Issue of Feb. 19, 2006
Mother of Bishop Kane
Kathleen Kane, the mother of Bishop Francis Kane, died Feb. 3 at St. Patrick Home, Naperville. She was 96. A funeral Mass was held Feb. 7 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Naperville. Bishop Kane was the main celebrant of the Mass. Internment was at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip.
Mrs. Kane, whose maiden name was Groarke, was a native of Our Lady of Knock Parish in the town of Knock in County Mayo, Ireland. She and her late husband Frank began their married life at Our Lady of Peace Parish. They later moved to St. Ferdinand Parish, the church where Bishop Kane celebrated his first Mass after his ordination as a priest in 1969.
In addition to Bishop Kane, Mrs. Kane is survived by four other children: Joseph (Sarah), James (Marianne), Mary Ellen (Edward) Burke and Regina (Charles) Millington; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Fr. Jerome Klug
Pastor
Father Jerome Klug, former pastor of St. Peter Damian Parish in Bartlett, died of heart failure Jan. 30 at the Rosewood Nursing Home, Northbrook. He was 82 years old. A native of Chicago’s Northwest Side, Father Klug attended St. Edward School and Quigley Preparatory Seminary. He graduated from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein and was ordained by Samuel Cardinal Stritch in 1949.
He served as assistant pastor at St. Gregory Parish on the North Side (1949-59); St. Nicholas Parish in Evanston (1959-64); the now-closed Immaculate Conception Parish (1964-68); Little Flower Parish, also closed (1968-72); and Holy Cross Parish in Deerfield (1972-73).
In 1973, he was named pastor of St. Peter Damian in Bartlett, where he served for 17 years before his retirement in 1990. He was named pastor emeritus in that year. At St. Peter Damian, Father Klug oversaw the building of a new rectory, church and a parish religious education center.
In the 1960s and early ’70s, Father Klug also served on the faculties at St. Scholastica and Maria high schools. From 1968-72, he was the director for the former Little Flower High School.
Deacon Matt Teolis
First mayor of Vernon Hills
Deacon Matt Teolis, 78, died in Pompano Beach, Fla., Dec. 31. Drafted into the U.S. Army at age 18, he was a chaplain’s assistant in World War II. Following military service he attended Columbia College in 1947, and for a time was an announcer on Bishop Sheil’s radio station, WFJL, in Chicago.
After working at a lumber company, he began a successful career in the construction business. Deacon Teolis was elected first mayor of Vernon Hills, 1958-1962, and in 1964 became president of his own company, Teolis Builders, Inc.
Ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1975, he ministered at his home parish, St. Benedict on the Northwest Side, where he had served as president of the parish council. He was recruitment director for the Office of the Permanent Diaconate from 1973-76.
He received bachelor and master degrees in human resource development; a master of divinity from St. Mary of the Woods College, Indiana; and a doctorate in pastoral ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary.
He and his wife, Arlene, moved to St. James Parish, Sauk Village, in 1978. Once there, Deacon Teolis ministered at St. James, at St. Agnes Parish in Chicago Heights, and as chaplain at St. James Hospital, Chicago Heights, before relocating to Florida in 1996. In Pompano Beach, he served as deacon at St. Gabriel Parish and as chaplain at Holy Cross Hospital until his death from cancer.
He is survived by his wife and six children. He donated his body to the University of Miami Medical School.
Sr. Anna Ruth Bethke
Music professor
BVM Sister Anna Ruth Bethke, 95, died Dec. 30 at Marian Hall, Dubuque, Iowa. Sister Bethke was born in Greene, Iowa and graduated from Clarke College, Dubuque, before entering the BVM congregation in 1932. She professed first vows on March 19, 1935 and final vows on Aug. 15, 1940.
Sister Bethke was a member of the music department faculty at Mundelein College from 1935-57 and Clarke College from 1957-83.
Patricia Ruth Donovan
Mother of LNC creator
Patricia Ruth Donovan died Dec. 28 at St. Vincent Hospital, Hollywood, Calif. She was 72.
Mrs. Donovan was the mother of Maripat Donovan, one of the creators of “Late Nite Catechism.” A funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 4 at Holy Trinity Church, Westmont.
