Teacher

School Sister of St. Francis Loretta Marie Kuhagen, 90, died August 10. A Chicago native, she was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1933 and was professed in 1935. Her twin sister, Sara, also a School Sister of St. Francis, preceded her in death. A sister for 70 years, Loretta taught at St. Joseph School, Wilmette, from 1957-79, and served as librarian and tutor at St. Cyprian School, River Grove, from 1979-95.

Sr. Joan Clare Maiers

Religious educator

Sister of St. Joseph Mary Joan Clare Maiers, 82, died Aug. 7. A native of Milwaukee, she was a Sister of St. Joseph for 63 years, ministering in religious education. She taught at St. Mary, Riverside; Divine Infant, Westchester; St. John Fisher, Chicago, and at St. Cletus, LaGrange.

Fr. Peter Hayes

World War II chaplain

A priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, who served as a chaplain during World War II, Father Peter F. Hayes, 90, died Aug. 4, of heart failure. At the time of his death he was a resident of St. Benedict Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Niles. Father Hayes served the people of Chicago’s Northwest Side and Lake County as an assistant pastor, pastor and chaplain for 45 years.

Born in Chicago in 1913, he attended St. Mel grade school. He was a graduate of Quigley Preparatory Seminary and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein.

When Father Hayes was ordained by Cardinal George Mundelein in 1938, he joined his brother, Father John B. Hayes, ordained four years earlier, as a priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Father John Hayes, who became a monsignor, died in 1982.

Father Peter Hayes served as assistant pastor at two Northwest Side parishes, St. Priscilla (1938-1943) and St. Pascal (1946-1949). Between these parish assignments, he was a chaplain in the U.S. Navy for three years during World War II.

For 17 years, beginning in 1949, he was the chaplain at St. Theresa Hospital in Waukegan.

He left that ministry to become the pastor of a new parish established on Chicago’s Northwest Side, Our Lady Mother of the Church. He was the pastor there for 17 years, and was made pastor emeritus of the parish upon his retirement from active ministry in 1983. He often said that being the founding pastor of a new parish was his proudest moment, and he carried his concern for the people of Our Lady Mother of the Church Parish with him throughout his retirement years.

Father Hayes is survived by a brother, Walter Hayes, and a sister, who is also a resident of St. Benedict Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

Sr. Miriam Wonderly

teacher

Sister of Providence Miriam Loretto Wonderly, 93, died Aug. 2. A native of Guilford, Mo., she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1928 and professed her final vows in 1935. She taught in schools staffed by the Sisters of Providence in several states. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Sorrows, 1930-31; St. Athanasius, Evanston, 1935-39; St. Angela, Chicago, 1941-43; St. Genevieve, Chicago, 1949-51; Maternity BVM, Chicago, 1965-71; and at Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove, 1978-89.

Daniel Keogh

theology teacher

Daniel Keogh, 56, died Aug. 1, six weeks after being diagnosed with cancer. A Chicago native, he grew up on the West Side. He attended Our Lady Help of Christians grade school, Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary and St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary.

Although he discerned he was not called to the priesthood, he taught theology for 30 years, first at Trinity High School in River Forest, then at Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in Westchester, where he taught for 27 years. A long-time parishioner at Holy Name Cathedral, he is survived by sisters Shelly Amorella and Kay Martin and nieces and nephews.

Sr. Anne Pauline Schilf

Teacher

Sister of Providence Anne Pauline Schilf, 90, died August 1. A Chicago native, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1931 and professed her final vows in 1941. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Leo, 1935-36; Providence High School, 1950-56; and Marywood, Evanston 1961-63 and 1965-69.

She served at Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove, in various capacities, including teacher, campus director and substitute from 1975-77 and 1981-92. She served at the National Sisters’ Vocation Conference in Chicago from 1977-79, and at Immaculate Conception, Chicago, from 1979-81.

Marcelino Soto Velez

Deacon

Deaon Marcelino Soto Velez died July 28. Ordained to the Diaconate in 1975, he served at St. Sylvester Parish in Chicago’s Near Northwest Side. In 1978, he moved to Puerto Rico, where he resided with his family.

Sr. Stella Posacki

teacher

Franciscan Sister Stella Posacki, 88, died July 25. She had been a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis for 69 years. She taught in several states.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago she taught at St. Fidelis (now closed), St. Roman (now closed), Transfiguration, St. Mary of Czestochowa, St. Mary of Perpetual Help, and the Bartlett Learning Center. She is survived by her sister, Jean Szczesniak and many nieces and nephews.

Sr. M. Laetitia Kolczak

Cook, crafter

Franciscan Sister of Chicago Mary Laetitia Kolczak, 84, died July 24. A native of New Chicago, Ind., she entered the congregation in 1935 at age 16. She made her perpetual profession of vows in 1943. Holding a diploma from the Antoinette and Francois Pope School and certified as a food service supervisor, Sister Laetitia served as a cook in several states. In Chicago, she served at St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Convent, at the Motherhouse, and at Madonna High School. She later ministered in central supply for hospital supplies.

Sister was known as a prayerful person with a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom she prayed all 15 decades of the rosary daily. She was also known for crafting items, especially her velvet pillows. She frequented garage sales in search of items to refurbish and turn into treasures for others to use.

Sr. Justinia Kress

Music teacher

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Justinia Kress died July 22 at age 91. A native of Dubuque, Iowa, she made her final profession of vows in 1940. She ministered in music education as a teacher of music and voice.

She served in several states and was congregation supervisor of music from 1958-69. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she resided at St. Jarlath Convent and supervised the Chicago schools staffed by Sinsinawa Dominicans from 1968-69. She taught at Queen of Peace High School, Burbank, from 1974-77.

Sr. Peter Claver Ducat

Teacher

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Peter Claver Ducat, 83, died July 16. A native of Milwaukee, she made her final profession of vows in 1948.

She served as a teacher and librarian for 27 years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Visitation High School, Chicago, from 1947-49.

She was librarian at Rosary College (now Dominican University) in River Forest from 1954-55. From 1957-67 she served as director of the library science department. She was also assistant director of development at Rosary College from 1971-73.

Top

Front Page