Issue of November 24, 2002

Sr. Marie Stanton

Educator, social worker

Adrian Dominican Sister Marie Brendan Stanton died Nov. 15 at age 93. She spent 42 years ministering in education in several states. She ministered in social work in Chicago and also served as librarian. She retired in 1978 at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Mich.

Sr. M. Joseph Grochowski

Activity director, seamstress

Franciscan Sister Mary Joseph Grochowski died Nov. 15 at age 82. She used her talent for arts and crafts, especially sewing, in the sisters’ embroidery department at St. Joseph Home in Chicago for many years. She embroidered liturgical vestments and religious banners used in many parishes. She later served as activity director at St. Joseph Home. She ministered at St. Joseph Home for a total of 27 years, with other assignments taking her out of state.

Gerald Prete

Lobbied for seniors

Gerald Prete died Nov. 11 at age 82. He joined Catholic Charities in 1968 as director of senior services, where he organized more than 500 senior clubs, centers and trips for seniors and lobbied for senior services. He became a national lobbyist for seniors regarding health and housing issues. Prete helped to build more than 800 low-income senior apartments in North Park Village. Prete, with his wife Anne, founded the Alverno Religious Goods Store. They were members of Ascension Parish in Oak Park for more than 40 years.

Sr. M. Honora McNicholas

Teacher

Sister of Mercy Mary Honora McNicholas died Nov. 11 at age 70. She had been a Sister of Mercy for 51 years. She served as a teacher in several schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago. She was administrative director at St. Mary of the Lake for nine years. She also served as administrative director at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines.

Sr. Rose Bzibziak

teacher

Franciscan Sister Rose Therese Bzibziak died Nov. 10 at age 87. During her 53 years of teaching, she was on the faculty of 12 different schools, four of which were in Chicago. She later served the elderly as a seamstress at a retirement home.

Sr. M. Salome Chepul

Teacher, organist

Sister of St. Casimir M. Salome Chepul died Nov. 6 at age 91. She served as educator, music teacher and organist in Chicago and in the east.

Sr. Mary Ellen Quinn

educator

Sister of Providence Mary Ellen Quinn died Nov. 9 at age 79. She taught in schools staffed by the Sisters of Providence in several states and in Taiwan. She taught at the elementary, secondary, and university levels. She taught at three schools in Chicago between 1950 and 1967.

Sr. M. Laurette Winiarski

teacher

Sister of the Resurrection Mary Laurette Winiarski died Nov. 7. She ministered in teaching in several schools in the Chicago area and in Florida. She also served as superior and administrator of Resurrection Day Care and as superior of the Queen of the Resurrection House of Prayer in Chicago.

Sr. Margaret Smith

Nurse’s aide

Dominican Sister Margaret Smith died Nov. 11 at age 75. She served as a nurse’s aide for 28 years. While in Chicago, she served as province secretary for the Sinsinawa Dominican Southeast Province. She also served on the staff at Queen of Peace Ministry Center in Burbank.

Dr. Bill Bilton

EWTN employee

Bill Bilton, Ph.D., a long-time EWTN Global Catholic Network employee, died Nov. 5. He had been with EWTN for eight years, where he started as Coordinator of Viewer Services. Because of his extensive religious and secular educational background, Dr. Bilton was named the first Dean of the St. Joseph’s House of Studies, an undergraduate program serving the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word. He then joined EWTN’s Theology Department, where he was a theology advisor, answering on-line and written queries about the Catholic faith, in addition to reviewing programs acquired for airing on EWTN.

Sr. M. Claudia Bomba

Served Franciscan sisters

Franciscan Sister Mary Claudia Bomba died Nov. 5 at age 85. She served the sisters in internal ministry during her religious life. She served as a cook for the sisters at convents in several states. She later served as sacristan at St. Pancratius and at Five Holy Martyrs parishes.

Sr. M. Natalie Uscinowicz

Nurse, teacher

Franciscan Sister Mary Natalie Uscinowicz died Nov. 4 at age 85. She served her ministry in education, teaching primary grades at schools in several states. She then studied nursing and nursing education. She served as infirmary director at St. Joseph Home in Chicago before going to South Dakota, where she was director of the school of nursing at St. John Hospital for 18 years.

Sr. Francine Clare Pozdolski

Teacher, librarian

Sister of the Resurrection Francine Clare Pozdolski died Nov. 2. She entered the congregation in 1928 and taught at several Chicago-area schools. She also served as teacher and librarian at Resurrection High School for 47 continuous years.

Sr. M. Lorenza Pazniokas

Former general superior

Sister of St. Casimir Mary Lorenza Pazniokas died Nov. 1 at age 90. She served as general superior of the Sisters of St. Casimir from 1970-78. She also worked as supervisor of the X-ray department at Holy Cross and Loretto Hospitals in Chicago and at hospitals in Nebraska.

Sr. Laurice Binder

teacher

School Sister of Notre Dame Laurice Binder died Oct. 31. She spent many years ministering as a teacher in Chicago Catholic schools, including St. Margaret, St. Ambrose, St. Alphonsus, St. Michael and Holy Rosary.

Sr. M. de Chantal Biala

educator

Felician Sister Mary De Chantal Biala, 97, died Oct. 28. She was a Felician Sister for 78 years. She ministered as a teacher in Illinois and Wisconsin and studied in Spain and Mexico.