958-1959); Sacred Heart (1959-1960); St. Bronislava (1964-1965) and Our Lady of Ransom, Niles (1968-1969).

Sister of St. Casimir Jeanne Moceyunas, 82, died Sept. 20 in Cordoba, Argentina.

Born in Pennsylvania, Sister Jeanne entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1956 and made her final vows in 1964. She ministered in New Mexico and in Rosario and Cordoba, Argentina.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Nativity BVM School (1959-1962), St. George School, Bridgeport (1963-1964), and Sts. Peter and Paul School, West Pullman (1964-1966).

Mercy Sister Solina (Alice) Hicks, 105, died Sept. 23.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Solina attended Mercy High School in Milwaukee and entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1934.

Her first assignment was as a kindergarten and first-grade teacher at St. Cecilia, Chicago.

After 10 years of teaching in Chicago Catholic schools, she earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1952 from Saint Xavier College and a master of fine arts degree in 1954 from Siena Heights College in Adrian, Michigan. Upon graduation, she began her life’s work as an art teacher, and always as a working artist.

Sister Solina was the original designer of the art department at Saint Xavier College’s new campus in 1954. She served as its first chair from then until 1965. She created the Saint Xavier College shield which is still in use today.

Her own work was controversial as she introduced the college community to modern art. “If the church has to deal with the modern then there has to be modern art in the church,” she said.

Always a progressive, Sister Solina’s later experiences included teaching art at an alternative school for Mexican Americans in California. She also spent time on a Navajo reservation in Arizona.

At 105 years old, Sister Solina was the oldest Sister of Mercy in the West Midwest Community.

Divine Word Father Stanley Plutz, 92, vice postulator for the canonization of St. Arnold Janssen and longtime missionary in the Philippines, died Sept. 23 in Techny.

Born in Appleton, Wisconsin, Father Plutz entered the Society of the Divine Word in 1940 and professed religious vows in 1946.

In 1953, he was ordained to the priesthood and left for his first overseas assignment in the Philippines in 1954.

In 1999, Father Plutz became the vice postulator for the sainthood cause of Father Arnold Janssen, founder of the Society of the Divine Word.

Upon returning to the United States in 2000, he was assigned to the U.S. Southern Province and continued to promote devotion to St. Arnold, who was canonized in 2003.

During his 46 years as a missionary in the Philippines, Father Plutz served as a teacher and spiritual director.

Father Plutz had been living at Techny since 2013.

Adrian Dominican Sister Virginia (Joan Patricia) O’Reilly, 91, died Sept. 24 in Adrian, Michigan.

Sister Virginia was born in Detroit and was in the 75th year of her religious life.

Sister Virginia ministered in Illinois, Florida, Georgia and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Rita Elementary School (1944-1946), Aquinas High School (1960-1964) and Illinois Institute of Technology (1967-1968).

Sister Virginia is survived by a sister, Patricia Rush.