Sister of St. Joseph Sister Sharon Jakicic, 91, died Sept. 1.

Sister Sharon had been a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph for 67 years.

She taught at St. Hugh, Lyons; Our Lady of Bethlehem, La Grange Park; Divine Infant, Westchester; St. Anthony; and St. John Fisher. She was principal of St. Mary, Riverside; and St. Anthony; and she served as the gift shop manager for the Sisters of St. Joseph before retiring.

She is survived by siblings Therese Virbickis and William Jakicic.

Adrian Dominican Sister Shirley (Joyce Edward) Thielk, 93, died Sept. 11 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 74th year of her religious life.

Sister Shirley ministered in education and administrative work in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and California and Malawi.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Clare of Montefalco (1949-1958).

She is survived by seven siblings: Kathryn Warras, John Thielk, Adrian Dominican Sister Dorothy Thielk, Edward Thielk, Margaret Zukowski, Rose Marie Popowitz and Donald Thielk.

Deacon Phillip A. DuBrownik, 76, died Aug. 23. He was ordained in 1998 and served at St. Emeric Parish, Country Club Hills.

Born in Chicago, he attended Bowen High School and Southern Illinois University.

Family members said he found his true calling as a deacon, and he considered the parish his extended family. Parishioners recalled him working with the SPRED group, making sausage and cooking at pig roasts and teaching others how to braid palms.

He had two sisters, Judith Baker and Ruth Koteles.

Adrian Dominican Sister Julie (Ann Warren) Hyer, 74, died July 27 in Capitola, California.

Born in New York, she was in the 54th year of her religious life.

Sister Julie spent one year ministering in education before ministering in health care administration in Michigan and California. She also was general councilor/administrator on the General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was on the board investment committee (2019-2021) and a Cistercian Monastery volunteer (2021-2022) at Common Spirit Health.

She is survived by two brothers, Warren Hyer Jr. and Gregory Hyer, and a sister, Marianne Hyer.

Sister of St. Casimir Wanda Marie Kamza, 86, died Aug. 1.

Born in Gary, Indiana, Sister Wanda Marie entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1952, professed first vows in 1955 and professed final vows in 1960. She spent most of her 66 years in education.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. George (32nd Place, 1955-1960), Immaculate Conception (44th Street, 1963-1964), St. Joseph (South Chicago, 1965-1967), St. Norbert, Northbrook (1964-1965, 1985-2000), and St. Bartholomew (Waukegan, 1970-1971). Additionally, she served in schools in Rockford and in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan.  She also served in the ministry of prayer and presence at Franciscan Village, Lemont (2015-2022).

Adrian Dominican Sister Jane (Jean Ellen) Quirk, 95, died Aug. 8 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Harvey, she was in the 76th year of her religious life.

Sister Jane ministered for more than 53 years in elementary and special education in Michigan, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee and Illinois. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2006.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught elementary school students with learning disabilities at the Bartlett Learning Center (1977-2000).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Vivian (Priscilla) Gorman, 98, died Aug. 15 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Minnesota, Sister Vivian made her first religious profession in 1947 and her perpetual profession in 1950.

She was a teacher, principal, assistant principal, adult education director, teacher’s aide and religious education coordinator, as well as a pastoral and development staff member. She served in Wyoming, Illinois, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia, Alabama and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Vivian taught at St. Richard (1947-1949) and served as principal of St. Patrick, Lemont (1956-1962), and St. Philip the Apostle, Northfield (1965-1969). She also ministered as religious education coordinator at Sts. Faith, Hope and Charity, Winnetka (1980-1986).

She is survived by a sister, Cecilia Becker.

Father James McCarthy, 92, died Aug, 5. He founded and was a long-time director of Special Religious Development (SPRED), an agency of the Archdiocese of Chicago that provides ministry to adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Born in Chicago, Father McCarthy attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary and Loyola University Chicago. He was ordained in 1955.

