Columban Father Charles Duster, 82, died March 7 in Bellevue, Nebraska.

Born in Iowa, he attended Regis University in Denver and Marquette University in Milwaukee before entering the seminary. He completed his studies and was ordained a priest of the Missionary Society of St. Columban in 1961.

He served in Japan from 1962 to 1968. He was based in Omaha, Nebraska, while he served as Midwest vocation director for his congregation from 1969-1972, a position he continued while residing at the Columban House in Chicago.

After lengthy assignments in Fiji and in Rome, he returned to Chicago. He was assigned to the Columban Magnolia house, where he worked on mission promotion and vocations (2005-2011) and served as house superior (2008-2011).

He returned to Omaha in 2011 and worked in planned giving and development and served as superior of the Omaha community (2012-2016).

He is survived by his brother, William Duster, and his sister, Katie Enns.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Kathryn Guenther, 87, died March 4 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in South Dakota, Sister Mary Kathryn made her first religious in 1949 and her final profession in 1952. She taught, was an activity director and did pastoral ministry in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Kathryn taught at Immaculate Conception, Waukegan (1949-1956); and St. Richard (1958-1962).

Benedictine Sister Joanna (Jean Ann) Trapp, 90, died on March 3 at St. Scholastica Monastery.

Born in Detroit, she moved to Chicago with her family and attended St. Ignatius Parish and St. Scholastica High School. She entered the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago in 1946, a year after graduation, and professed final vows in 1951.

She taught at St. Hilary and St. Lambert, Skokie, and at elementary and high schools in Colorado. She returned to Chicago and taught for the next 42 years at St. Scholastica Academy.

She is survived by her sister, Norene Mahoney.

BVM Sister Margaret (St. Leonard) Haas, 84, died March 1 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she entered the BVM congregation in 1953, from St. Paul of the Cross Parish, Park Ridge, and professed final vows in 1961.

In Chicago, Sister Margaret taught at Immaculata High School and Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein. She ministered as curriculum consultant for the Archdiocese of Chicago; was director of connections for the adult education center at Malcolm X College; served in donor relations for the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls; and worked in parish ministry at St. Gertrude Parish. She also was a teacher in Iowa, California and Nebraska.

She is survived by her sisters Marilyn Haas (her twin), Monica Michelau, Mary Kathryn Amaya, Carolyn Thompson, Mary Beth Fitt and Patricia Bougher; and her brothers John, Thomas and Robert Haas.

Felician Sister Mary Joanne (Agnes) Maslowski, 91, died Feb. 25 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, she entered the Felician Sisters in 1943 and professed her final vows in 1951. For most of her religious life, she ministered in elementary and high schools as a teacher and principal in Illinois and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at Good Shepherd (1945-1947, 1960-1962), Holy Innocents (1947-1952), St. Cyril and Methodius, Lemont (1952-1957), Holy Rosary, North Chicago (1957-1960), St. Wenceslaus (1968-1969), St. Turibius (1969-1970), St. Joseph High School (1970-1978), St. Bruno (1984-1985) and Good Counsel High School (1992-2002).

Resurrection Sister M. Loyola Reszka, 95, died Feb. 24 at Resurrection Life Center. Born in North Dakota, she was received into the Congregation of the Sisters of the Resurrection in 1941.

Sister M. Loyola taught at St. Casimir, St. Thecla, St. Mary of the Angels and Resurrection Academy in the Archdiocese of Chicago and at schools in Florida. She also spent 32 years teaching at Resurrection High School.

After leaving the high school, she served as directress of novices, local superior, archivist and librarian at the provincial home of the Sisters of the Resurrection.

Redemptorist Father Charles Bueche, 89, died Feb.16 in Liguori, Missouri.

He spent the first 30 years of his priesthood as a missionary in Thailand. Returning to the United States, he served as a parish priest at St. Alphonsus (Wellington Avenue) during the 1970s before undertaking various assignments in Colorado, Kansas and Missouri.

