Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Christiane Althaus, 86, died Dec. 14 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Mundelein, Sister Christiane made her first vows in 1954 and her perpetual vows in 1957.

She taught in the classroom for 39 years and taught music for one year, with seven more as choir teacher while serving as classroom teacher. Sister Christiane worked and volunteered in the archives at the motherhouse for 20 years. Sister Christiane served in Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Alabama.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Christiane taught at St. Brendan (1968-1970); Immaculate Conception, Waukegan (1970-1974); and Sts. Faith, Hope and Charity, Winnetka (1974-1983).

She is survived by a brother, Lasallian Christian Brother Louis Althaus.

Sister of St. Casimir Mary Philip Ramoska, 100, died Dec. 17 in Lemont.

Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, she completed her high school education at St. Casimir Academy, Chicago. She entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1941, making her first profession of vows in 1943 and her perpetual vows in 1948.

Sister Mary Philip first worked in the dietary departments of Holy Cross Hospital and Loretto Hospital and Holy Family Villa, Lemont. Between 1946 and 1959, she also did dietary work in Nebraska, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. After training as licensed practical nurse, she ministered for 21 years in Pennsylvania, and then for 18 years in the Archdiocese of Chicago at the Sisters of St. Casimir Motherhouse infirmary.

She most recently served in the ministry of prayer and presence at Franciscan Village in Lemont.

Providence Sister Nancy (Jean Paula) Nolan, 84, died on Dec. 20 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Galesburg, Sister Nancy entered the Sisters of Providence in 1955 and professed final vows in 1962.

She taught in elementary schools, worked in administrative and leadership roles and was elected provincial of St. Joseph Province and then general superior of the congregation. After retiring, she served as vocations office coordinator for her congregation and coordinated the Sisters of Providence volunteer ministry at the U.S. Penitentiary Prison Camp in Terre Haute, Indiana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Angela (1965-1971) and was co-provincial of St. Joseph Province, Park Ridge (1975-1983); programs director for the Institute for Spiritual Leadership (1997-1999); and president of Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1999-2008).

Father John J. Kastigar, 94, died Nov. 27. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former United States Air Force chaplain.

Born in Cicero, Father Kastigar attended St. Odilo Catholic School in Berwyn, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1952.

He served as assistant pastor of St. Frances of Rome, Cicero, and Our Lady of the Snows. He then served as an Air Force chaplain from 1961 to 1982. After a sabbatical and assisting at St. Alexander Parish, Palos Heights, for several months, Father Kastigar returned to the military chaplaincy at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, where he served for 30 years.

“He loved the church and was so happy to be a priest,” said Father Jim Kastigar, associate pastor of St. Agnes of Bohemia and Father John Kastigar’s nephew. According to Father Jim Kastigar, his uncle served as a military chaplain in difficult places, such as in Alaska and Germany during the Cold War, in Panama during the transfer of the canal to the Panamanians. However, he used to say that wherever he went God’s people were always good to him.

Father Martin N. Winters, 94, died Nov. 28. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Mundelein Seminary professor and former NBC Chicago television host.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Columbanus School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1952.

After ordination, he served as assistant pastor of St. Barbara, Brookfield, and St. Sylvester. He joined the faculty of Quigley Preparatory Seminary in 1955 and the faculty of Mundelein Seminary, where he taught church history, in 1961. He served as academic dean of Niles College of Loyola University for 18 years.

During Fathers Winters’ teaching years at Quigley Preparatory Seminary in the late 1950s, among the many seminarians was Monsignor Wayne Prist, now pastor emeritus of Queen of All Saints Basilica, who appreciated his professor’s engaging, challenging and playful approach. “I respected his knowledge of history,” Prist said. In the late 1960s, Prist served as a television producer for WMAQ-TV. When he needed a host for the Gamut program, his articulate and confident professor came to mind. As it turned out, Father Winters thrived in that role for 10 years as he interviewed guests on a variety of topics.