Divine Word Father Donald Ehr, 87, a beloved parish priest in African-American parishes in Chicago, died Aug. 19 in Techny.

Born in Iowa, he entered the Divine Word high school seminary in East Troy, Wisconsin in 1943 at age 14. He professed religious vows in 1948 and was ordained in 1955. He was sent to Rome to complete a doctorate in systematic theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. When he returned to the United States in 1960, he served as professor of dogma at St. Mary Seminary in Techny.

In 1968, he was elected provincial superior of the Society of the Divine Word’s Eastern Province and served three three-year terms. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Father Ehr was rector of Divine Word Seminary in Washington, D.C. and Bordentown, N.J., while also working as a hospital chaplain.

He was named pastor of Chicago’s St. Elizabeth Parish in 1984 and remained until 2000. He then was a priest-in-residence at St. Anselm Parish until the week before he died.

He is survived by three brothers, Ronald, Irvin and Francis Ehr, and two sisters, Mary Vogel and Marlene Chaudoir.

BVM Sister Mary Jamesita Keller, 80, died Aug. 15 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Joliet, Illinois, she entered the BVM congregation in 1954 and professed first vows in 1961.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Jamesita taught elementary school at St. Thomas of Canterbury, St. Eugene and St. Joseph, Round Lake.

She is survived by a brother, James Keller.

Sister of the Living Word Laurita (Virginia) Saunders, 96, died Aug. 9 at Presence Resurrection Life Center in Chicago.

Born in Massachusetts, she moved to Chicago with her family. She graduated from Wilmette Mallinckrodt High School in 1939 and joined the Sisters of Christian Charity. She made her final vows in 1948.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Laurita taught at St. Raphael (1954-1959) and St. Theresa, Palatine (1968-1975).

After 27 years as a Sister of Christian Charity, Sister Laurita joined 89 other sisters to form the new Sisters of the Living Word. She served as director of religious education and adult education at Sacred Heart, Palos Hills (1975-1976); St. Ita (1976-1978) and St. Joseph the Worker, Wheeling (1978-1983). She then ministered at St. Mary, Evanston (1984-1986) and taught math at Pope John XXIII School, Evanston (1986-1987).

In 1988, she started her ministry as hospitality coordinator at the Living Word Center in Arlington Heights.

Divine Word Father Patrick Fincutter, 88, a longtime missionary in Papua New Guinea, died in Techny July 19.

Over the course of 40 years, Father Fincutter served the people of the world’s second largest island nation as priest, pilot, mechanic and professional communicator.

Born in Libertyville, Father Fincutter said he knew from the time he was a child that he wanted to be a pilot and a priest. Eventually, he chose the priesthood and only later learned that the Divine Word Missionaries relied on air travel in New Guinea and had founded a transportation hub called Wirui Air Services.

He professed vows at Techny in 1948 and in 1955 was ordained to the priesthood.

In 1961, he fulfilled his lifelong dream. For nine years, he flew Cessna 180s and Dornier Do 27s as a mission pilot, fulfilling assignments that included medical emergency flights and supply deliveries.

In 2001, he returned to the United States. He moved to Techny in 2013.

He is survived by two brothers, Robert Fincutter and Divine Word Father John Fincutter, SVD.

Deacon William J. Reinert, 82, died Aug. 27 at Lutheran Home & Services, Arlington Heights. He was 82 years old and had served at St. Raymond Parish, Mount Prospect, and St. James Parish, Arlington Heights.

Born in Chicago, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1957. He worked for with Northshore and WE Energies before spending 37 years at Peoples Gas.

Deacon Reinert was a 4th Degree member and Past Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus, Holy Rosary Council #4483 and the Elizabeth Ann Seton Assembly.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joan; his children William Reinert, Patricia Julian and Robert Reinert; his grandchildren Samuel, Joseph, Elizabeth and Alyssa; and his brother, John Reinert.

Holy Cross Father Edwin J. Kadzielawski, 94, died April 27 in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Father Kadzielawski was in Chicago and graduated Holy Trinity High School before being received into the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1941. He made his final profession of vows in 1945 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1949.

He served in parishes and schools in Louisiana, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota and Texas.

In the archdiocese, he assisted at Holy Trinity Church from 1954 to 1956.

He is survived by his brother, Leonard.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Diona McNichols, 86, died Aug. 17 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

A Chicago native, Sister Diona made her first religious profession in 1956 and her final profession in 1959. She taught for 29 years and served as associate academic dean for 11 years and administrative assistant for eight years. Sister Diona served in Montana, Wisconsin and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Diona served at Rosary College, now Dominican University, River Forest, as home economics teacher, 1965-1968, 1980-1991 and 1994-2000; associate academic dean, 1968-1979, when she also served as director of the summer school; and administrative assistant to the chancellor, 1991- 1994. She also ministered as receptionist at St. Luke Parish, River Forest, 2000-2005.

