Sr. Marie Antoinette Witrod
Educator from Chicago
Felician Sister Marie Antoinette Witrod, 95, died Dec. 22. Born in Chicago, she entered the Felician Sisters in 1929 from Sacred Heart Parish, and professed her final vows in 1937. She taught in schools in Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas and Minnesota. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Wenceslaus, 1931-32 and 1984-91; St. Hedwig in Niles, 1932-37; St. Joseph High School, 1945-55 and 1956-63; Christ the King in Lombard, 1965-66; St. Bruno, 1968-70; Holy Rosary in North Chicago, 1972-74; and St. Mary Magdalen, 1981-83.

Sr. Vincent Honc
St. Joseph Hospital Nurse
Daughter of Charity Sister Vincent Honc, 82, died Jan. 2 at the Seton Residence, Evansville, Ind. She entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis, Mo. in 1944.
Her first assignment was to St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago, where she served as a student nurse and later as an operating room supervisor. She served at St. Joseph Hospital from 1945-53. She also earned her bachelor’s degree from DePaul University in 1950. She served as an operating room supervisor at hospitals in Missouri, California and Alabama. She ministered in pastoral care at hospitals in Indiana and Wisconsin. From 1991 until the present, Sister Vincent assisted with nursing duties and driving at Seton Residence.

Sr. Margaret Diemer
Educator, librarian
School Sister of St. Francis Margaret Diemer (Melito), 97, died Dec. 27 at St. Joseph Convent in Campbellsport, Wis. Born in Chicago, she entered the congregation in 1926 and professed vows in 1933.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Holy Angels School, 1949-65; St. Mary School in Buffalo Grove, 1965-67; and St. Philomena School, 1970-72. She was also a librarian at Holy Angels School from 1973-74. Sister Margaret served as a volunteer coordinator at Friendship House in Chicago from 1967-68 and worked in the food department of St. William Retirement Center in Chicago from 1981-86.

Mrs. Margaret Lagges
Mother of priest
Mrs. Margaret Lagges, mother of Father Patrick Lagges, died Jan. 22. Father Lagges is the Vicar of the Office of Canonical Services. He was the main celebrant at a Jan. 25 funeral Mass for Mrs. Lagges at St. Zachary Church, Des Plaines. Mrs. Lagges is survived by two other sons, Deacon Peter Lagges of St. Zachary Church and Charles Lagges.

Fr. Reginald Bender
Chicago native
Benedictine Father Reginald G. Bender, 74, died Jan. 8. A native of Chicago, he made his simple profession of vows in 1953 and solemn profession of vows in 1956. He was ordained in 1959.
Father Bender earned a bachelor’s degree from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. in 1955, his licentiate in sacred theology from the Catholic University of America in 1967, and his doctorate in sacred theology from the Catholic University of America in 1974.
Father Bender had been a resident at Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, where he served as socius of novices (1953-54), director of the Archabbey Press (1958-66), and prior of the archabbey (1974-80). He also served at Saint Vincent Preparatory School in Latrobe. He is survived by his three siblings, James Bender and Barbara Doane of Chicago, and Mary Lorden of Peru, Ill.

Fr. John McCarville
Pastor
Father John J. McCarville, 68, pastor of St. Simeon Parish in Bellwood, died Jan. 24 at Westlake Hospital. Cardinal George was the main celebrant at a funeral Mass for Father McCarville on Jan. 29 at St. Simeon Church.
Born in Chicago, Father McCarville attended St. Thomas Aquinas grade school, Quigley Preparatory Seminary North and University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained in 1965.
Father McCarville served as assistant pastor at St. Malachy, 1965-71; coordinator of the Westside Catholic Cluster, 1971-74; co-pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas, 1974-82; associate pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes, 1982-87; and associate pastor at St. Angela Parish, 1987-92.
He was appointed pastor of St. Simeon Parish in 1992.
Father McCarville is survived by two sisters, Nora Wysocki and Mary Jackson, and a brother, Robert McCarville.

Fr. Peter Yangas
Born in Visitation Parish
Father Peter Michael Yangas, 74, died Jan. 25 at Resurrection Hospital of cardiovascular complications following heart surgery. Father Yangas was a resident at St. Eugene Church.
Bishop Thad Jakubowski presided at a Jan. 31 funeral Mass at St. Eugene Church.
Born in Visitation Parish, Father Yangas graduated from William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. in 1954. He served as a Medical Aidman in the U.S. Army before entering the seminary. He earned a master’s degree from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in 1963 and was ordained in 1964.
Father Yangas served as assistant pastor of the now closed Holy Rosary Church, 1964-65; St. Monica Parish, 1965-69; and St. Edmund Parish in Oak Park, 1969-75. He also served as associate pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Melrose Park, 1975-78; St. Simon the Apostle Parish, 1978-83; Our Lady of Charity Parish in Cicero, 1983-88; St. Daniel the Prophet Parish, 1988-92; and St. Marcelline Parish, 1992-2002. He became a senior priest in residence at St. Eugene Parish in June 2002.