Mercy Sister Barbara Heneghan, 78, died Dec. 1.

Raised on the West Side, she was educated by Sisters of Mercy at Resurrection Grade School and Siena High School. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1957.

Sister Barbara taught at St. Catherine of Siena, Oak Park; Precious Blood; St. Mary of the Lake; and St. Mary, Lake Forest. In 1970, she was named curriculum director at Siena High School. In 1977, Sister Barbara was responsible for moving Siena High School to a new location, where it was called Austin Career Center. She remained teacher/director there until 1990. When it closed, Sister Barbara taught at St. Patrick High School and was a member of the professional staff at Maryville Parenting Teen Center.

After retiring from teaching, Sister Barbara served as a patient advocate at Mercy Hospital; a member of the support staff at McAuley Manor, Aurora, Illinois; and a volunteer at St. Angela School.

Mercy Sister Mary Susan Thomas, 95, died Dec. 14.

Born in Oak Park, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1944 determined to be a nurse. 

After receiving her nursing degree, Sister Susan first worked in direct patient care on the surgical floor, then went on to teach and supervise, eventually becoming an administrator. 

For nearly 30 years, she ministered at Mercy Hospitals in Chicago and Aurora, Illinois; in Iowa; and in Wisconsin.

In 1971, she began serving as a USA surveyor for the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Hospitals, located in Chicago. In this position, she was part a team of experts who accredit and certify more than 21,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States. 

In 1975, she transferred to the Illinois State Department of Public Health, where she worked in staff development. She retired from that position in 1989, and started a 17-year career as a volunteer communication consultant for the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois. She moved to Mercy Circle in Chicago in 2014. 

Mercy Sister Patricia Illing, 90, died Dec. 18.

Born in Milwaukee, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1945.

During her 72 years as a Sister of Mercy, Sister Pat was an educator in Illinois and Wisconsin, at many grade schools as well as at McAuley High School, Mercy/Unity High School and several community colleges in Chicago. She also founded and served as director of a day care center and was a co-director of the McAuley Little School until becoming archivist for the Sisters of Mercy Chicago Regional Community, which she did until her retirement in 2000.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Stephana Garvey, 91, died Dec. 28 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Wisconsin, Sister Stephana made her first religious profession in 1947, and her final profession in 1950. She taught, was a religious education coordinator and volunteered with young children in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and Florida. 

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Stephana taught at St. Barnabas (1957-1966); St. Philip the Apostle, Northfield (1970-1975); and St. Vincent Ferrer, River Forest (1977-1982). She served as religious education coordinator at Sts. Faith, Hope, and Charity Parish, Winnetka (1986-1993), and as a volunteer at the Rose K. Goedert Center for Early Childhood Education at Dominican University, River Forest (2001-2006). 

She is survived by a sister, Margaret Nedzi, and a brother, Kay Garvey.

School Sister of Notre Dame Jutta Maria (Julie, Joachim Marie) Wiegard, 92, died Dec. 28 at Resurrection Life Center.

Born in Germany, she moved to Chicago with her family as an infant. She attended St. Alphonsus School before becoming an aspirant at the Academy of Our Lady (Longwood Ave.), and then became a candidate in Milwaukee on her 16th birthday.

Sister Julie professed vows in 1944.

She taught and was a principal in Wisconsin and Illinois, including assignments at St. Margaret of Scotland and St. James, Highwood. 

Sister Julie was postulant director for the Chicago province and served in pastoral care at St. Joseph the Worker, Wheeling (1981-1985).

She later served as local leader for retired Sisters at St. Benedict Convent and the Academy of Our Lady (1990 to 2001) and nursing home advocate and in community service provider at Resurrection Life Center and Marian Village, Homer Glen.