He was assistant pastor of Santa Maria del Popolo, Mundelein; St. Gregory the Great Parish; St. Cecilia Parish (Wells Street); and Our Lady of Mercy Parish; and as pastor of St. John Nepomucene. He retired in 2007, but continued working with SPRED. 

In 1960, Father McCarthy became associate director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) in Chicago and discovered that parents had been inquiring about providing ministry to children with disabilities. They wanted their children to receive the sacraments, but no faith formation program existed for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Father McCarthy began working with parents, special educators and catechists in several parishes to make Catholic liturgies and catechesis more accessible to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Society of Helpers Sister Mary Therese Harrington soon began assisting in this work, and they were later joined by Providence Sister Susanne Gallagher.

In 1966, SPRED was established as an agency of the archdiocese. Today, 114 parishes with SPRED groups provide ministry to about 800 people with disabilities. The SPRED network has expanded beyond Chicago, administering faith formation and sacramental preparation programs for people with special needs in 28 Catholic dioceses and 200 parishes nationwide, and in numerous parishes in England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, South Africa, Malta, Chile and Mexico.

He was still serving as the SPRED’s chaplain and director emeritus up until the day he died, SPRED director Joseph Quane said.

“His younger brother had intellectual disabilities, so he knew about the need and took the mission very personally,” Quane said. “He made it his mission to bring the Gospel message to some of the most poor and marginalized members of our society. He wanted people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to feel a sense of belonging in their local parish communities and wanted them to actively participate in the liturgical life of their parish. One of the greatest gifts he leaves to the SPRED community is the adult catechist formation component of SPRED. Father Jim was a strong proponent of life-long catechesis and insisted that a strong community of adult catechists, who participated in ongoing spiritual formation, was required if we are to effectively minister to our friends with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

In 2013, Father McCarthy, Harrington and Gallagher received the Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame for their outstanding service to the Roman Catholic Church — the highest honor bestowed by the university.

“He was a very humble person, and he didn’t like all the honors they received,” Quane added. “He faced a lot of challenges when he started SPRED in the 1960s, because back then a lot of people didn’t think people with intellectual and developmental disabilities needed faith formation or spiritual nourishment.”

Adrian Dominican Sister Margaret (Julia Marie) Lane, 92, died July 27 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 74th year of her religious life.

Sister Margaret spent ministered education, formation, nursing and pastoral work in Michigan; Illinois; Florida; Washington, D.C.; Nicaragua; the Dominican Republic; Mexico; and Puerto Rico. She also volunteered for the New Orleans Project.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1949-1951) and St. James, Maywood (1951-1952).

She is survived by a sister, Peggy McLeod.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Susan Hahn, 98, died Aug. 4 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, she made her first religious profession in 1944 and her perpetual profession in 1947. She taught first grade for 51 years and continued to tutor reading students for 13 more years. She served in New York, Illinois, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Susan taught at Immaculate Conception, Waukegan (1945-1952); Sts. Faith, Hope and Charity, Winnetka (1954-1957); and St. Vincent Ferrer, River Forest (1968-1995), where she also was a reading tutor (1995-2008).

According to her congregation, people at St. Vincent Ferrer would boast that Sister Susan had educated three straight generations of their family.

She is survived by her brother, Donald Hahn.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Eldena (Marie Evan) Scholl, 97, died Aug. 5 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Iowa, Sister Eldena entered the Sinsinawa Dominican congregation in 1942, left the congregation in 1968, and returned in 1982, making her first profession as a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa in 1982, and her perpetual profession in 1985.

She was a teacher, support staff member and sacristan who served in Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Eldena taught at Visitation (1944-1952), Epiphany (1963-1964)  and St. Giles, Oak Park (1986-1987).

Father William E. Malloy, 74, died July 19, He was the former pastor of St. Barnabas Parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Malloy attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1973.

He was assistant pastor of St. Bernadette, Evergreen Park, and associate pastor of St. Norbert, Northbrook, and Incarnation, Palos Heights. He was pastor of St. Maurice; St. Germaine, Oak Lawn; and St. Barnabas, where he served 10 years before retiring in 2017. He continued to live at the parish after retiring.

