Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Damienne (Damien S.H.) Grismer, 91, died Jan. 15.

Born in Ohio, she made her first vows in 1950 and her final vows in 1955. She spent 16 years teaching at Ohio elementary schools before teaching in a drug recovery program in Tinley Park (1970-1975). She served as bursar, prepared probation reports, rationed cigarettes, supervised the property and participated in the clinical operation of the house.

In 1975, she returned to Ohio, where she taught high school.

Mary Claire Gart Restivo, 83, died Feb. 17 in Chicago.

She worked at the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Chicago for 42 years, from 1960 to 2002, starting as a staff writer and retiring as managing editor. She also had served as acting editor.

During her time at the paper, which was known as the New World, Chicago Catholic and the Catholic New World while she worked there, she served under four cardinal archbishops and several editors, and she mentored generations of young writers.

She was known for her professionalism as well as her kindness.

She is survived by her husband, Angelo Restivo, to whom she was married for 37 years, and her three daughters.

Sister of St. Joseph Marie Frances Basile, 91, dies March 8.

Sister Marie graduated from St. Willibrod High School and was a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph for 67 years.

She taught first through seventh grades during her first 16 years in community in the various parishes in LaGrange, LaGrange Park, Lyons, Hillside, Riverside and Chicago. 

She continued to serve in surrounding parishes as religious education coordinator and catechist. 

Sister Marie then moved into the ministry as a companion to the elderly in a local nursing home, and finally as congregation chapel sacristan.

Loretto Sister Elizabeth “Betty” (Marian Francis) McWilliams, 85, died March 9.

Born in Rockford, she entered the Sisters of Loretto in 1953 and made her final vows in 1961.

Throughout her 64 years of service, Sister Betty served in many positions, including 18 years as a teacher, 20 years as an innovative hospice care leader and provider in Highland Park, and 12 years for the Loretto Community in health care and administrative roles in Denver. She particularly was known for her hospice work at Highland Park Hospital, whose hospice program was one of the first in the country. Sister Betty created some of the earliest standards of care for home hospice and helped form one of the first medical ethics committees in the country.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Betty taught at Holy Cross (1964-1967) and Immaculate Conception, Highland Park (teacher 1969-1972, principal 1972-1978), She was a parish worker in Deerfield (1978-1982). She worked in a hospice office in Highland Park for a year (1982-1983) and then served as hospice coordinator at Highland Park Hospital in Glenview from 1983 to 1993.

Divine Word Father Arnold Steffen, 91, who served as provincial superior of Papua New Guinea, died March 12 in Techny.

Born in Iowa, he entered the Divine Word Seminary at age 14 in 1943. He professed religious vows in 1949 and was ordained a priest in 1955.

Father Steffen served for 59 years in Papua New Guinea, witnessing many economic and social changes on the island nation that gained independence in 1975. When he arrived in 1957, roads in the Mount Hagen area were few, and missionaries tended to travel by airplane, on horseback and on foot.

According to Divine Word Brother Aloysius Aisi Oa, who grew up in Papua New Guinea and currently serves at Sts. Anselm and Elizabeth parishes in Chicago, Father Steffen was so attuned to the land and its people that he was affectionately called the “Mountain Goat.”

“People know him well in Papua New Guinea,” said Brother Aloysius. “Many people tell stories about him. He could communicate well with the people, and he walked everywhere. He was very energetic and strong.”

In 1972, Father Steffen was called upon to serve as acting superior. The following year, he became president of Holy Spirit Regional Seminary, which served as the primary major seminary of Papua New Guinea and the British Solomon Islands Protectorate. Father Steffen was elected regional superior in 1976.

In 1981, he completed his administrative work and returned to parish ministry.

In 2016, Father Steffen moved from Papua New Guinea to Techny for retirement. He is survived by one brother, Ralph Steffen.