Viatorian Father John E. Eck, 85, died Oct. 4 at Addolorata Villa in Wheeling.

Born in Springfield, Illinois, Father Eck professed his first vows in 1955 and was ordained in Chicago on June 8, 1963.

He was a high school teacher in Peoria before entering the Viatorian Seminary. After being ordained, he taught at St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights (1963-1966). He also taught in Rock Island before serving as director of affiliates and novice master for the province. He then taught at Prologue High School, Chicago (1983-1990).

He served as a parochial vicar (1999-2005) and pastor (2005-2009) of St. Viator Parish.

He retired in 2009 to Kankakee and returned to the Viatorian Province Center retirement residence in Arlington Heights in 2016.

He is survived by his sister, Patricia Precht, and his brothers, Donald and Richard Eck.

Sister of St. Joseph Sister Rita Stalzer, 98, died Oct. 4. 

She was a member of her community for 79 years. She had bachelor’s and master’s degrees in library science from Rosary College and Dominican University in River Forest, as well as master’s degrees in English literature, theology and pastoral studies from Loyola University Chicago.

Sister Rita was a teacher and librarian at Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park (1947-1968) and a librarian at Loyola University Chicago for 40 years, including two years as the director of the library at Loyola’s Rome Campus. 

In retirement, Sister Rita worked as a St. Thomas Hospice volunteer and as congregation librarian. 

She is survived by her brother, Charles E. Stalzer.

Franciscan Sister of Chicago Anne Marie (Jean) Knawa, 93, died Oct. 12.

She entered the community in 1952, professed first vows in 1954 and professed final vows in 1959.

Sister Anne Marie taught at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr (1953-1955); St. Louise de Marillac, La Grange Park (1957-1964) and Madonna High School (1964-1988). She also taught in Cleveland.

While at Madonna, she wrote the history of her community (1973-1988) and served as local secretary (1974-1975) and local treasurer (1983-1988).

She served at the motherhouse as community historian and as a caregiver (1988-1990), then served for 11 years at St. Anthony Media Center in Crown Point, Indiana. From 2001 to 2013, she served at the Lemont motherhouse, planning and overseeing projects, leading the Franciscan community life subcommittee and serving as a catechist at St. Alphonsus Parish, Lemont.

Sister Anne Marie retired in 2014.

Father James D. Beath, 69, died Sept. 29. He was associate pastor of Divine Savior Parish, Norridge.

Born in Chicago, Father Beath attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1979.

He served as assistant pastor of St. Gertrude, Franklin Park; St. Mary of Celle, Berwyn; St. Peter, Skokie; St. Albert the Great, Burbank; St. Barbara, Brookfield; Divine Infant Jesus, Westchester; Divine Savior, Norridge; St. Mary of the Assumption; St. Thomas of Canterbury; St. Dorothy Parish; St. Mary, Star of the Sea; and St. Edward Parish.

Father Alec J. Wolff, presiding judge of the Metropolitan Tribunal of the archdiocese, said that his longtime friend had a heart of gold. “If somebody needed help, he was there. You didn’t have to ask — he was just there for you.”

According to Wolff, Beath had numerous hobbies, but music was the one he treasured the most.

Sister of the Holy Child Jesus Jeanne Adams, 94, died Sept. 11.

A member of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus for 75 years, Sister Jeanne ministered worldwide as an educator, researcher, pastoral minister and historian. She was briefly imprisoned during the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War and studied both Arabic and Creole to better serve the people of Israel, Palestine and Haiti.

She moved to Waukegan with her family as a child, and attended St. Anastasia School and Holy Child High School. She began her teaching ministry at St. Ignatius School (1949-1951) in Chicago. After five years in Pennsylvania, she served the next 20 years in the society’s African province. She later served in Israel, Palestine, Haiti and Jamaica.

She is survived by her sister, Kathy Reed.