Sr. Dorothy Ferguson

Taught for 41 years

Dominican Sister Dorothy (Louis Marie) Ferguson, 91, died May 21 at the Dominican Life Center, Adrian, Mich. She spent 41 years ministering in education in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Turbo, Kenya. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Columbanus (1931-32; 1933-34) and Regina High School, Wilmette (1960-69). She also taught at Mt. St. Mary Academy, St. Charles (1934-42).

Sr. Hilda Simon

Educator, homemaker

Sister Hilda Simon, 97, died May 28 at Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette. She entered the community in 1926. She ministered as a teacher in Michigan, Louisiana, South Dakota and Illinois.

In Chicago, she taught at St. Teresa School (1946-55) and at St. Gregory School (1970-71). She also served as a homemaker at St. Mary Convent, Riverdale (1972-75). In 1975 she was transferred to Sacred Heart Convent where she spent the next 25 years as a seamstress.

Sr. Dorothy Halstead

immaculata grad

BVM Sister Dorothy (Joseph Michael) Halstead, 75, died May 30. Born in Chicago, she attended Immaculata High School and entered the BVM congregation in 1949.

Sister Dorothy served as a teacher in Illinois and Iowa. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Peter in Antioch (1961-66) and St. Colette in Rolling Meadows (1972-86).

Sr. Loretta Parpart

Educator, business manager

Daughter of Charity Sister Loretta Parpart, 85, died May 26. Sister Loretta ministered as an educator and business manager at schools in Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., Michigan, Illinois, Mississippi, California and Indiana. In Illinois, she ministered at Marillac High School in Northfield from 1969-78, serving as a teacher, business manager, assistant principal and local superior.

Sr. Florence Frerichs

reading coordinator

Sister of Christian Charity Florence (Mary Edwin) Frerichs, 86, died May 3 at Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette. She entered the Sisters of Christian Charity in 1934. From 1938-53, Sister Florence taught grade school at St. Raphael School. From 1961-67, Sister Florence served as the reading coordinator for the Archdiocese of Chicago, and from 1968-70 she was the president-elect and president of the Chicago Area Reading Association. Sister Florence also taught at Josephinum High School and was the superior of the motherhouse in Wilmette.

When Mallinckrodt College merged with Loyola University Chicago in 1991, Sister Florence became Academic Dean of the campus.

Sister Florence is survived by a sister, Garnita Metz of Alsip, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Fr. John Molnar

Augustinian

Augustinian Father John Joseph Molnar, 65, died May 31. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he entered the Augustinian Novitiate in 1958 and was ordained a priest in 1966. He received a master’s in liturgy from Notre Dame University in 1967.

In Chicago, Father Molar taught at Mendel Catholic High School (1967-69) and at St. Rita High School (1971-75). He returned to St. Rita in 2002 to serve as the chaplain. Then in 2003 he was named chaplain at Franciscan Village in Lemont.

He was in a serious car accident in December 2004 and shortly after the accident suffered a stroke. He lived at Mother Theresa Home, Lemont, until his death.

Sr. M. Claire Mertzlufft

Organist

Sister M. Claire (Marguerite) Mertzlufft, 92, died May 28 at Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette. She entered the community in 1930. She served as a teacher at schools in Louisiana, Iowa and Minnesota. In 1980, she returned to the convent in Wilmette where she ministered as an organist and assisted with nursing duties.

Sr. Catherine Dages

Chicago native

Mission Helper Sister Catherine Veronica Dages, a Chicago native, died in Baltimore, Md. She graduated from St. Gabriel school, Chicago, in 1947 and from Visitation High School in 1951. She served in Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Texas, Michigan, New York, Washington D.C., Arizona and New Mexico.

Sr. Mary Carmela Gallo

Taught for 51 years

School sister of Notre Dame Mary Carmela Gallo, 91, died May 12 at Resurrection Life Center. A native of Kenosha, Wis., she entered the congregation in 1931 and pronounced her vows in 1934. She was a teacher for 51 years in Chicago, Peoria, Morton and Winnetka. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Holy Guardian Angel (now closed), St. Constance, St. Margaret of Scotland and Sacred Heart, Winnetka.

