Issue of July 9, 2006

Sr. Ottile Niebergall

Educator, Principal

School Sister of St. Francis Ottile Niebergall, 94, died April 16 at St. Joseph Convent, Campbellsport, Wis. She entered the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1930. Sister Ottile lived her religious ministry as a teacher, principal and homemaker in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Joseph School in Wilmette (1938-59).

Fr. Robert McGrath

Recruitment director

Oblate Father Robert McGrath, 76, died May 30 in San Antonio, Texas. He was born in Chicago and raised in St. Gabriel Parish on the south side. He moved to San Antonio and was ordained there in 1955. He served as a parochial vicar in Texas, and he served as a pastor at parishes in Texas and Colorado.

He was director of recruitment for the Missionary Oblates of the Southwest for eight years, and a member of the Province Council of the Missionary Oblates.

Sr. Gertrude Therese Garvey

Music teacher

Providence Sister Gertrude Therese (Gertrude Rita) Garvey, 84, died March 15 at Union Hospital, Terre Haute, Ind. Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1941.

She taught music at schools in Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland and the District of Columbia. In the 60s and 70s, she taught in Chicago at St. Sylvester and St. Agnes. She also served at Catholic Charities of Lake County, Waukegan and Mundelein (1978-80).

Sr. Francis de Paula Coyne

Educator, Principal

Dominican Sister Francis de Paula Coyne, 98, died April 12 at St. Dominic Villa, Sinsinawa, Wis. Born in Chicago, she made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1935.

She served as a teacher and principal at schools in Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Iowa.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Francis de Paula taught at Immaculate Conception in Waukegan, (1948-51) and St. Mary in Evanston, (1978-80; 1982-83).

Harry F. Depke

Painter/decorating contractor

A funeral Mass for Harry F. Depke, was offered May 4 at Immaculate Conception Church on West Talcott Avenue. Mr. Depke, 95, of Norwood Park, died April 29.

He was the youngest of five children of Franciszek and Johanna Depka (later Depke), who immigrated from Poland to Chicago in 1891.

His father was a member of the 2nd Regiment Garde Zu Fuss at the Kaiser’s Palace in Berlin in the 1880’s.

Mr. Depke’s late wife of 60 years, Irene, was a descendant of Gen. Antoni Jozef Madalinski, Kosciusko’s Brigadier General, a family dating back to the 1400s.

Mr. Depke was a self-employed painting and decorating contractor for 50 years.

Ann Craig Venuto

Mother of pastor

A funeral Mass was held for Ann “Mitzi” Craig Venuto May 13 at St. Mary of Perpetual Help Church. Mrs. Venuto is the mother of Father Donald Craig, the pastor of St. Mary of Perpetual Help.

She is preceded in death by her husband, William Venuto, and her son, Dennis Craig. She is also survived by her daughter, Deborah Craig, and her grandson, Michael Bulava.

Sr. Margaret Moran

Educator, Principal

Dominican Sister Margaret (Rose William) Moran, 88, died May 5 in Troy, Mich. She ministered in education for 41 years in Michigan and Illinois. In Chicago, she taught at St. Kilian (1943-44) and St. Laurence Grade School (1944-54). She also was the principal at St. Laurence from 1954-60.

Sr. Mary Geralda Trauscht

Educator

Dominican Sister Mary Geralda (Marie) Trauscht, 93, died May 13 at the Dominican Life Center, Adrian, Mich. Born in Chicago, she ministered in education for 59 years in Michigan and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Aquinas High School (1960-62, 1970-72), Regina High School, Wilmette (1964-68) and St. Rita (1972-89). She also served as a principal at St. Laurence from 1968-70. She retired from teaching in 1989 and then volunteered for 11 years at St. Rita Parish and St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish, Oak Lawn.

Sr. Christine Meier

Homemaker

School Sister of St. Francis Christine Meier, 97, died May 14 at St. Joseph Convent, Campbellsport, Wis. Born in Germany, she entered the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1927.

Sister Christine lived her religious ministry as a homemaker and laundress. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a homemaker at St. Matthias Convent (1929-33), St. Benedict Convent (1936-37) and Alvernia High School Convent (1938-40).

Sr. Florence Neudecker

Educator, principal

School Sister of St. Francis Florence Neudecker (Paraclita), 99, died May 9 at Sacred Heart Convent, Milwaukee, Wis.

Born in Clements, Minn., she entered the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1928. Sister Florence lived her religious ministry as a teacher and principal. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Florence taught at Alvernia High School (1928-33, 1934-43).

Fr. Charles A. Gemskie

Served in Joliet Diocese

A funeral Mass for Father Charles A. “Chuck” Gemskie, 75, U.S. Navy, Korean War vet, was offered at St. Matthias Church June 10. Father Gemskie, ordained a priest after serving in the Navy, died June 4 in Naperville. Masses were also offered in parishes in Carol Stream and Naperville.

Father Gemskie was baptized at St. Matthias and attended the parish school. He graduated from DePaul Academy High School and St. Ambrose College before pursuing graduate studies at Northeastern Illinois University. He was a teacher for 20 years.

After studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology, Hales Corner, Wis., he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Joliet by Bishop Romeo Blanchette in 1977. Father Gemskie served at parishes in Lombard, Westmont and Naperville and was chaplain of Montini High School, Lombard. He became founding pastor of Corpus Christi Parish, Carol Stream, in 1989.

Sr. Mary Clotilde Victor

born in poland

Felician Sister Mary Clotilde Victor, 97, died May 25. Born in Poland, she entered the Felician Sisters in 1926. She taught at schools in Illinois, Wisconsin and Alabama.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. James (1929-32), St. Turibius, (1932-38), St. Helen (1942-46), St. Bronislava (1951-54), St. John of God (1954-55; 1966-67), Sts. Peter and Paul (1956-59), Our Lady of the Gardens (1965-66), St. Hubert (1967-70), Our Lady of Ransom (1970-72), St. Mary Magdalene (1974-79), St. Bruno (1979-92), and Good Shepherd (1992-93).

Deacon Michael Finnegan

Class of 1979

A funeral Mass was held for Deacon Michael Finnegan April 28 at St. Juliana Church. Deacon Finnegan, 64, died April 24. He was a member of the 1979 diaconate class and ministered at St. Juliana. Before serving at St. Juliana, he ministered at St. Angela Parish.

Deacon Finnegan was a retired Chicago firefighter whose career was cut short because of an injury he suffered on the job. Because of his physical limitations, he concentrated on ministering to the family and neighborhood, doing baptisms and weddings for family, neighbors and friends.

Deacon Finnegan is survived by his wife, Judith; his children, Ginny Rialmo, Michael III, Mark, Patty Waterloo, Kevin and Kathleen Azad; and 17 grandchildren.

Richard Menges

Former news editor of TCNW

Richard M. Menges, 81, former news editor of The New World, now The Catholic New World, died June 3. Mr. Menges was a 50-year resident of Oak Park and a World War II veteran.

He worked briefly in the sports department of the Chicago Tribune before serving as news editor of The New World. From the 1970s until his retirement in 1989, he worked as assistant to the president of Loyola University.

Mr. Menges is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marian; his children, Michael, Christopher, Patricia, Richard and Catherine Jensen; and his four grandchildren.