Issue of February 16, 2003

Norine McGeeney

Was New World employee

Norine McGeeney, 53, died Feb. 20 after battling breast cancer for a year. From 1995-2001 she worked at The Catholic New World in a variety of capacities, including production, the parish newspaper network and classified advertising.

She served in the Navy from 1969-1971 as a photographer. She later earned a degree in sociology, a master’s degree in photography and a master’s degree in human resources.

She was a volunteer counselor at Jobs for Youth and the Literacy Council of Chicago and believed in the possibilities of everyone.

She is survived by a brother, Michael, her mother, Margaret McGeeney, and a sister, Marilyn McGeeney.

Sr. M. Ruth Ambrose

Teacher

Sister of St. Casimir Mary Ruth Ambrose died Feb. 8 at age 69. A Cicero native, she was a member of the Sisters of St. Casimir for 50 years. She ministered as an elementary school teacher in the following archdiocesan schools: St. George, Nativity BVM and Our Lady of Vilna/St. Paul in Chicago, St. Anthony in Cicero and St. Bartholomew in Waukegan.

Sr. Margaret McCarthy

Teacher

Society of the Holy Child Jesus Sister Margaret McCarthy died Feb. 8 at age 85. A New York native, she entered the congregation in 1935 and was a religious for more than 65 years. She ministered in several states and in Rome. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Ignatius Grade School in the 1940s.

Sr. Mary Haley

teacher

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Haley, 92, died Feb. 8. A native of Chicago, she entered the novitiate in 1934 after graduating from Rosary College in River Forest. She made her final profession of vows in 1939. She taught math in high schools in several states. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Visitation High School, Chicago, and at Trinity High School, River Forest.

Sr. Agnes Kulovitz

taught the blind

Benedictine Sister Agnes Therese Kulovitz died Feb. 7 at age 87. A native of Vienna, Austria, she moved to Chicago with her family and attended St. George School. She joined the Benedictine Sisters community in 1932.

After teaching on the primary level, she was certified as a teacher of the blind and later instructed other educators in the program.

In 1955 she initiated and taught a program at St. Hilary School where blind children were trained in Braille, taught appropriate study skills, and then mainstreamed into classes with their sighted peers.

After serving in the education field, she graduated from St. Mary of Nazareth School of Nursing as a registered nurse in 1973. She worked on the pediatrics floor of the University of Illinois Hospital until she retired in 1984.

Sr. Carissima Zelenak

teacher

Holy Spirit Missionary Sister Carissima Zelenak, 90, died Jan. 30. She was a sister for 67 years.

Born in Nitra, Czechoslovakia, she joined the congregation in Austria. She came to the U.S. after celebrating her first profession of vows. She served as a teacher in several states and then was chairperson for the Holy Spirit Missionary Association.

Sr. Merici Valgoi

Teacher

Adrian Dominican Sister Merici (Natalie Catherine) Valgoi, 87, died Jan. 29. She was in the 65th year of her religious profession. She spent 50 years ministering in Illinois, Michigan, florida and Ohio. In the Archdiocese of Chicago she taught at St. Kevin in Chicago for eight years.

Sr. Ann Mary Bender

educator

School Sister of St. Francis Ann Mary Bender died Jan. 29 at age 83. A native of Chicago, she was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis community in 1937 and made profession of vows in 1939. She lived her religious ministry in education. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was principal at Alvernia High School from 1963-67 and director of student teachers from 1969-72. She founded and was educational consultant for the Chrysalis Learning Center at Alvernia, 1972-80.

Sr. M. Meinrada Gorecky

Teacher

Benedictine Sister Mary Meinrada Gorecky, 98, died Jan. 27. Born in Moravia, she came to the U.S. while in her teens.

She began her elementary teaching career in Chicago and served at St. Michael; Holy Mount, Cicero; and St. Mary of Celle, Berwyn.

Sr. Pauline Wettrick

Served in several states

Cenacle Sister Pauline Wettrick died Jan. 24 at age 89. She had been a Cenacle Sister for 53 years. A native of Seattle, she came to Chicago in 1945 to attend the Moody Bible Institute. She then met a Catholic woman and sought direction from a priest. She was received into the Catholic Church in 1946 and entered the Cenacle novitiate in 1950. She served in Cenacles in several states and in Canada. She ministered in retreats, religious education and the Charismatic prayer renewal.

Sr. M. Alfred Proteau

Teacher

Sister of Mercy Mary Alfred Proteau, 90, died Jan. 23. She was a Sister of Mercy for 72 years.

A native of Oak Park, she served as a teacher at Resurrection School, St. Catherine of Siena (Oak Park), St. Malachy, All Saints, St. Mary of the Lake, Siena High School, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Lucy, St. Gabriel, St. Patrick Academy (Des Plaines), and Mother McAuley High School.

From 1981 until she retired in 2000, she was on staff at the Sisters of Mercy Regional Center.

Sr. M. Linus Mearna

Teacher

Sister of Mercy Mary Linus Mearna, 96, died Jan. 23. She was a Sister of Mercy for 72 years.

A native of Chicago, she served as a teacher in the archdiocese at St. Thomas Aquinas, Little Flower, St. Xavier College, St. Gabriel, St. Cecilia, St. Joachim, Holy Rosary, St. Irenaeus (Park Forest), St. Patrick Academy (Des Plaines), Mercy High School, and Mother McAuley High School.