Served for Sixty Years

Father Thomas J. Raftery, 84, pastor emeritus of Sacred Heart Church, Winnetka, died May 9 at Little Company of Mary Hospital, where he had been taken the day before. Though he retired, Father Rafferty was still actively serving the Archdiocese of Chicago.

A Chicago native, Father Raftery was ordained in 1944 by Cardinal Samuel Stritch following studies at Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein.

He served as assistant pastor at St. Cecilia Parish on South Wells, which is now closed, for 11 years beginning in 1944. For nine years, from 1955 to 1964, he was the assistant pastor at St. Dorothy Parish on the South Side. During that time, Father Raftery also taught religion at Mercy High School, formerly located on Prairie Ave. He served as an assistant pastor at St. Raphael, 1964-1967; Resurrection, 1967-1968; and St. Thaddeus, 1968-1973.

Father Raftery was named administrator and then pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Winnetka in 1973. He served there for 17 years until his retirement in 1990, when he was made pastor emeritus.

Though officially retired, Father Raftery did not withdraw from ministry and continued until the time of his death to serve the parish and school communities of Christ the King Parish on the city’s Southwest Side.

Sr. Evangela Dahnke

Nurse/care-giver

Holy Spirit Missionary Sister Evangela (Clara) Dahnke, 90, died May 6. Born in Milwaukee, she was in the 66th year of her religious life. She joined the congregation in 1934 and made her first profession of vows in 1938.

A licensed practical nurse, she served at St. Ann’s Home, Techny, until 1973, when she was called to serve at St. Therese Hospital in Waukegan. In 1982 she returned to the Convent of the Holy Spirit, where she helped to care for the elderly sisters. She is survived by a sister-in-law and nieces and nephews.

Sr. M. Virginette Rokicki

teacher

Franciscan Sister of Chicago Mary Virginette (Gertrude) Rokicki, 94, died May 4. One of nine children, she was born in Venice, Ill. She joined the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago in 1926, and she professed her perpetual vows in 1932. She served as a teacher in several states. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Florian, St. Pancratius, St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr, and St. Louise de Marillac.

She also served her religious community as local secretary, assistant local superior, and local superior.

Sr. M. Cyril Becker

Educator/superior

Sister of Christian Charity Mary Cyril Becker, 92, died April 8. Born in East St. Louis, Ill., she entered the congregation in 1928 in Wilmette, and made her first vows in 1931.

She served as a teacher. She earned her bachelor’s degree from DePaul University, and held a lifetime Professional Elementary Certificate in Louisiana. She also earned a certificate in child care from the School of Social Service at St. Louis University. She taught at St. Gregory School in Chicago from 1943-1945, and at St. Mary School, Riverdale, from 1945-1952. She taught at St. Mary School, Palatine, from 1959-1962.

After working out of state for 12 years, she returned to Wilmette to serve as superior of Sacred Heart Convent. When her term ended, she returned to St. Mary School, Riverdale, where she served from 1980-84. She then held a second term as superior of Sacred Heart Convent from 1985-87. She then tutored students at Holy Ghost School, South Holland, from 1988-89.

She served as supervisor of the maintenance department of Sacred Heart Convent from 1991-93. She then served as superior for a third term.

Fr. John Lemrise

Missionary, novena director

Claretian Father John Lemrise, 80, died April 18. Born in Taunton, Mass., he moved with his parents to the South Side of Chicago, where he attended St. Augustine and Parker high schools. He joined the Claretians in 1940, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1952.

He was transferred to Victoria-ville, Quebec, where he helped establish the Canadian Claretian Province. In 1958, he was sent to a Claretian mission in Osaka, Japan, where he remained until 1963. He then returned to the U.S. to serve as a teacher at the Claretian Brothers school in Peru, Ill.

He served briefly as associate pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Chicago. In 1981, he became novena director at the National Shrine of St. Jude in Chicago, a position he held until he retired in 1999.

Sr. M. Andrea Schueren

educator/principal

Sister of Christian Charity Mary Andrea (Loretta) Schueren, 79, died April 9. Born in Chaska, Minn., she entered the community in 1940 in Wilmette. She made her first vows in 1943.

Sister Schueren’s ministry was education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s in education from DePaul University.

For six years (1943-1949) she taught 3rd grade at St. Raphael School. At St. Mary, Riverdale, she was principal and 8th grade teacher from 1955-1958.

In 1958 she became school supervisor of the province, a position she held until 1968. From 1963-1964 she was stationed at St. Theresa, Palatine, where she was also a part-time teacher in the school and taught in the parish religious education program.

She was transferred to Josephinum High School in 1968, where she was assistant principal until 1971.

Sister Schueren was hired by Catholic Charities in 1972 and worked as secretary until 1977. In 1980, she returned to St. Theresa, Palatine, where she was school librarian until 1982.

The motherhouse in Wilmette was her next mission where, from 1983-1997, she did a variety of jobs: assistant to the local treasurer, tutoring and sewing. From 1999-2001, she returned to Josephinum, offering her services as a teacher in the literacy program.

In 2001, she was transferred to Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette, and retired from teaching, but continued to assist with sewing and light duties.

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