Redemptorist Father Henry Novak, 92, died Feb. 11 in Liguori, Missouri.

Stationed in the Archdiocese of Chicago for more than 50 years, he served at Old St. Michael (Old Town) from 1957 to 1967 and was pastor of St. Alphonsus (Wellington Avenue) from 1967 to 1972. He then directed the Villa Redeemer Retreat House in Glenview for several years before serving as province treasurer until 1996. He remained there until 2011, frequently saying Mass at neighboring parishes, convents and nursing homes.

Father George Francis Cerny, 81, died Jan. 24. He was pastor emeritus of St. Bartholomew Parish and was a resident at the Franciscan Village/ Mother Theresa Home in Lemont.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. John Nepomucene and St. Rita schools and Quigley Preparatory Seminary before graduating from DePaul University with an accounting degree.

He then served in the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant (1956- 1957) before entering the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained in 1964.

Father Cerny served as assistant pastor of Our Lady of the Mount, Cicero 1964- 1973); St. Peter Canisius Parish (1973- 1978); Holy Ghost, South Holland (1978- 1979); and St. Bartholomew (1986-1991). He was pastor of St. Teresa of Avila (1980- 1986) and St. Bartholomew (1991-2004). He was named pastor emeritus after his retirement.

Father Cerny is survived by his sister, Irene Kucharski.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Margaret (Aimee Julie) Michael, 100, died in Cincinnati Jan. 11. Born in Ohio, she entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1934 and made final vows in 1943.

Sister Margaret taught every grade from first through eighth. In the Archdiocese of Chicago she spent nine years in three schools. Her special passion was serving in inner-city schools where she understood the importance of teaching all children the skills they needed to succeed.

Sister Margaret officially retired in 1994, but remained very active in gardening and other volunteer work.

She is survived by one niece, Kevin Ann Ford.

Sister of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis Regina Wachowski, 84, died Dec. 6 in Manaus, Brazil.

A member of her religious community for 68 years, she taught at St. Roman and St. Mary of Perpetual Help before embarking on a 44-year ministry in Brazil. She was a medical missionary in the Esperanca Project, traveling down the Amazon River on a hospital ship. She spent many years in the medical field before serving as a pastoral care worker in Manaus.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Virginia (Michael of the Trinity) Lacy, 85, died Dec. 1, 2016, in Ohio.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, she was a sister of Notre Dame de Namur for 67 years. She entered the community in 1949 and made her final vows in 1957.

She taught and served as principal of elementary schools in Chicago and Ohio, and later was a pastoral minister. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Peter Canisius (1953-1960, 1965-1973).

Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul Sister Joanne Whalen died April 30 in Bridgeton, Missouri.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Josephinum High School in 1949 and earned a bachelor’s degree in French from Rosary College, River Forest, in 1953.

Sister Joanne worked several years before entering the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in 1962. She taught regular and special education in New Orleans, Missouri and Texas.

She is survived by her brother, Robert Whalen, and her sister, Mary Whalen.

Springfield Dominican Sister Mary Ventura died on April 26 at Sacred Heart Convent in Springfield, Illinois.

She was born in Bradley, Illinois, in 1928. She made her profession of vows in 1947 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield.

She taught primary school in Chicago, Mt. Sterling, Odell and Springfield, Illinois. In Aurora and Morrisonville, Illinois, she was a principal and junior high teacher.

She also taught in East Alton and Rantoul, spent 14 summers in Mendota administering a federally funded program for migrant children, and served part-time on the staff at Alfred Fortin Villa, Bourbonnais.

After teaching Vietnamese refugees in Peoria from 1985-1986, Sister Mary moved to St. Bernadette Parish in Evergreen Park, where she served for 30 years. She taught fourth grade, and in 1996 started Essential Learning Solutions, a computerized learning program for children and adults with learning difficulties.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Catherine Rita (Thomasina) Palmisano, 86, died April 17 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Champaign, Illinois, Sister Catherine made her first religious profession in 1949 and her final profession in 1952. Sister Catherine lived her entire religious life ministering in Illinois and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Catherine taught at Visitation (1949-1958) and St. Giles, Oak Park (1966-1968). She taught (1977-1999), was administrative assistant (1999-2005) and volunteered (2005-2010) at St. Thomas More.

