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Obituaries

Issue of Jan. 7, 2007

Father John M. Murphy
FORMER PASTOR

Father John M. Murphy, 68, died Dec. 29. Father Murphy had been associate pastor at St. Cornelius Parish in Chicago. He attended St. Cajetan Elementary School and Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago before being admitted to Mundelein Seminary/ University of St. Mary of The Lake. After being ordained in 1965, Father Murphy served as an associate pastor at St. Edward (1965-73); St. Philip the Apostle, Northfield (1973-75); St. Thomas More (1875-1982); St. Alexander, Palos Heights (1982-87); and St. Jude the Apostle, South Holland (1987-1992). He served as pastor at St. Edward from 1992-2004. He was appointed a resident of St. Hilary on Feb. 28, 2005 and remained there until July 1. He then became an associate pastor of St. Cornelius Parish.

Br. Robert Joseph Fisher
HALL OF FAME TEACHER

Augustinian Brother Robert J. Fisher, 72, died Dec. 20 after a short illness. Born in Chicago, he attended St. Justin School and then St. Rita High School. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he served at Mendel Catholic High School from 1957-59; and St. Rita High School from 1959-1981. There he was called the “spark plug of the automotives department.” In 1997 he was inducted into the St. Rita High School Hall of Fame. In 1981, he was assigned to St. John Stone Friary, Chicago, where he served on the formation team. He also served in New Lenox and Kankakee, Ill.; in Detroit, Mich.; and in Ontario, Canada. He is survived by three sisters, Sister Dolores Fisher, S.S.J.-T.O.S.F., Dorothy Sorce, and Edwardine Wisner, and several nieces and nephews.

Sr. Jane Maher
Teacher, Principal Sister of Providence

Jane Maher, 87, died Dec. 1 at Mother Theodore Hall, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind. Born in Indianapolis, she joined the congregation in 1940. An educator, Sister Jane ministered as a teacher and principal for 37 years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Francis Xavier, Wilmette, 1940-43; St. Leo, 1945-56; Maternity BVM, 1946-47; and Immaculate Conception, Norwood Park, 1961-62.

Sister Aelred Surber
Caretaker

Sister of Mercy Mary Aelred Surber, 83, died Dec. 13 at McAuley Convent in Aurora. Born in Chicago, she entered the congregation in 1941. Sister Aelred spent most of her time taking care of the sick, praying and doing volunteer work, retiring in 1986.

Sr. Helen Condon
Educator, Poet

Sacred Heart Sister Helen Condon, 85, an educator in Omaha, Neb., and Lake Forest died Dec. 21 in California. She was a native of the Chicago area who attended Convent of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest. She began teaching at Academy of the Sacred Heart, Chicago, in 1945. During her five decades as an educator, she served as dean of students at Barat College in Lake Forest from 1952 to 1955 and oversaw administration of the boarding and day school at Academy of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest from 1955 to 1964. From 1968 to 1972, she worked in administration for her religious community in the Chicago area. She taught English and religious studies at Barat College and directed the campus ministry office from 1981 until 1993. Sister Condon was a poet whose work flowed from her contemplative life. Sister Condon is survived by a sister, Barbara O’Shaughnessy of Wilmette.

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