Issue of August 4, 2002

Fr. Andrew J. McDonagh

pastor emeritus

Father Andrew J. McDonagh, 84, pastor emeritus of St. Mary of the Woods Church, died July 24. He had recently marked his 60th jubilee.

For the last 35 years—as he served in full-time parish ministry and in retirement—Father McDonagh counseled priests dealing with the stresses of alcoholism and addiction.

Ordained in 1942, the Chicago native served as an assistant pastor at St. Charles Borromeo (now closed), St. Barnabas, St. Nicholas of Tolentine and St. Juliana before being named pastor of St. Nicholas, Evanston in 1968. In 1976, Father McDonagh became pastor of St. Mary of the Woods in Chicago’s Edgebrook neighborhood. He served there until his retirement in 1987.

Father McDonagh received a master’s degree in clinical psychology in 1961 and began ministering to priests afflicted with substance abuse problems. He continued that ministry until shortly before his death.

“I was blessed to know Father Andy for 30 years, and shared in the Lord’s ministry with him since 1992,” said Father Greg Sakowicz, current pastor at St. Mary of the Woods where Father McDonagh resided. “His deep faith and love for God’s people only begins to summarize his 60 years as a priest.”

Sr. M. Ralph Stawasz

teacher, administrator

Chicago Franciscan Sister M. Ralph Stawasz, 84, died July 13 at the Franciscan Motherhouse in Lemont. She had been a member of the congregation for 68 years.

Born in Chicago, she entered the novitiate in 1934 and professed final vows in 1942. She taught at St. Pancratius School in Chicago for 14 years before working at Alvernia Rest Home, Parma, Ohio. She became the local superior and the home’s administrator in 1962.

In 1969 she became the order’s general treasurer and retired in 1988.

Dominick J. Velo

construction executive

Dominick J. Velo, 85, father of Msgr. Kenneth Velo, died July 11. An architect and contractor, Mr. Velo was the former president of the Construction Employers Association and the Builders Association of Chicago. He also was chairman of the board of Heritage Bank of Country Club Hills and on the board of the Heritage County Bank and Trust.

He was married 62 years to his wife Jeanne, who survives him.

Mr. Velo had served as president of the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy School for Exceptional Children, on the board of Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Benedictine University, Mercy Healthcare and Rehab Center and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. He also served as a trustee of St. Xavier University, Chicago.

Donations are being accepted to the Dominick J. Velo Scholarship Fund at Infant of Prague Parish School, Flossmoor.

Sr. Thomas Ellen McGowan

teacher, principal

Adrian Dominican Sister Thomas Ellen (Mary Louise) McGowan died July 22. She was 82 and a 64-year member of her congregation.

The Chicago native and Mercy High School alum was an educator and school principal, serving in Chicago, Michigan, Florida, Iowa and New York. She retired in 1987 and went to the Dominican Life Center, Adrian, Mich., in 1996.

Bernard Hanley

Investor, school backer

Bernard K. Hanley, 69, died July 22. He was past president of the board at Trinity High School, River Forest, and also served on the board of his alma mater, Fenwick High School, Oak Park.

The father of nine, Mr. Hanley was a senior vice president of Morgan Stanley.

Father Ronald E. Murphy

scripture scholar

Carmelite Father Ronald E. Murphy, 85, died July 20 in Washington D.C.

Father Murphy was born in Chicago and ordained a Carmelite priest in 1942. For a quarter of a century he taught Scripture at Whitefrairs Hall, the major Carmelite seminary in Washington, and at Catholic University of America. In 1958 he became editor of the Catholic Biblical Quarterly. He was a prolific writer and received many awards.

He left CUA in 1970 and became a visiting professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Yale Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminary. In 1971 he joined Duke University. He retired in 1986.

Sr. Mary Barbara Michniewicz

teacher

Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth Mary Barbara Michniewicz died July 5.

She was a member of the congregation for nearly 66 years and had been an educator for more than a half-century, teaching at several Chicago-area schools.

She served more than 25 years at Holy Family Academy and Holy Trinity High School here.

Sr. Cordelia Laczynski

teacher

Sister of St. Joseph (TOSF) Cordelia Laczynski, a member of her religious community for 65 years, died July 19.

She taught in schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago and the dioceses of Joliet and Gary, Ind., before retiring in 1984.

Sr. De Chantal Mazuryk

sacristan, floral expert

Chicago Franciscan Sister De Chantal Mazuryk, 87, died July 23. Born in Montreal, Canada, she moved to Chicago in 1919.

Sister De Chantal entered the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago in 1933 and served for many years as a sacristan and in domestic service. She was especially appreciated for her skill in arranging floral displays. She retired in 1987.

Sr. Ione Laurick

teacher for 53 years

School Sister of St. Francis Ione Laurick, 84, died July 25. The Chicago native joined the community in 1937 and made her final profession in 1939.

Sister Laurick lived her religious ministry in education, serving 53 years as a teacher in schools across the archdiocese and served as principal at Our Lady of Good Counsel here .

At the time of her death, she had retired and was living at Marian Hall, Milwaukee.

Sr. Bonita Brand

teacher

Sister of the Living Word Bonita Brand, 78, died July 17. In June, she celebrated her 60th jubilee as a religious.

She taught at several schools in the archdiocese, including Josephinum and St. Gregory high schools.