She is survived by a sister, Mary Spradley.

=Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marcella (Baptista) Connolly, 88, died April 13 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Sister Marcella founded the Apostolic Volunteer program in 1973, which is now Dominican Volunteers USA, and served in the leadership of the congregation.

Born in Iowa, she made her first religious profession in 1949, and her final profession in 1952.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marcella taught at St. Brendan (1949-1951) and Holy Trinity High School (1994-2003), where she also served as campus minister (1987-1994). She served as principal at Epiphany (1976-1987); campus minister at Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest (1994- 1996); and pastoral minister at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital (2003-2006), and she was coordinator for the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation’s Preaching for the Foreign Mission Fund (2006-2007).

She is survived by a sister, Mary Alice Hansen and a brother, William Connolly.

Sister of Christian Charity De- Lourdes (Evelyn) Bragg, 104, died Dec. 4 at Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette.

Born in Michigan, she was received into the novitiate in 1930, made first vows in 1932 and perpetual vows in 1937.

She taught in schools in Missouri, Louisiana and Iowa as well as at Mallinckrodt High School, Wilmette, where she taught ninthgrade religion, English and Latin (1942-1943).

She returned to the motherhouse in Wilmette in 1985 and began teaching art at Mallinckrodt College. When she came to Sacred Heart Convent in 1999 a group of former students followed her; they would continue to meet until 2012 in the basement of Sacred Heart Convent to paint, talk and enjoy refreshments twice a week.

Servite Father (Leroy) Philip Scherer, 95, died April 12 at St. Joseph’s Village.

Born in Chicago, he attended Our Lady of Grace School and St. Philip High School. He entered the Order of Friar Servants of Mary in 1948 and professed solemn vows in 1952. He was ordained in 1955.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he was assistant principal at St. Philip High School; parochial vicar at Seven Holy Founders, Calumet Park; Assumption (Illinois Street); St. Donatus, Blue Island; and Annunciata; and chaplain for the Servite Sisters Mother of Sorrows Convent, Blue Island. He retired in 2004.

Father Scherer is survived by his brother, Robert.

Felician Sister Mary Georgia (Theresa) Maleski, 91, died April 8 at Our Lady of the Angels.

Born in Belmont, Wisconsin, she attended Good Counsel High School and entered the Felician Sisters postulancy in 1944. She professed her final vows in 1953.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Bruno (1947- 1951, 1973-1975); SS. Peter & Paul (1951- 1954); St. James (1960- 1961); Holy Innocents (1961-1965); St. Joseph (1982-1983;, St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates (1983-1984); and Our Lady of Ransom, Niles (1984-1988).

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Sabina Ryan, 89, died April 8 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Nebraska, she made her first religious profession in 1953 and her final profession in 1956. She ministered mostly in education in Alabama, Illinois, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Iowa, New York, Florida and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Sabina taught at St. Patrick, Lemont (1960-1963); Visitation (1966-1967); St. Thomas More (1973-1974); and St. Brendan (1981-1982).

She is survived by four sisters, Dominican Sister Nora Ryan, Imelda McMillin, Mary Rehan and Virginia Garner; and three brothers, John Ryan, Jesuit Father James Ryan and George Ryan.

Deacon Kenneth E. Jenney Jr., 70, died April 8 following a long illness. He was 70.

Deacon Jenney ministered at St. Monica and Immaculate Heart of Mary parishes.

In 2009, he received the St. Philip Award for outstanding ministry in evangelization.

He was an Active 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by his children Jean Balatsos; Susan Thomas; and Douglas, Kenneth and Timothy; six grandchildren, and his brothers, Stephen, Howard and Ralph Jenney.