She is survived by a brother, William “Bill” McNichols.

Viatorian Father Edward Anderson, 94, died Aug. 14 in Las Vegas.

Father Anderson joined the Viatorians in 1944 after graduating from high school in Peeksville, New York. He professed perpetual vows in 1948 and was ordained in 1950.

He served in schools and parishes in New York, Illinois and Nevada. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he was provincial of the Viatorians’ Chicago province from 1969 to 1974.

Sister of St. Joseph Adrienne Schmidt, 88, died Aug. 16. She had been a Sister of St. Joseph for 70 years.

Sister Adrienne was a teacher at Nazareth Academy, LaGrange Park; St. Leonard, Berwyn; and St. Francis Xavier, LaGrange, where she also served as principal. She was food service manager at the Cenacle in Warrenville, Illinois, and administrator and food service manager at the LaGrange Park Center.

Daughter of St. Mary of Providence Sister Gertrude Labarbera, 84, died Aug. 7.

Born in Fredonia, New York, she entered the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence in 1953.

She ministered in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rome and Michigan, as well as in Illinois. In the archdiocese, she was principal of the school program at the St. Rose Center (1970-1971); was director of residential services and formator for junior sisters (1971-1975) and delegation superior (1982-1992) at St. Mary of Providence; and superior at Mount St. Joseph, Lake Zurich (2004- 2012). In 2016, she retired to Queen of Peace Retirement Center in Lake Zurich.

Mercy Sister Gwendolyn (Mary Catherine) Durkin, 91, died July 30. She had been a Sister of Mercy for nearly 67 years.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from the Academy of Our Lady, and in 1947, earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Saint Xavier College. She began her ministry at Catholic Charities for two years while attending graduate school.

After two years as a social worker and eight years as director of Mercy Clinics, Sister Gwendolyn became administrator/ chief executive officer of Mercy Hospital in 1963. She led what was then a 350-bed hospital, and helped plan and build the new Mercy Hospital and Medical Center that opened in 1968.

Just three weeks after being named CEO, Sister Gwendolyn was faced with a fire that broke out at the hospital. They safely evacuated 160 patients and had the fire under control before the fire department arrived. In the Daily Southtown, Sister Gwendolyn was quoted later as saying, “When I got through that, I realized I could get through anything.”

She would be tested again in 1967 when a major snow storm hit Chicago stranding thousands. The hospital opened its doors, providing shelter for some 250 who had made their way there.

According to Mercy Sister Susan Butters, to help feed the guests, she and Sister Gwendolyn went out into the street and brought back bread from several stalled bread trucks. “We met the driver of one of the trucks in our auditorium,” she said.

After 15 years with Mercy Hospital, she filled a variety of roles. From 1969 to 1970, she was a supervisor for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. After serving a brief time as a staff advisor for the Sisters of Mercy-Chicago Province, she was assistant administrator at Misericordia Home for a year.

From 1972 to 1976, she was director of outpatient services and then assistant administrator for Holy Cross Hospital, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Casimir.

Sister Gwendolyn returned to Mercy Hospital as vice president of human resources and general administration from 1976 to 1992. In 1994 she served as cochief executive officer for one year.

Deacon Benito Centeno, 88, died July 30, in Pompano Beach, Florida. He was ordained in 1972 and served at St. Francis of Assisi Parish for 25 years and St. Genevieve Parish for eight years.

He and his late wife, Magda, were involved in PreCana classes, baptism preparation and visiting the sick of their parishes. He retired from active diaconal service in 2003 with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

In addition to his ministry, he worked for more than 25 years at John Crane Packing Company and was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps who served in the Korean War.

He is survived by his six children, Maria, Jaime, Sylvia, Jose, Angel, Luis and Pedro; 13 grandchildren; 10 greatgrandchildren; and two brothers, Juan and Pedro.

Father James (Pat) F. Galivan, 70, died Aug. 8.

Born in Chicago, he attended Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and Kelly High School before earning a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Chicago and continuing his seminary studies at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained in 1981.

He served as associate pastor of Our Lady of Charity, Cicero (1981-1983); Holy Trinity (1983-1989); St. Cletus, La Grange (1989-1992); St. Hugh, Lyons (1992-1999); and St. Christopher, Midlothian (1999).

In addition to his parochial roles, Father Galivan also held the position of Chaplain to the Catholic Alumni Club of Chicago (1985). He recently retired from ministry for health reasons.

Father Galivan is survived by a sister, Carol Becker.

Msgr. John Peter McNamara, 85, died Aug. 9 at Holy Family Villa in Palos Park. He was pastor emeritus of St. Theresa, Palatine.

Born in Chicago’s St. Kilian Parish, he attended St. Carthage School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained in 1956.

