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.