Deacon John James Leonas, 91, died April 7 in Bloomingdale, Illinois, following a long illness.

Deacon Leonas grew up in Chicago and served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in World War II.

He spent most of his life in East Hazel Crest and Manteno, Illinois. He was ordained a deacon in 1979 and served at St. Anne, Hazel Crest, and St. Joseph Parish, Manteno. He was active in the Knights of Columbus, chaplain of the East Hazel Crest American Legion and a lifetime member of the V.F.W.

He retired from Northrup Grumman as a contract administrator heavily involved in the stealth bomber program. As a sergeant in the Army, John learned to play the drums and with his brothers-in-law formed the band Joe Fazio and his Men of Notes playing throughout the South suburbs of Chicago.

In addition, John was an Arthur Murray Dance instructor and at many events he and his wife, Mary, glided across many a dance floor.

He is survived by Mary, his wife of 68 years, daughters Carol Nicolai, Linda Amrein, Kathy Brandau and Debra Dean and son Jeffry Leonas, as well as nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Frances (Marie Anne) Lennartz, 93, died April 5 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, she made her first religious profession in 1944 and her final profession in 1947.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Frances served as audio-visual librarian at Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest (1971-1977); librarian and audio-visual coordinator at Elizabeth Seton, South Holland (1984-1986); and head librarian at St. Rita (1986-1994).

Sister Mary Frances is survived by a sister, Sister Constance Lennartz, and a stepsister, Bernice Santilli.

Religious of the Sacred Heart Catherine Seiker, 94, died April 2 in Atherton, California.

Born in Nebraska, Sister Seiker served in many capacities in the Society of the Sacred Heart, as teacher, province treasurer and business manager. She was responsible for a number of improvements and building projects in the Sacred Heart schools.

Sister Seiker is survived by her brother Vincent Seiker.

Deacon Carl Olson, 91, recently of Wheeling, died March 30. He was ordained in 1978 and served at St. Cornelius Parish for 34 years.

Born in Idaho, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Marguerite, daughters Mary Olson, Patricia Desire and Christine Krzystofczyk and sons John and Paul Olson, as well as eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Deacon Ignacio Ortega, 86, died March 28. He was ordained in 1991 and served at St. Mark Parish.

Deacon Ortega immigrated from Mexico in 1964, and he and his late wife, Estella, helped many others come to Chicago from Mexico, including putting people up in their home.

As a deacon, he served at Casa Central and St. Mark’s food pantry, and helped start eucharistic adoration at the parish more than 12 years ago.

Ortega, who was one of six children, had two sins, nine grandchildren, 15 greatgrandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Deacon Gilberto Mercado, 74, died March 27.

Ordained in 1985, Deacon Mercado ministered at St. Anthony, Cicero. He was involved in pre-baptism classes, assisted at Mass, performed wakes and house blessings.

He is survived by his wife Martha; his children Martha Mercado-Rios, Salomon Mercado, Angel Mercado, Beatrice Martinez and Yemina Hernandez; and 10 grandchildren.

Divine Word Father Eric Vargas, 67, died Feb. 27 in Techny.

Born in New York City, he joined the Society of the Divine Word in 1963 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1975.

In the early years of his priesthood, he ministered in Naranjito, Puerto Rico. He also did pastoral work on the East Coast and in California.

He was granted early retirement for health reasons in 2004 and moved to Techny in 2008.

He is survived by his sister, Rita Santiago.

Deacon Jaime Juarez, 85, died March 25. He was ordained in 1974.

Deacon Juarez had served at St. Benedict Parish in Chicago. He lived in Schaumburg when he died. He is survived by his wife, Carmen. He also was a father and grandfather.

Dominican Father David Matthew Hynous, 83, died March 24 in Chicago.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Philip Neri and St. Odilo schools and Fenwick High School, Oak Park. He went to Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, for two years to prepare to enter the Dominicans in 1952. He was ordained in 1959.