He served as assistant pastor of Holy Name Cathedral (1956- 1963), St. Bride (1963- 1968), St. Helena of the Cross (1968-1970) and Divine Providence, Westchester (1975- 1979). He was pastor at St. Bernard (1970- 1975), St. Symphorosa (1980-1991); and St. Theresa, Palatine (1992-2001). He was named pastor emeritus of St. Theresa when he retired in 2001.

Retired Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Goedert noted that Msgr. McNamara’s was one of the first residents of the Bishop Timothy J. Lyne Residence for Retired Priests in Palos Park. He said, “A noteworthy fact is the care Msgr. McNamara’s showed his brother priests at the Bishop Lyne Home. He was among the first group who went there when it opened and he became the primary person to oversee the program. Msgr. McNamara remained very dedicated to that program until the end.”

Msgr. McNamara is survived by a sister, Nancy Grant.

Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Richard Stephen Seminack, 74, died Aug. 16 at Alden Poplar Creek Rehabilitation Center in Hoffman Estates. He had been eparch of the St Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy in Chicago since 2003 and was a priest for 49 years.

He was born in Philadelphia, a grandson of immigrants from Ukraine and the oldest of seven children. He attended Catholic elementary and high schools before transferring to the Ukrainian Catholic St. Basil's Seminary Preparatory High School, Stamford, Connecticut in his senior year. After graduating from St. Basil's College in 1963, he attended the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C where his major was Eastern and Western canon law. He was ordained by Metropolitan Archbishop Ambrose Senyshyn for the Archeparchy of Philadelphia in 1967. He also earned a degree in Eastern canon law from the Oriental Instute in Rome.

He served several Pennsylvania parishes and held several chaplaincies in Pennsylvania. In addition, he trained for and became a commissioned officer (Lieutenant) in the United States Navy Chaplain Corps in August, 1979. He also served for two years in Miami.

He was enthroned as fourth Eparch of St Nicholas Eparchy in Chicago on June 4, 2003, overseeing territory that extends from Michigan and Indiana west across the United States. The eparchy has about 45 parishes and missions in four time zones.

The first part of the funeral for a hierarch services are to be celebrated at St Nicholas Cathedral Aug. 21 and 22, with Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka of Philadelphia and a number of other bishops of Eastern and Western Catholic churches participating. The second part of a hierarch’s funeral will be in the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia, Aug. 26, with burial in the Seminack family plot in St Mary’s Cemetery, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.

Sister Mary Jane (Marie William) Schallert, 93, died July 21 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 74th year of her religious profession. Sister Mary Jane ministered in elementary and secondary education in Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Matthew (1942-1944), Queen of Angels (1944 -1945) and St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1945-1947).

Franciscan Sister of Chicago M. Andrea (Hedwig Clara) Puchalski, 95, died July 17

Born in New York state, she went to school in Cleveland, Ohio and encountered the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago when she was 7 years old, and she entered the congregation in 1934 at the age of 13. She professed her perpetual vows in 1944.

Sister M. Andrea served as a licensed practical Nurse, an Xray technician and a laboratory technician in various places. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as a sacristan at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyrs in Chicago, at St. Joseph Home, and at Mother Theresa Home in Lemont. In 2004, Sister M. Andrea returned to Our Lady of Victory convent and became manager of the gift ship manager of the convent gift shop, a position she held until she retired in 2012.

Deacon James Temple, 80, died July 27. He was ordained in 1984 and served at St. Barnabas Parish.

He was proud of having baptized all six of his grandchildren, according to family members.

He is survived by his wife, Joan; children Celine Walsh, Joan Holowaty and Jim Temple; his six grandchildren; and his sister, Connie Larsen

Deacon Mitchell Szady, 97, died July 24. He was ordained in 1979 and served for more than 27 years at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Church before retiring in 2006.

Deacon Szady was a long-time chaplain at Mercy Hospital. He and his late wife, Florence, were mentors to many deacons during their formation. He worked as a medical laboratory administrator for 25 years at Rush- Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital. He was a veteran of World War II, was a member of the Knights of Columbus, taught Polish classes and was a Silver Beaver Award winner with the Boy Scouts.

Deacon Szady is survived by his sons, Mitchell and Patrick, five grandchildren and six grandchildren.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Frances Therese (Mary Daniel) Murray, 102, died July 9 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, Sister Frances Therese made her first religious profession in 1941 and her final profession in 1944. She ministered in education for 45 years, as a hospital chaplain for eight years, and in various roles for her congregation for 11 years. Sister Frances Therese served in Illinois, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, Wyoming and Minnesota.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Frances Therese taught at St. Patrick, Lemont (1941), and St. Thomas the Apostle (1953-1958), where she was also principal (1965-1967). She served as guidance counselor at Queen of Peace High School, Burbank (1976-1977); prioress of Queen of Peace Ministry Center, Burbank, (1985-1986); in the computer lab (1991-1994) and library (1994-1995) at Trinity High School, River Forest; and as a volunteer at Dominican University, River Forest (1995-2000).