Father John E. Hennessey, 84, died June 14. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and pastor emeritus of St. Joseph Parish, Libertyville.

Born on Long Island, New York, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1967. He later completed a master’s degree at the University of Notre Dame.

He served as assistant pastor of St. Bernadette, Evergreen Park, and St. Christina. He was associate pastor of St. Hilary Parish.

He served as director of the Vocations Office from 1980 to 1986 and was pastor of St. Isaac Jogues, Niles, from 1986 to 2003. He then became pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Libertyville and served at that parish until 2012, when he retired and was named pastor emeritus.

Resurrection Sister Rosemary Gira, 97, died June 10.

She was baptized at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church. She entered the Sisters of the Resurrection, where her older sister was already a member, in 1950, and made her first vows in 1951.

Sister Rosemary graduated from Fordham University in 1955 and began a 50-year ministry of teaching first grade, including assignments at St. Casimir; St. Mary of the Angels; and Queen of the Rosary, Elk Grove Village, as well as in Indiana, Nebraska and Florida. She said she loved teaching little children “because their hearts are open and ready for the seeds of faith and the message of God’s love to be planted.”

She is survived by her nephew, Bishop Robert Kurtz, CR.

Sister of the Living Word Kathleen Heer, 75, died June 15 at Resurrection Life Center, where she lived for the past four years after suffering a stroke.

Sister Kathleen entered the Sisters of Christian Charity in 1969 and was called again to be a founding member of the Sisters of the Living Word in 1975. A gifted artist and educator, she taught junior high at St. Raphael in the Englewood neighborhood, and served as principal for 16 years. She participated in consolidation of the nine Englewood schools and was elected vice-president of the Archdiocesan Principals Association. She was also principal at St. Catherine Laboure, Glenview.

She later earned a master’s degree in art therapy and ministered as an art therapist in Ohio, and she served in the leadership of her religious community for five years.

She is survived by siblings Thomas Heer, Mary Heer, Betty Freeze Heer, John Heer, Daniel Heer, Michael Heer and Joseph Heer.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Maria (Josefita) Candelaria, 89, died June 18 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

She was born in New Mexico and made her first profession as a Discalced Carmelite in 1957, receiving the name Maria Isabel. She transferred her vows to the Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1980.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in religious studies and Spanish from Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest; a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University Chicago; and a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

She ministered as a teacher in New Mexico and Texas.

Daughter of Charity Sister Mary (Mary Margaret) Satala, 89, died June 23 in Evansville, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Good Counsel High School in 1953 and earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph School of Nursing before entering the Daughters of Charity in 1960.

She served at hospitals in Louisiana, Missouri, Indiana and Alabama, as well as at St. Joseph Hospital and Health Centers (1984-1991). She also served in Poland.

In addition to her nursing degree, Sister Mary earned a master’s degree in spirituality and counseling and a doctorate in pastoral counseling and clinical counseling.

She also served as postulant directress for the Daughters of Charity in Evansville, and as a mental health counselor in Indianapolis.