He studied canon law at the Angelicum in Rome and taught at the college level before serving as secretary for the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C., from 1979 to 1981. He was vicar provincial for the Dominicans for four years and then served the Archdiocese of Chicago’s marriage tribunal as vice chancellor from 1986 to 1995. In 1995 he was called to Rome as procurator general for the Dominican Order.

In 1997 he returned to the tribunal in the Archdiocese of Chicago before serving on the tribunal in the Diocese of Joliet.

Sister of St. Casimir Teresita Miksas, 95, died March 24. She was a member of the congregation for 76 years.

Born in Chicago, she attended Immaculate Conception Parish in Brighton Park. She entered the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1936, and made her final vows in 1944.

She ministered in elementary and high schools in Illinois, Pennsylvania and Nebraska.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago she taught St. Anthony, Cicero (1939-1943); St. Casimir, Chicago Heights (1943-1947); and Maria High School (1964-1971; 1978- 1983).

In addition to teaching, Sister Teresita served as local superior, as part of the SSC leadership team, and superintendent of SSC Schools.

Mercy Sister Paulina Small, 89, died March 22 in Chicago.

Born in Chicago, she was educated by the Sisters of Mercy, first at Little Flower School and then Mercy High School. She entered the community in 1945.

She taught at Little Flower (1948-1949); Our Lady of Mount Carmel (1949-1956); St. Joan of Arc, Evanston (1956-1958); St. Joseph the Worker, Wheeling (1961-1962); and St. Thomas Aquinas (1968-1970), as well at schools in the Diocese of Rockford and in Wisconsin.

In 1977, she began ministering in health care, working for 22 years, she was a discharge planner and clerk at Mercy Hospital Chicago.

Deacon Thomas Morgan, 71, died March 19. He was ordained in 2005.

Over the years, Deacon Morgan had ministered at St. James Parish, Arlington Heights; Transfiguration Parish, Wauconda; and St. Gilbert Parish, Grayslake.

He served as a chaplain for St. Vincent de Paul, as a minister of care visiting the sick and dying, was involved in the Christian Family Movement and was a Quest Youth Group leader.

Deacon Morgan is survived by his wife Dolores; his children Mark Morgan, Kerry Hughes and Mary Kay Wathen; seven grandchildren and three siblings.

BVM Sister Dorothy (Mildred Ann) Townsell, 103, died March 18 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Streator, Illinois, she entered the BVM congregation in 1932 and professed final vows in 1940.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Dorothy taught at Mundelein College. She also taught college and high school in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and California.

She is survived by her sisters Catherine Voisinet and Mildred Willett.

Providence Sister Amata (Helen Therese) Dugan died March 14 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Born in Indianapolis, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1950 and professed final vows in 1957.

She ministered in education and administration in Indiana, Illinois and California.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, St. Francis Borgia (1952-1953), St. Genevieve (1953-1955) and St. Agnes (1963- 1965, 1987-1990).

Adrian Dominican Sister Helen Patrick (Mary Eileen) Bartley, 97, died March 12 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Aquinas High School. She was in the 76th year of her religious life.

She ministered in education in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Florida. She also served as a councilor for St. Dominic Province in Chicago for 6 years.

Felician Sister Joan Marie (Mary Mechtildis) Kryszak, 95, died March 7 in Our Lady of the Angels Convent.

She was born in Lemont, where she attended SS Cyril & Methodius School. She attended Good Counsel High School before entering the Felician Sisters in 1939. She professed final vows in 1947.

She ministered in elementary schools as a principal, teacher and tutor in Illinois, Wisconsin, and California, as well as taught in Brazil from 1970 to 1979.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at St. Helen (1939-1940), St. John of God (1941-1947), Sacred Heart (1955- 1956), St. Linus, Oak Lawn (1956-1958), SS. Peter & Paul (1958-1964), St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates (1979-1990) and St. Turibius (1990-2008).