Father Malloy was also a faculty member at Quigley Preparatory Seminary from September 1977 to August 1978.

Father James J. Donovan, pastor of St. Barnabas, remembered “Fr. Bill” as a well-prepared preacher, known for his kindness and gentle spirit.

“He always had time for his parishioners from all his parishes,” Donovan said. “His quiet and sincere manner endeared him to many over nearly 50 years. Please keep his 101-year-old father, his sisters and their families and the St. Barnabas community in your prayers.”

Deacon Dean Hermann, 78, of Plainwell, Michigan, died July 19. He was ordained in 1978 and served in five dioceses. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he served as director of the English-language diaconate formation program for several years in the 1990s and early 2000s.

He was born in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from high school. He served for more than 30 years and retired with the rank of commander.

He is survived by his wife, Vicki; his sons Tony and Matt; four grandchildren; and his siblings Bill, Ursula, Greg, Chris and Jim.

Adrian Dominican Sister Rina (Jeanne Dominic) Cappellazzo, 91, died July 14 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 71st year of her religious life.

Sister Rina ministered in education, as a campus minister, as a director of staff development, director of pastoral formation and religious vicar in Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, Arizona and California; and in Leuven, Belgium.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Kevin (1951-1952) and St. Philip Neri (1953-1955).

Msgr. R. George Sarauskas, 77, died June 25. He was the former pastor of St. Mary, Riverside.

Msgr. Sarauskas was born in Germany and moved to the Chicago area with his family. He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein before being ordained in 1973. He also earned a master’s degree in public administration at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

He was assistant pastor of St. Athanasius, Evanston, and associate pastor of Sacred Heart, Winnetka; St. Francis Xavier, La Grange; and Holy Ghost, South Holland. In the late 1980s, Msgr. Sarauskas was appointed director of research and planning, and from 1984 to 1990 he was also director of the Lithuanian apostolate. In 2004, he became pastor of St. Mary, Riverside, serving the community for seven years.

In addition, he served as executive director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office to Aid the Catholic Church in Eastern, Central Europe and Soviet Union for 14 years in Washington, D.C.

Msgr. Patrick Pollard, retired archdiocesan priest, remembered his friend as a great churchman who believed in the mission of the church. “He wanted it to be alive and present to people all over the world,” Pollard said. “He helped the bishops of dioceses in Eastern Europe start up their dioceses after the fall of communism.” 

Adrian Dominican Sister Anita (Jean Vincent) Chiappetta, 79, died May 28 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Aquinas High School. She was in the 61st year of her religious life.

Sister Anita was an educator, social work assistant, administrative assistant, executive secretary and business office manager in Ohio, Illinois and Michigan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was an administrative assistant in the Dominican Midwest Chapter Office in La Grange Park (2009-2015) and Chicago (2015-2021).

Adrian Dominican Sister Laura (Mary Norman) Pesick, 93, died June 9 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Detroit, she was in the 75th year of her religious life.

Sister Laura ministered in elementary, secondary and adult education in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Clare of Montefalco (1948-1952) and St. Carthage (1952-1958).

She is survived by her brother, Joseph Pesick.

Adrian Dominican Sister Grace (Mary Elizabeth) Dougherty, 84, died June 10 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Aquinas High School, and she was the 65th year of her religious life.

Sister Grace ministered over 14 years in Michigan, Alabama and Florida; was a counselor/pastoral minister in Florida; and served a six-year term in congregational leadership as co-provincial of St. Rose of Lima Province, based in West Palm Beach, Florida. She also served the congregation for six years as director of pastoral care.

Sister Grace ministered for more than 18 years (1990-2008) at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, where she served as hospital chaplain and director of spiritual care. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2017.

She is survived by her brothers Patrick Dougherty and Robert Dougherty.

Redemptorist Brother Marvin Hamann, 92, died June 24 in Liguori, Missouri.

Born in Detroit, Brother Marvin enlisted in the Army after high school and served as an infantryman in the Korean War. After being honorably discharged, he began a career in banking.