Mrs. Donovan grew up on the South Side of Chicago and attended St. Ethelreda School and Academy of Our Lady High School. She recently moved to California to live with Maripat. She is also survived by three grandchildren and a great-grandson.
Sr. Marie Hamel
Died Dec. 13
A funeral Mass was held for Sister of St. Joseph Marie Hamel on Dec. 13 at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse Chapel, LaGrange Park. Sister Hamel celebrated 63 years of religious life. She is survived by one brother and three sisters.
Sr. Agnes Jean Groff
Educator
BVM Sister Agnes Jean Groff, 74, died Dec. 23 at Caritas Center, Dubuque, Iowa. Born in Kansas City, Mo., Sr. Groff entered the BVM congregation in 1948. She professed first vows on March 19, 1951 and final vows on Aug. 15, 1956.
Sr. Groff taught in Chicago at St. Charles, 1951; St. Jerome, 1965-70; and St. Eulalia in Maywood, 1955-61. She also taught in Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas.
Sr. Mary Clare McGrath
Educator
BVM Sister Mary Clare McGrath, 99, died Jan. 5 at Marian Hall, Dubuque, Iowa. Born in St. Louis, she entered the BVM congregation in 1926. She professed her first vows on March 19, 1938 and her final vows on Aug. 15, 1934.
Sister McGrath ministered in Chicago for 50 years. She taught music at St. Dorothy, 1928-30; St. Eulalia in Maywood, 1930-37; St. Odilo in Berwyn, 1949-55; St. Mary High School, 1955-58; St. Ferdinand, 1958-65; Immaculata High School, 1968-69; and was on the staff of Holy Name Cathedral High School, 1969-93. She also taught in Iowa and New York.
Sr. Mary Joanicia Smaron
Educator
Felician Sister Mary Joanicia Smaron, 89, died Dec. 24. Born in East Chicago, Ind., she entered the Felician Sisters in 1934 and professed her final vows in 1942. She ministered as a teacher in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Bronislava, 1936-39; St. Bruno, 1948-52; Sts. Peter and Paul, 1956-58; St. Joseph, 1958-60; St. Isidore in Blue Island, 1960-62; Our Lady of Ransom in Niles, 1962-64; St. Linus, 1968-78; and St. Turibius, 1978-97.
Sr. Raissa Metz
Educator
Dominican Sister Raissa Metz, 81, died Dec. 9 at the Dominican Motherhouse, Sinsinawa, Wis. Born in Stetsonville, Wis., Sr. Metz made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican on Feb. 3, 1947, and her final profession on Aug. 5, 1950.
Sr. Metz was a grade school teacher for 49 years in Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Giles in Oak Park, 1981-84, and St. Thomas More, 1993-97. From 1984 to 1985 she served in the Dominican Education Center Book Store at Sinsinawa.
Sr. Rosemary Donovan
Educator
Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Rosemary (St. James) Donovan, 89, died Dec. 21 at Mount Notre Dame Health Center, Reading, Ohio. Sr. Donov an was a native of Dayton, Ohio. She received her undergraduate degree from the Athenaeum of Ohio in 1947 and a masters degree in religious education from Loyola University in 1978.
Sr. Donovan was an educator for more than 55 years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered for 19 years at St. John the Apostle in Villa Park.
Sr. Mary Michaeline Curran
Educator
Mercy Sister Mary Michaeline Curran, 94, died Dec. 29 at McAuley Convent, Aurora. Sr. Curran was a native of Chicago and ministered at schools in Illinois.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Cecilia, Holy Rosary, St. Catherine of Geneo, St. Joseph in Libertyville, St. Ann, All Saints, Holy Family in North Chicago, St. Gabriel, St. Rose of Lima, St. Malachy, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, St. Ita, Little Flower, and Mother McAuley High School.
Sr. Eileen Marie Ryan
Educator, principal
Dominican Sister Eileen Marie (Susan) Ryan, 99, died at the Dominican Life Center, Adrian, Mich. Sr. Ryan was born in Ireland. She received a bachelor’s degree from Siena Heights University, Adrian, and a master’s degree in education from DePaul University.