Deacon Joseph A. Walsh, 71, died at home in River Forest on March 3. Deacon Walsh was ordained in 2009 and served at Ascension Parish in Oak Park.

Deacon Walsh was a member of Ascension Parish for 67 years. He graduated from Ascension School and St. Ignatius High School, received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Loyola University Chicago. He was dean emeritus of Loyola’s School of Social Work.

In addition to serving as a deacon, he was very active in Oak Park community affairs. He was past president of District 97 school board and a member of the Oak Park mental health board.

He is survived by his wife, Katherine, and children David Walsh, Laura Stawczyk, Maureen Hilquist and Matthew Walsh and nine grandchildren; and siblings Mary Winklebleck, Clare Sobiesk, Joanne Lovell, Kathleen Walsh, Sheila Scanlan, and Patrick Kevin and Denis Walsh.

Deacon Charles “Chick” Moran, 76, died March 2. He was ordained in 1976 and had been retired for several years.

Deacon Moran was the first deacon at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Streamwood. He had been very active in ministering to the poor, and to the sick and dying, according to his son Daniel Moran.

Deacon Moran is survived by his four children: Daniel, Charles Moran, Cynthia Caceres and Laura Kreger; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Father Edmund Francis Guz, 86, died March 2 at Presence Resurrection Medical Center. He was pastor emeritus of Mother of God Parish, Burnham, and was a resident of Presence St. Benedict Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Niles.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Casimir School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1955.

Father Guz served as assistant pastor at St. Constance (1955-1961); Holy Innocents (1961-1963); St. Monica (1963); St. Agnes (39th Street and Washtenaw Avenue) (1963-1967); and St. Francis of Assisi (Kostner Avenue) (1967-1975), before serving as administrator of St. Francis of Assisi from 1975 to 1980.

He was as named pastor of Mother of God Parish in Burnham in 1980. Father Guz retired in 2008 and remained at Mother of God until 2014.

Father Guz is survived by a sister, Phyllis Kenyeri.

Bishop John McNabb, an Augustinian, died Feb. 26. Bishop McNabb, 90, was the first bishop of the Diocese of Chulucanas. Peru, and one the last three living U.S. bishops who took part in the Second Vatican Council.

Bishop McNabb was born in Beloit, Wisconsin. He professed first vows as an Augustinian in 1945, final vows in 1948, and was ordained a priest in 1952.

He was a teacher and administrator at Mendel Catholic High School (1953-1959) before becoming province secretary (1959-1961). He returned to Mendel as principal (1962- 1964).

He was named prelate of the mission territory of Chulucanas in 1964 and participated in the last two sessions of the Second Vatican Council. He was ordained a bishop in 1967, and became the ordinary when Chulucanas was made a diocese in 1988.

He resided at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Monastery in Olympia Fields (2000-2002, 2006-2010).

He is survived by a sister, Janet Marelli.

Providence Sister Marilyn Rose (Margie Marie) Ginder, 86, died Feb. 21 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

An Indiana native, she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence in 1949 and professed final vows in 1956.

She taught school for 16 years before becoming director of a mental-health center and serving as a psychology professor in Indiana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Leo (1951-1954) and St. Francis Borgia (1958-1962).

She is survived by her sister, Marilyn Simpson.

Sister of the Living Word Barbara (Josepha) Hawken, 81, died Feb. 20.

Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Christian Charity in 1953. She joined the Sisters of the Living Word in 1991.

She ministered in education in Minnesota and Ohio as well as in the Archdiocese of Chicago, where she served at St. Teresa of Avila; St. Gregory; St. Mary, Riverdale; Josephinum High School; St. Hedwig; and St. Robert Bellarmine.

Sister Barbara is survived by her sisters Janet Doyle and Diane Larson.

Divine Word Father Bernard Fisher, 97, died Feb. 13 in Techny. He was a missionary in Papua New Guinea.

Father Fisher was a priest for 70 years and in religious vows for 75. He taught at Divine Word seminaries in the United States before being sent to Papua New Guinea in 1948.

