Sister of the Living Word Mary Ann Zrust, 96, died Jan. 22.

Born in Minnesota, Sister Mary Ann spent her first 18 years of ministry as an elementary teacher in Missouri, Minnesota and Louisiana, before serving as a principal in Minnesota.

She was one of the first in leadership for the Sisters of the Living Word, founded in 1975, and was again elected to leadership in 1993. 

From 1983 to 1993, Sister Mary Ann was pastoral associate at St. Mary of Celle Parish, Berwyn. From 1998 to 2005, she was the associate director for the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of the Vicar for Priests.

She wrote two books on the history of her religious community and the writings of the foundress, Sister Annamarie Cook.

She spent the past eight years at Resurrection Life Center.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Sigrid (Lillian Agnes) Simlik, 97, died Jan. 23 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, she professed vows with the Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1949. She earned a bachelor’s degree in classics from Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest, and a master’s degree in theology from St. Mary University, San Antonio. 

She was a teacher in Maryland, Wisconsin and Illinois, where she taught various foreign languages in the role of lecturer at Rosary College.

She also ministered in Oklahoma, and was a hospital chaplain in Texas and Nebraska.

School Sister of Notre Dame Cabrini Ganz, 105, died Jan. 31 at Ascension Resurrection Life Center.

Born in Italy, she was a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 84 years.

She ministered as an elementary school teacher in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan; as an artist, homemaker and community staff member in DeKalb, Illinois; Chicago; and Rome; and in prayer and presence at Marian Village, Homer Glen; and Advocate Resurrection Life Center.

Holy Cross Father Kenneth Michael Molinaro, 77, died Feb. 9 in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Patrick Elementary School in South Bend, Indiana, and graduated from South Bend Central High School in 1966 before enrolling in the Holy Cross candidate program at the University of Notre Dame.

He entered the Holy Cross novitiate in 1968 and made his first vows in 1969. He graduated from Notre Dame in 1971 with a degree in sociology and spent the next two years teaching at St. Catherine Laboure School in Glenview. During that time, he received a degree as a reading specialist from the National College of Education in 1973. He returned to Moreau Seminary and was ordained a Holy Cross priest in 1976.

After ordination, Father Molinaro served as principal at Sacred Heart Grade School in Winnetka until 1981. He ministered in South Bend before being assigned as principal (1986-1998) and then president (1998-2000) of Notre Dame High School in Niles.

He then served in leadership positions in his community until he retired in 2021.

He is survived by his brothers, Joseph and Daniel, and his sisters, Anna Grace Riblet and Kathleen Carpenter.

Viatorian Father Donald J. Fitzsimmons, 93, died Feb. 13 in Arlington Heights.

Born in Pontiac, Illinois, he graduated from Cathedral Boys High School in Springfield before entering the community. He made his first vows in 1951 and was ordained in 1960.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and history from Loyola University Chicago; a master’s degree in history from St. Louis University; a diplôme in religious studies from Lumen Vitae: Institut Science, Brussels; and a master’s degree in doctoral studies and religious education from Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

Father Fitzsimmons taught in Peoria before becoming a teacher and counselor at St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights (1970-1988). From 1988 to 1997, he was a drug abuse counselor at Lutheran General Recovery Center, Vernon Hills. He also served as a substance abuse counselor in the Keys to Recovery Program at Holy Family Hospital, Des Plaines (1998-2001). In 2001, Father Fitzsimmons retired to the Viatorian Province Center, Arlington Heights.

He is survived by his brother, Robert, and his sister, Patricia Andreatta.