Providence Sister Margaret (James Patrick) Lynch, 79, died Nov. 3 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, Sister Peggy entered the Sisters of Providence in 1961 and professed final vows in 1969. She earned master’s degrees from Loyola University Chicago in religious education and later in religious studies.

She taught in junior high and high schools and ministered in parishes and adult education centers. Serious health problems brought her to the motherhouse in 2010.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Alexander, Palos Heights (1966-1967), and Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1976-1977).

School Sister of Notre Dame Joellyn (LaVerne) Grandchamp, 96, died Nov. 5 at Marian Village in Homer Glen.

Born in Blue Island, she was a member of her congregation for 76 years. She taught primary grades in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. She also a volunteered in province offices and food pantries and as a tutor at St. Margaret of Scotland School. 

She is survived by her siblings Floyd, Harold and Richard Grandchamp and Carol Bauer.

Father Francis G. Scanlan, 87, died Oct. 19. He was a former associate pastor of St. Damian Parish, Oak Forest, and a retired lieutenant colonel and Army chaplain of the Illinois National Guard.

Born in Chicago, Father Scanlan attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1961.

He was assistant pastor of St. Eugene, St. Mel-Holy Ghost and Incarnation, Palos Heights. He was associate pastor of St. Andrew and St. Bede the Venerable, and retired as associate pastor of St. Damian in 2005. Father Scanlan also served as a U.S. Army chaplain for the Illinois National Guard for nearly 30 years, from 1966 to 1995.

Frieda Bertello, director of the Healing Ministry at St. Damian Parish, knew Father Scanlan since he started at St. Damian.

“He was able to relate to any age group, probably because of his wisdom and experience and his ability to be young in spirit,” Bertello said. “His homilies were brief, but always on point, and he usually squeezed in a humorous line or two. The parishioners loved it.”

Bertello added, “Father Jerry treated everyone with kindness and respect, and you usually left with a joke or a laugh. We expect there will be more laughter in heaven now that he’s home with the Lord.”

Deacon James O’Malley, 95, died Sept. 9. He was ordained in 1974 and served at the O’Hare Airport Interfaith Chapel.

Deacon O’Malley was a World War II veteran who served in Germany, and later worked for Culligan International as a chemist, lab manager and marketing specialist.

After being ordained, he served at his home parish, St. Mary, Des Plaines. He became associate chaplain at the O’Hare Interfaith Chapel in 1986.

He retired from active ministry in 2017.

His wife, Rita Ann, died in 2010. He is survived by his children Thomas O’Malley, James O’Malley Jr., Margaret Jean Wolski, Christine Ann Groves and Erin Lynn Johnson; 14 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Dominican Father Jack O’Malley.

Deacon Irwin E. Hotcaveg, 96, died Oct. 24. He was ordained in 1988 and served at St. Ferdinand Parish until his retirement in 2014.

Deacon Hotcaveg was a U.S. Army World War II veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Lou; his children Cindy, Judi and Susan; one grandchild and two great-grandchildren.