In his nearly five decades there, he traveled to remote villages, opened catechetical centers and taught business and agriculture, among other assignments. He also served as a vocation recruiter in the United States.

He returned to the United States permanently in 1992 at age 75. He taught himself desktop publishing and printed more than 30 books and booklets. He moved to Techny in 1992.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Lorraine Oswald, 83, died Feb. 9 in Cincinnati. A native of Chicago, she graduated from Notre Dame High School for Girls in 1951 and was a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur for 57 years.

Sister Lorraine, known as “Ozzie,” taught at St. Peter Canisius School (1966-1967) and later was a member of the St. Robert Bellarmine Community for 27 of the 29 years she taught in Villa Park, Illinois.

In addition to teaching, Sister Lorraine used the carpentry skills she learned from her father as volunteer with Cincinnati Housing Partners, helping renovate homes that were made available to low-income, first home buyers.

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur and World War II veteran Marguerite (Marguerite Michael) McHugh, 93, died Feb. 6 in Reading, Ohio.

A native of Cincinnati, she entered religious life in 1954 and made final vows in 1962.

Sister Marguerite had many ambitions in her school years. In 1942 she joined the WAVES and became a gunnery instructor at the U.S. Naval Station in Norfolk, Virginia. After the war, while discerning her vocation, she remained active with Catholic War Veterans. In 2012 she was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.

She served in educational and social-service ministries in Ohio and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Robert Bellarmine (1958-1963).

Sister Marguerite is survived by her youngest sister, Margie.

Providence Sister Regina Shaughnessy, 94, died Feb. 4 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

An Indiana native, Sister Regina entered the Sisters of Providence in 1949 and professed final vows in 1957. She taught high school English, worked in administrative-service positions then joined the staff of the congregation archives.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Columbkille High School (1952- 1956).

Father Richard Joseph Dempsey, 83, died Feb. 4 in Bonita Springs, Florida, where he was retired. Father Dempsey was pastor emeritus of Most Holy Redeemer Parish, Evergreen Park.

Father Dick Dempsey, as he was known, was born in Chicago and attended St. Christina and St. Cajetan schools, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1958.

Father Dempsey was assistant pastor at Our Lady of Grace (1958- 1965); St. Sebastian (1965-1966); Holy Family, North Chicago (1969-1980); and St. Victor, Calumet City (1989-1991).

During this time, he served as chaplain of the Area 7 Catholic Youth Organization and Kelvyn Park High School (1960- 1964). In 1966, Father Dempsey was commissioned as a Navy chaplain. His tours of duty included Vietnam; Okinawa; the Philippines; the USS Constellation aircraft carrier; San Diego and Monterey, California; and the Great Lakes Naval Training Station.

In 1991, he was named pastor of Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Evergreen Park, until his retirement in 2003.

Father Dempsey is survived by his brothers, Msgr. Thomas Dempsey of the Rockford Diocese and Donald Dempsey, and his sisters Deanne O’Toole, Sally Dempsey, Kathleen Moyer and Dominican Sister Dorothy Dempsey.

Adrian Dominican Sister Joyce (Mary Cherubim ) Banks, 85, died Feb. 1 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from Aquinas Dominican High School. She was in the 67th year of her religious life.

Sister Joyce taught music and was a music director in Michigan, Virginia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and in Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Aquinas High School (1966-1973) and was music director at Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, Westchester (1980- 1998).

Sister Joyce is survived by a sister, Jean Griffin.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Jean (Honoria) Richter, 88, died Jan. 30 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Born in Chicago, Sister Jean made her first religious profession in 1948 and her final profession in 1951. She taught elementary school and was a college teacher and administrator in Wisconsin, Illinois, New York and Italy.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Jean taught at St. Vincent Ferrer, River Forest (1950-1953), and served as the dean of Rosary College School of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy (1975-1980).

She is survived by a sister, Margaret “Peggy” Wolfe.