A decade later, he felt called to religious life and made his first profession of vows as a Redemptorist brother in 1963. After serving in Wisconsin and as a clerk in the Liguori Publications post office in Missouri, he professed final vows in 1967 and was appointed postmaster.

In 1970, he joined the provincial administration staff in Chicago, and a year later joined the staff at Villa Redeemer in Glenview.

He worked on the financial staffs of Redemptorist institutions in Wisconsin, Colorado and Missouri until his retirement in 2007.

Divine Word Father James Henry, 90, died July 3 in Techny. He was a teacher in Los Angeles and missionary in Papua New Guinea.

Born in New York, Father Henry entered the Divine Word Seminary in Girard, Pennsylvania, in 1945, professed vows in 1951 and was ordained a priest in 1959.

He taught high school students in Southern California — first at Divine Word Seminary in Riverside and then as a member of the inaugural staff of Verbum Dei High School in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles — before being assigned to Papua New Guinea in 1972. Twelve years later, he returned to California, where he served as a Navy chaplain and taught high school English.

He retired in 2013 and moved to Techny in 2015.

He is survived by his brothers Martin and Michael Henry and 25 nieces and nephews.

Sister of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis Stephanie Ostrowski, 85, of Bartlett, died July 4.

Born in Chicago, she was a member of her religious community for 67 years. Sister Stephanie was an elementary school teacher, and she was principal at Queen of the Universe. She also served as provincial director of the Sisters of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis and assistant manager and program director at Senate Apartments for senior living.

She is survived by her siblings, Leonard Ostrowski, Theresa Cernak, Richard Ostrowski, Rita Roberts, Mary Frances Cleveland and Norbert Ostrowski.

Father Richard E. Bulwith, 80, died June 14. He was the former associate pastor of St. Hilary Parish and associate director of Catholic Charities.

Born in Melrose Park, Father Bulwith attended St. Lawrence Seminary, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1967.

He also earned master’s degrees in health science at Governor’s State University and in spirituality at Loyola University Chicago.

He served as associate pastor of St. Emeric, Country Club Hills; St. Michael, Orland Park;  Immaculate Conception (North Park Avenue); St. Nicholas, Evanston; and St. Hilary. He was pastor of St. George (Lituanica Avenue). From 1987 to 2017, Father Bulwith served as associate director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Father James Heneghan, a friend of Bulwith and associate pastor at Our Lady of the Rosary, was grateful for the work that Bulwith did with Catholic Charities. “He was touched to see the healing and growth in the community he served at Catholic Charities,” Heneghan said. “And this energized and empowered his priesthood beyond a parochial setting.”

Father Daniel M. Tomich, 71, died June 25. He was the former pastor of Queen of Apostles Parish, Riverdale.

Born in Chicago, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1976.

He was associate pastor of St. Patricia, Hickory Hills; St. Victor, Calumet City; and St. Monica. Later, he was pastor of Queen of Apostles, Riverdale, for more than 10 years, and then associate pastor of St. Alexander, Palos Heights, St. Louis de Montfort, Oak Lawn; and St. John Fisher.

“His friendship has been a gift,” said Father Dennis Zalecki, pastor emeritus of St. Anastasia Parish in Waukegan. He met Father Tomich during seminary at Quigley South and he recalled that they were bound together by their mutual sense of humor.

Deacon Thomas F. Dehler, 84, of O’Fallon, Missouri, died June 13.

Born in Chicago, he was ordained in 1988 and served at St. Lawrence O’Toole Parish in Matteson before moving to Missouri.

He was predeceased by his wife, Janet Birnett Dehler. He is survived by his second wife, Priscilla, and his children Thomas Dehler Jr., Alicia Dehler and Beth Del Rosario; stepchildren Tracy Webb-Wiley, Robert Webb, Mark Webb and Gary Webb; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Barbara Baker.

Deacon Jose Colon-Ortiz, 89, died June 15. He was ordained in 1972 and served at Holy Rosary, Resurrection, St. Aloysius and St. Mark parishes.