She spent 64 years ministering in education in Michigan, Florida and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as a teacher at St. Carthage, 1945-49; a principal at St. Kilian, 1949-55; a teacher at St. Nicholas of Tolentine, 1955-58; a teacher at St. Philip Neri, 1958-59; a principal at St. Denis, 1959-65; a teacher at St. Joseph in Homewood, 1965-68; and a secretary at Santa Maria Del Popolo in Mundelein, 1968-91.
Sr. Jean Smith
Educator
Dominican Sister Jean (Raphael) Smith, 79, died Dec. 12 at Mercy Medical Center, Dubuque, Iowa. Sr. Smith was born in New York. She made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican on Aug. 5, 1948, and her final profession on Aug. 5, 1951.
She was a teacher and principal for 30 years at schools in Illinois, District of Columbia, New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Florida. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sr. Jean taught at St. Barnabas, 1948-55, and at St. Vincent Ferrer in River Forest, 1955-60. She also served as the education department chair at Rosary College (now Dominican University), 1984-92.
Sr. Marie Monica Heller
Educator, homemaker
School Sister of St. Francis Marie Monica (Arilda) Heller, 88, died Jan. 7 at St. Joseph Convent, Campbellsport, Wis. Born in Milo, Iowa, she entered into the School Sisters of St. Francis community in 1935 and made profession of vows in 1937.
Sr. Heller served as a homemaker, teacher, principal, parish minister and a volunteer in Illinois and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a homemaker at St. Benedict Convent (1936-37), taught at St. Matthias School (1982-84), served as a parish minister and teacher at St. Matthias (1984-87), volunteered at Friends of Children (1987-93), and was a volunteer tutor at St. Priscilla Convent (1993-00).
Sr. Marie Christine Fraley
Educator
Dominican Sister Marie Christine (Agnes Marian) Fraley died Jan. 10 at the Dominican Life Center, Adrian, Mich. She was 91.
Sr. Fraley ministered in education for 39 years in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Florida. In the Archdiocese of Chicago she taught at St. Kilian (1930-31), St. Nicholas (1933-37) and St. Laurence (1945-47).
From 1971-77 she served at Weber Center in Environmental Services, and from 1977-89 she ministered in the Congregation Finance Office.
Sr. Louise Leary
Educator
Sister of Providence Louise (Jerome) Leary, 86, died Jan. 2 at Mother Theodore Hall, St. Mary of the Woods, Ind. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence in 1939 and professed final vows in 1948. She served as an educator at schools in North Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland and New Hampshire. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mel-Holy Ghost from 1949-54.
Sr. Rose Angele Spalding
Educator
Sister of Providence Rose Angele (Monica Elizabeth) Spalding, 92, died Jan. 8. Born in Loogootee, Ind., Sr. Spalding entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence in 1933 and professed final vows in 1941. She ministered as a teacher and an administrator in Illinois, Indiana and District of Columbia. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Angela (1936), St. Francis Xavier in Wilmette (1947-54), Our Lady of Sorrows (1936-41), and St. Alexander in Palos Heights (1960-61).
Sr. Mary Hickey
Educator
Sister of Providence Mary Hickey, 96, died Jan. 12 at St. Mary of the Woods, Ind. Born in Chicago, Sr. Hickey entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence in 1927 and professed final vows in 1935. She was an educator at schools in Illinois, Indiana and Maryland. In the Archdiocese of Chicago she taught at St. Columbkille (1933-34), St. Sylvester (1934-35; 1938-41), St. Mel (1941-43), St. Leo (1949-54) and St. Mark (1965-67). She also served as a principal at St. Mark from 1967-68.
Sr. Margaret Mary Dunn
College professor
Sacred Heart Sister Margaret Mary “Peggy” Dunn, former English professor at Barat College, died Jan. 14, at Kenwood Convent of the Sacred Heart, Albany, N.Y. She was 83.
Sr. Dunn taught English at Barat College, Lake Forest, from 1967-82. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, she was an advocate for African-American students at Barat and helped them organize the Black Student Union. In 1970, Sister Dunn launched Barat’s Oxford Program, which made it possible for Barat students to study at Oxford University in England.
She also taught English and served as an academic dean at Manhattanville College, Purchase, N.Y., from 1958 to 1966. She taught English at the University of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo and at the University of San Diego.
