Divine Word Father Frank Drzaic, 90, a missionary in Paraguay and Croatia, died Dec. 17, 2024, in Techny.

Born in Omaha in 1934, he entered the high school seminary in 1949 and professed vows in 1954. He was ordained to the priesthood in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Techny in 1962.

For his first assignment, he was sent to Paraguay. During his time in South America, he was based in Hernandarias in Central Paraguay and in the city of Che’íro Kue (Cheiro-Cue), now known as Juan Emiliano O’Leary. He provided pastoral care, built schools and chapels, and started a medical clinic.

After 12 years as a missionary in Paraguay, Father Drzaic faced health issues and returned to the United States. He served in Texas and Mississippi for a decade.

Knowing that Father Drzaic was the son of Croatian parents and knew the language, his superiors then assigned him to the Austrian Province, where he worked in Croatia for three years. Following that appointment, he became a member of the Western Province and served St. Malachy Parish in Los Angeles.

In 1996, he was transferred back to the Chicago Province, where he served as an associate pastor for three parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago: Holy Trinity Croatian Catholic Church, St. Bronislava and Our Lady of Charity. Coinciding with his pastoral assignments, he was a part-time chaplain at St. Margaret Mercy Health Care Center in Hammond, Indiana; at St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago, Indiana; and Oak Park Hospital in Oak Park.

Father Drzaic moved to Techny in 2013. Even in retirement, his curious nature led him to learn the Hebrew alphabet, delve deeper into Scripture and practice sacred music on the keyboard.

In addition to his seminary training, Father Drzaic held a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

School Sister of St. Francis Dorothy Sinibaldi, 91, died Dec. 23, 2024, in Milwaukee.

Born in New York State, Sister Dorothy was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1953, made her first profession of vows in 1955 and made her final vows in 1961.

Beginning in 1955, Sister Dorothy ministered in Illinois, New York, and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Joseph School, Waukegan (1964-1967 and 1970-1974); and at St. Peter School, Skokie (1967-1970).

In retirement, Sister Dorothy ministered as a volunteer and through her prayer and presence in New York and in Wisconsin.

Father John S. Plotkowski, 76, died Nov. 25. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former pastor of St. Zachary Parish, Des Plaines.

Born in Chicago, Father Plotkowski attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College of Loyola University and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1974.

Father Plotkowski was associate pastor of St. Marcelline, Schaumburg; St. Stephen Protomartyr, Des Plaines; Our Lady of Hope, Rosemont; and St. Mary, Buffalo Grove.

From 1982 to 1986, Plotkowski was on the faculty of Quigley Preparatory Seminary. He also served as pastor of St. Simeon, Bellwood, and St. Zachary. He retired in 2018.

Father Marcel J. Pasciak, retired archdiocesan priest and one of Plotkowski’s classmates, remembered Father Plotkowski as a very personable, outgoing man who “was well-liked by everybody and very lively.”

Marianist Father Timothy Dwyer, 89, died Nov. 18 in San Antonio. He had been a member of the congregation for 70 years.

Born in St. Louis, he first encountered the Marianists at DeAndreis High School there and entered the novitiate after graduating. He made his first vows in 1954.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in 1957, he taught high school in Texas and then in Switzerland, where he entered the Marianist seminary in 1964.

After being ordained in 1968, he taught and was a chaplain at St. Michael High School in Chicago, and then in a school in Texas. He then started to do retreat work, religious formation and provincial administration.

He ministered in Missouri, Texas, New Jersey and Ontario, Canada, including seven years as provincial superior of the St. Louis Province.

Benedictine Sister Margaret Ann (Mary Denis) Holtz, 92, died Nov. 30 in St. Joseph Court, the infirmary of St. Scholastica Monastery. She was a member of the Benedictine community for 74 years.

Born in Pennsylvania, Sister Margaret Ann visited her aunt Sister Gertrude Holtz, OSB, on a family trip to Chicago. She entered the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago in 1950.

For decades, Sister Margaret Ann taught primary grades at schools throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago, including Queen of All Saints, St. John Nepomucene, St. George and St. Hilary, where she also served as assistant principal. She also taught at Mother of God School, Waukegan; and in Colorado.

As was the practice in religious communities at the time, Sister Margaret Ann took college courses while teaching; in 1964, she earned a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University.

In the late 1970s, Sister Margaret Ann moved from teaching into positions of financial responsibility for both schools and community. She served in the business office of St. Scholastica Academy, Chicago, eventually becoming treasurer. Her ministry also included an appointment as treasurer of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago. In her later years, Sister Margaret Ann coordinated monastery resources and housekeeping staff.