His wife, Emma, predeceased him. He is survived by his children Jose Colon, Mayra Colon, Elsie Colon and Lisandra Toro; four grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and his siblings, Antonia Maria Colon, Margarita Colon, Francisco Colon, Miguel Colon.

Deacon Dexter Gary Watson, 70, died June 18.

He was ordained in 1990 and served at St. Malachy and Precious Blood Parish, now part of Blessed Maria Gabriella Parish.

Born in Chicago, he was a U.S. Army veteran and former 27th Ward alderman.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Robin Watson; children Dexter II, Amber and Ryan Watson; his mother, Gloria Watson; and his sister, Sharone Watson.

Divine Word Father Paul Nadolny, 68, died June 12 in Techny after fighting cancer.

Born in Wisconsin, he graduated from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a bachelor’s degree in forestry and worked in the field before joining the Peace Corps and serving in Guatemala. When his commitment with the Peace Corps ended in 1983, he entered the Divine Word Associates Program and professed vows in 1984.

As a seminarian, he studied at Catholic Theological Union and volunteered at St. Procopius parish in the city’s Pilsen neighborhood before being ordained to the priesthood in 1989.

Father Nadolny’s first assignment as a priest was in Chiapas, Mexico, where he served indigenous people. While in the United States to foster a partnership with a Wisconsin parish in 1995, Father Nadolny learned that the Mexican government refused to renew his visa.

 After a year of hoping to return to Mexico, Father Nadolny’s superiors encouraged him to learn Portuguese in Brazil in preparation for his next assignment, a new mission to Mozambique. In 1999, Father Nadolny became one of the first Divine Word Missionaries to serve in the southeastern African nation, where he worked among the Zulu, Makua and Bantu peoples.

In 2019, Father Nadolny moved back to Techny for cancer treatment.

He is survived by his brothers James, Joseph, David and Stephan Nadolny; and his sisters Ann Luckey and Mary Garrity.

BVM Sister Vivian C. (Lauren) Wilson, 94, died June 21 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Wyoming, she entered the BVM congregation in 1948 and professed final vows in 1955.

She taught elementary school in Iowa and South Dakota and at St. Callistus. She also served as an admissions counselor and assistant director of the Business Administration Institute at Mundelein College and director of religious education at St. Keiran, Chicago Heights.

Servant of the Holy Heart of Mary Sister Bernadette (Awilda) Pabon, 76, died June 22.

Sister Bernadette was born in Puerto Rico and, after her mother died, lived in several foster homes. As a teen, she attended Holy Family Academy in Beaverville, Illinois, where she met the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary and began to consider religious life.

However, she married Nobel Pabon and raised a family. For more than three decades, Bernadette served as a catechist and trainer in the Archdiocese of Chicago. She was director of religious education at Holy Rosary Parish for 33 years.

After her husband died and her sons were grown, she pursued the call to religious life. Sister Bernadette made her vows in September 2020 and ministered in Batavia, Hopkins Park, Champaign and Kankakee.

She is survived by her sons, Frank, Rey, Joseph (Cynthia) and Robert (Alejandra), her daughter-in-law, Toni Pabon; 10 grandchildren; her brothers Alfred and Jose Oquendo; her sister Hedda Vazquez; and her adopted family the Suprenants.

Deacon Paul Telle, 86, of Park City, died May 29. He was ordained in 1990 and ministered at St. Dismas and Holy Family parishes in Waukegan. He also worked as a chaplain at Vista Medical System/Victory Memorial Hospital.

Born in Missouri, he married Barbara Muthig there before in earning a doctorate in nutrition. He was a member of the American Society of Animal Science, American Dairy Science Association, American Poultry Science Association, Professional Animal Scientist, American Dietetic Association and Professional Chaplain Association.

After retiring from active ministry as a deacon, he was an alderman in Park City from 2009 to 2013.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; children Jennifer Hall, Cynthia Cassidy, Audrey Mackey, Patricia Telle and Paul Telle Jr.; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren, Klaira, Leyna, Emery, Timothy, Olivia and Scarlett.