The New York native entered the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1952.
Sr. Shirley Hellmann
Educator, secretary
Charity Sister Shirley (Shirley Mae) Hellmann, 69, died Jan. 9 at Seton Residence, Evansville, Ind. Sr. Hellmann was born in St. Louis and joined the Daughters of Charity in 1957.
She ministered as a teacher at schools in Louisiana, New York and Illinois. In 1967, she began teaching at Marillac High School, Northfield. From 1975-82, she worked in pastoral care at St. Mary’s Hospital’s in Evansville, Ind.; Milwaukee, Wis.; and Saginaw, Mich.
In 1980, Sr. Hellmann received a master’s in pastoral studies from Loyola University in Chicago. In 1982, she began serving as a secretary at St. Vincent DePaul Center in Chicago and remained there until 1993, when she came to Seton Residence because of health problems. She was able to go to St. Patrick’s School in LaSalle, Ill., in 1997 and served as a tutor/aide until 2000, when she returned to Seton Residence.
Sr. Veronica Tamm
Educator
Dominican Sister Veronica (Bernadette Ann) Tamm, 74, died Jan. 18 at the Dominican Life Center, Adrian, Mich. Sr. Tamm was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She earned a Master of Arts Degree in religious education from Mundelein College in Chicago. She spent 28 years ministering in education in Illinois, Michigan, and Arizona. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Edmund, Oak Park, from 1951-60.
Sr. Stephanie Wronski
Educator
BVM Sister Stephanie Wronski, 89, died Jan. 7 at Marian Hall, Dubuque, Iowa. She was born in Chicago and attended Nash Elementary School and St. Mary High School. She entered the BVM congregation on Feb. 2, 1935. She professed first vows on Aug. 15, 1937 and final vows on Aug. 15, 1942.
Sr. Wronski taught at Mary Queen of Heaven in Cicero (1937-38), Holy Cross (1938-53, 1957-58), and St. Tarcissus (1958-93). She also taught in Davenport, Iowa.
Obits 2-19
Sr. Maureen Hegy
Musician
School Sister of St. Francis Maureen Hegy died Jan. 25 at St. Joseph Convent in Campbellsport, Wis. She was 93 years old. She entered the School Sisters of St. Francis community in 1928 and made her profession of vows in 1930. She ministered as a musician in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as a musician at St. Clara School from 1930-35.
Sr. Celeste Poelker
Educator, homemaker
Sister of Christian Charity Celeste (Leona) Poelker, 97, died Jan. 31 at Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette. Born in St. Louis, she entered the congregation of Christian Charity in 1934 and made her first vows in 1937.
Sr. Celeste served as an educator and a homemaker. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Gregory (1938-43), St. Aloysius (1953-55) and St. Teresa (1978-79). She served as a cook at St. Mary in Riverdale (1976-77), a seamstress at Sacred Heart Convent (1977-78) and a sacristan at Sacred Hearth Convent (1979-80). From 1981-96, she performed various duties at the motherhouse. In 1997, Sr. Celeste moved to Sacred Hearth Convent.
Kyle Niccum
Grandson of staff
Kyle Niccum, 22, was killed in a hit-and-run accident on Jan. 29. Mr. Niccum is the grandson of Greg Veith, manager of facilities services and construction for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Services for Mr. Niccum were held Feb. 2 in Raleigh, N.C.
Sr. M. Sponsa Bajorek
Educator
Franciscan Sister Mary Sponsa Bajorek, 89, died Jan. 23. She entered the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago in 1932 and made her perpetual profession of vows in 1938. Sr. Sponsa received an undergraduate degree in education from DePaul University and a master’s degree in art from the University of Notre Dame.
Sr. Sponsa ministered in education. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Five Holy Martyrs School, St. Florian School and St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr School. She also taught fro 37 years at Madonna High School. She taught Polish, religion and art. Sr. Sponsa was a talented artist and she helped with the school yearbook, designed posters and created props for school plays.
After 37 years at Madonna, Sr. Sponsa became a social service designee at Mother Theresa Home, Lemont. After this position, she worked in the administrative offices of the congregation. She also designed cards, posters, banners and logos for the congregation.
