Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ Sister Patricia (Brendan) Peters, 85, died June 27 in Donaldson, Indiana.

Born in Breese, Illinois, Sister Patricia entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ in 1959 and professed her first vows in 1962.

She taught at elementary schools in Illinois and Indiana, including St. Henry.

After 10 years of teaching, Sister Patricia was appointed director of purchasing at the PHJC Ministry Center in Donaldson. She developed an interest in computer technology and took several computer courses at DeVry University in Chicago. She became the manager for computer services at PHJC Ministry Center. In 2016, Sister Patricia began using her computer skills to help develop a digitized system of tracking pictures and artifacts in the archives.

Sister Patricia retired to Catherine’s Cottage in Donaldson in 2023.

Sister Patricia is survived by her two sisters and five brothers.

Deacon Gregory Shumpert, 70, died June 4. He was ordained in 1999 and ministered at St. Agatha, St. Martin de Porres and St. Simon of Cyrene parishes.

Born in Chicago, he attended Holy Name Cathedral High School and Loyola University Chicago, as well as studying for the diaconate at the University of St. Mary of the Lake.

For more than three decades, Deacon Shumpert worked at Northwestern Memorial Hospital as a mental health counselor and advocate for those in need. He later served in several capacities at Malcolm X College.

In his years as a deacon, he assisted at the altar and offered pastoral care and community outreach. He was active in the Men’s Club, was a lector and choir member, supported Community Renewal Society initiatives and was a board member of the Adult Education Learning Center.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Carolyn; his children Ericka Nicole Shumpert-Toliver and Erik Gregory Shumpert; and two grandchildren.

Father Kenneth S. Laske, 93, died March 20. He was a retired archdiocesan priest and former associate pastor of St. Leonard, Berwyn.

Born in Chicago, Father Laske attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.

He served as assistant pastor of St. Ferdinand; St. Gilbert, Grayslake; St. Joan of Arc, Evanston; and Divine Savior, Norridge. He served as associate pastor of St. Cornelius; St. William; St. Maria Goretti, Schiller Park; and St. Leonard. He retired in 2002.

The late Father William T. O’Mara, retired archdiocesan priest and classmate, had remembered Father Laske as a very quiet person and a devoted priest with a great sense of humor.

Father William T. O’Mara, 94, died May 27. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and pastor emeritus of St. Elizabeth Seton, Orland Hills.

Born in Chicago, Father O’Mara attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, and later earned a postgraduate degree from Loyola University Chicago.

He was assistant pastor of Infant Jesus of Prague, Flossmoor, and St. James, Sauk Village.

He was a faculty member at Quigley Preparatory Seminary and served as chaplain at Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, celebrating school Masses, attending Kairos retreats with seniors and going to sports events, concerts and plays.

Father O’Mara served as pastor at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish until 2003, when he was named pastor emeritus.

Archdiocesan priest Father Roger
Caplis remembered his classmate as very outgoing and a good athlete. “He also shared a great sense of ministry, even after retirement,” Caplis said.

Providence Sister Mary Jeanine (Mary Catherine) Schubert, 84, died May 14 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, she went to St. Mel School and Providence High School. She entered the Sisters of Providence in 1961 and professed final vows in 1970.

Of her 64 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered in elementary schools in Indiana and Illinois for 16 years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Agnes (1967-1971), St. Francis Borgia (1971-1978) and Maternity BVM (1978-1982).

In 1983, she took a position at the American Medical Association in Chicago as a survey operations assistant and later as an employee contractor.

Retiring from this position in 2007, she gave much time to sewing and quilting for charities.

Sister Mary Jeanine is survived by a brother, Andrew J. Schubert Jr.