Providence Sister Mary (Marie Anita) Leahy, 84, died April 30 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1952 and professed final vows in 1959.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1968-1971); was the coordinator of secondary schools for the St. Joseph Province, based in Chicago (1971-1973); taught at St. Genevieve (1972-1973); was principal at St. Jerome (1973-1979); and was finance and development director at Sacred Heart of Mary High School, Arlington Heights (1980-1985).

She ministered in education and development in Indiana, Illinois and Washington, D.C. In 1997, she was named director of the National Religious Retirement Office, an office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that coordinates fundraising for the retirement of members of all religious congregations.

Sister Mary is survived by two sisters, Sheila Ruskauff and Margaret Frederick.

Father John P. Smyth, 84, died April 16. He served at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines for more than 40 years.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Genevieve, DePaul Academy and Quigley Preparatory Seminary. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1957 and turned down an opportunity to play in the National Basketball Association to pursue a vocation to the priesthood. He received a bachelor’s degree in theology from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in 1962 and was ordained the same year.

Following ordination to the priesthood, Smyth was assigned to Maryville Academy in Des Plaines and served there in a variety of roles for more than 40 years. During his time at Maryville, Smyth also served as the director of the Office of Catechesis and Youth Ministry from 1992 until 1995. In 2007, Smyth was appointed president of Notre Dame College Prep, Niles. He  served until 2014.

Resurrection Sister M. Virginia Tasny, 92, died March 6 at Resurrection Life Center.

She was born in Detroit and worked as a bank teller for six years before entering the congregation in 1950. She made final vows in 1956.

She spent many years teaching primary grades at schools including St. Mary of the Angels; St. Casimir (now Our Lady of Tepeyac); and Queen of the Rosary, Elk Grove Village. She also assisted in the office at Resurrection High School.

Sister Mary Virginia then spent 20 years working at the provincial home as receptionist, assisting the local superior or director of nursing at Queen of the Resurrection.

Providence Sister Cecilia (June) Carter, 92, died March 31 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.  Born in California, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1952 and professed final vows in 1960. She ministered for 41 years as a music teacher in schools in Indiana, Illinois, Maryland and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Andrew and St. Mel-Holy Ghost.

She moved to the motherhouse in 2002.  Beginning in 2009, she dedicated herself totally to the ministry of prayer.

Holy Family of Nazareth Sister M. Christiana (Dolores Georgianna) Metz, 88, died April 1 in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Born in South Heart, North Dakota, she entered religious life in 1946. She earned a teaching diploma and theology certificate from DeLourdes College in Des Plaines in 1954.

She taught for 24 years in Chicago at Roseland, St. Josaphat and Immaculate Heart of Mary. She also taught in Florida and North Dakota.

After her teaching ministry, she spent 13 years caring for the sick at Nazarethville Skilled Nursing Care in Des Plaines. She also served as a nurses’ aide at Jesus the Good Shepherd Convent in Grand Prairie, Texas.