Franciscan Father Venard (Alphonse) Kommer, 99, of Clarendon Hills, died March 2 in Hinsdale.

Born in Germany, he entered the Franciscan Friars of the Sacred Heart Province in 1940 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1946 in Teutopolis, Illinois.

After other assignments in Illinois and Michigan, he served in Chicago at Corpus Christi Parish, Corpus Christi High School and Hales Franciscan High School. 

He later served in schools and hospitals in DuPage County.

Adrian Dominican Sister Anastasia (John Leo) McNichols, 91, died March 4 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she attended Trinity High School in River Forest and was in her 70th year of religious life.

Sister Anastasia ministered in education, congregation leadership and pastoral care in Michigan, Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, California and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was chapter prioress for the Upper Midwest Mission Chapter, Hometown (1985-1991); administrator of the Regina Dominican Convent, Wilmette (1992-1993); campus minister at Marist High School (1993-1997); a grief minister at Parkside Chapel (1997-1999); a volunteer at Little Company of Mary Hospital, Evergreen Park (2001-2008); and a minister of care in Oak Lawn (2008-2016).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Ann (Michaud) O’Hara, 89, died Feb. 2 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, Sister Ann made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1950 and her perpetual profession in 1953. She taught for 38 years and served as a pastoral minister for 15 years. She served in Minnesota, Alabama, Wisconsin and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Ann served as pastoral minister at Resurrection Life Center (1997-2004).

BVM Sister Joan (Magdaletta) Stritesky, 91, died Feb. 18 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1946, from Mary Queen of Heaven Parish, Cicero. She professed first vows in 1949 and final vows in 1954.

She taught religious education at St. Celestine, Elmwood Park. She was a teacher and principal in Iowa, Tennessee, Colorado, California and in other towns in Illinois. She was an educational consultant for the Diocese of Memphis, Tennessee, the director of elementary schools for the Archdiocese of Denver, and a counselor for the Family Life Office of the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa. She served the congregation as coordinator of BVM Associate Program. She is survived by a sister, Shirley Boone.

Father William P. Welsh, 85, died Feb. 14. He was retired after serving most recently as associate pastor of St. Lambert Parish, Skokie.

Born in Chicago, Father Welsh attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1960.

After ordination, Welsh was assistant pastor of St. Francis Xavier, Wilmette; St. Sabina; St. Benedict (Irving Park Road) and St. Emily, Mount Prospect. He then served as associate pastor of St. Theresa, Palatine; Infant Jesus of Prague, Flossmoor and St. Lambert. After he retired in 2004, he served as chaplain for the Carmelite Sisters in Des Plaines.