Issue of February 13, 2005

Fr. Thomas McKiernan Served in Palos Heights Father Thomas M. McKiernan, 79, retired priest and former associate and administrator of St. Alexander Parish in Palos Heights, died Jan. 26 at Holy Family Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Des Plaines. Born on Chicago’s South Side in 1925, Father McKiernan graduated from Visitation Grade School before attending Quigley Seminary. He completed his studies at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, and was ordained in 1951. Father McKiernan first served  at Holy Angels Parish in Chicago. After leaving Holy Angels (1951-52), he served as associate pastor at Epiphany Parish (1952-57), at St. Agnes in Chicago Heights (1957-1966), at St. Simeon Parish in Bellwood (1966-67), at Transfiguration Parish (1967), and St. Angela (1967-1973). Father McKiernan later served as an associate pastor at Divine Providence in Westchester (1973-78), at St. Odilo Parish in Berwyn (1978-1982), and St. Edmund in Oak Park (1982-88). He came to St. Alexander Parish in Palos Heights as an associate pastor in 1989. He served as  parish administrator in early 1997 until his retirement from active ministry in July 1998. At the time of his death, he resided at St. Benedict Home in Niles.

Sr. M. Rose Solivay Educator, pastoral minister Sister of the Living Word Mary Rose Solivay died Dec. 18 at St. Francis Hospital, Evanston. She entered the Sisters of Christian Charity in 1939 and the Sisters of the Living Word in 1975. Her early ministry as an educator found her at Notre Dame, Clarendon Hills; St. Gregory the Great High School, Chicago; and DePaul University, Chicago. In the 1980s, she ministered as a pastoral minister at Benedict Nursing Home and Forest Villa Nursing Center. In retirement, Sister Mary Rose became the driving force behind the Living Word Associate Program and the Partners in Prayer. She initiated two Scripture study groups at St. Juliana Parish, Chicago. Sr.

Ita Marie Brennan Teacher Adrian Dominican Sister Ita Marie Brennan, 90, formerly known as Annie Brennan, died Jan. 20 at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Mich. She was in the 65th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation. She was born in Hollymount, County Mayo, Ireland. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Adrian, Michigan and received a bachelor’s degree in history from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and master’s degrees in education and religious studies from Barry College (University) in Miami. Sister Ita Marie spent 49 years ministering in education in several states. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel from 1942-47  and at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel from 1947-48. Sister Ita Marie retired in 1992 in West Palm Beach and came to the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 2002. She is survived by a sister, Mrs. Bridget Naughton of County Mayo, Ireland, and nieces and nephews.

Sr. Thomasella Fitzsimmons educator BVM Sister Thomasella Fitzsimmons, 96, died Jan. 16 in Dubuque, Iowa. Born in 1908 in Clinton, Iowa,  she graduated from Our Lady of Angels Academy, Clinton, before entering the BVM congregation in 1927. She professed first vows in 1929 and final vows in 1935. Sister Thomasella taught in the Archdiocese of Chicago at St. Charles, 1929-30; St. Dorothy, 1945-52; Our Lady of Angels, 1964-79; and was a volunteer at Santa Maria del Popolo, Mundelein, 1991-98. In retirement, she lived at Our Lady of Angels Convent. She also was an educator in Iowa, Missouri and California. She is survived by nieces, and the Sisters of Charity, with whom she shared life for 77 years.

Fr. Eugene Schmitz served in Indonesia Chicago-born Divine Word Missionary Father Eugene Schmitz died Jan. 8 of a heart attack in Surabaya, Java, Indonesia. At age 66, he was the last North American Divine Word Missionary to be allowed to remain in Indonesia on a permanent assignment. He grew up in St. Peter Parish, Skokie, and attended St. Norbert Grade School in Northbrook. He entered the Society of the Divine Word in 1953, and completed studies for the priesthood at St. Mary’s Seminary, Techny, where he was ordained in 1967. His first mission appointment was to Indonesia in 1968. He served the far flung mission parishes in the mountainous area of the Island of Lembata for more than 10 years. In 1979, he became district superior for Divine Word Missionaries on Lembata. He served nine parishes of between six and 10 thousand parishioners with the help of 12 priests. He also took charge of the mission repair shops, the Catholic school board and the formation team on the island. In November 2004, Fr. Schmitz took up a new assignment as vicar general of the Diocese of Larantuka after 36 years as a missionary pastor and dean of the ten parishes on the island of Lembata. Father Schmitz would spend time ministering at St. Peter Parish inSkokie whenever he came back on home leave, as he did in 1992 to celebrate his silver jubilee. He is survived by his brother, Gerard Schmitz of Niles, and his sister,

Sister Maryellen Schmitz, OSF, of Milwaukee. Sr. Lydia Flood teacher Sister of Mercy Lydia Flood, 99,  died Jan. 8 at Provena McAuley Manor in Aurora.  
Born in Parnel, Wis., she was a Sister of Mercy for 79 years. She taught at Mercy High School in Milwaukee, Wis. and in Wisconsin elementary schools. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Siena High School in Chicago. Sister Lydia retired in 1976 and most recently resided at Provena McAuley Manor in Aurora.