Sr. Ann Bernard Sullivan

Educator

Sister of Providence Ann Bernard (Mabel Agnes) Sullivan, 87, died April 29. She served as an educator in Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts and California. In Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Mercy (1939-43), St. Genevieve (1944-49) and Our Lady of Sorrows (1949-54).

Sr. Barbara Beyenka

taught at four schools

Dominican Sister Barbara (Melchior) Beyenka, 95, died May 5 at St. Dominic Villa, Sinsinawa, Wis. She made her first profession of vows in 1935. She ministered in Wisconsin, Illinois, New Mexico and Texas.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Barbara taught Latin at Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest, (1949-57) and ministered in adult education at St. Cajetan (1982-84). She also ministered at the House of Prayer, Clarendon Hills, Chicago from 1976-77. \Sr. Patricia Melton

Educator

Sister of Providence Patricia (Leone Marie) Melton, 77, died May 25 at Mother Theodore Hall, St. Mary of the Woods, Ind.

She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence in 1944, professed first vows in 1947 and final vows in 1952. She served as an educator at schools in Indiana, New Hampshire and Illinois. In Chicago she taught at St. Mel (1948-51), St. Genevieve (1952; 1956-57), St. Angela (1952-53) and St. Francis Borgia (1953-56). She retired in 2003 and resided in the St. Mary of the Woods mother house until her death.

Sr. Mary Theresa Stoehr

Principal

School Sister of St. Francis Mary Theresa (Ritella) Stoehr died June 6 at St. Joseph Convent, Campbellsport, Wis.

The Pewaukee, Wis., native entered the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1938 and professed vows in 1940. She served as a teacher, principal and office clerk in Wisconsin, New York, Illinois and Mississippi. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught and was principal at St. Maurice School (1954-60), and at Immaculate Conception School (1960-66). She also taught at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Glenview (1967-73).

Sr. Jean Margaret Bowler

Parish minister

Dominican Sister Jean Margaret (Belva Ellen) Bowler, 93, died June 10 at the Dominican Life Center, Adrian, Mich.

She ministered in education for 45 years in Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. She served as a parish minister in Michigan for 20 years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Edmund in Oak Park (1933-34) and the now-closed St. Laurence (1937-41).

John Gilmour

Life-long Chicagoan

A funeral Mass for John Gilmour, 96, was held June 19 at the Sheil Catholic Center, Evanston. Mr. Gilmour, a life-long resident of Chicago, died June 13. He was baptized at Corpus Christi Church and grew up in the Kenwood/ Hyde Park neighborhood. After graduating from high school, he began working at Swift and Company. He stayed with the firm for his entire career.

Mr. Gilmour and his wife, Genevieve, were members of St. Cajetan Parish on the far Southwest Side. Mr. Gilmour was active in the parish Holy Name Society and served as the treasurer for several years.

His son, the late Father Stephen Gilmour, was a priest in the diocese of Madison, Wis. Mr. Gilmour is survived by two other sons, Peter and James.

Sr. Kathleen Brisboe

Principal

Dominican Sister Kathleen Brisboe, 92, died June 11 in Santa Cruz, Calif.

She received a master’s degree in education from DePaul University. She ministered in education for 53 years in Illinois, Michigan, Iowa and California. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at the now-closed St. Carthage (1932-33), St. James in Maywood (1942-43), St. Rita (1952-60), and Our Lady of Knock in Calumet City (1967-70). She also was principal at St. Colette in Rolling Meadows from 1972-77.

Sr. Frances Inezetta Arens

food service director

School Sister of St. Francis Frances Inezetta Arens, 85, died June 10 at St. Joseph Convent, Campbellsport, Wis.

The Chicago native was received into the community in 1937. She served as a homemaker, a supervisor in a medical center and a director of food service in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Colorado and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as a homemaker at Blessed Agnes Convent (1960-61), St. Dionysius Convent in Cicero (1962-64; 1969-70), St. Beatrice Convent in Schiller Park (1964-67), and Our Lady of Victory Convent (1967-69). She was also director of food service at Westlake Community Hospital in Melrose Park (1972-74) and a supervisor at Loyola University Medical Center (1974-77).

Sr. Agnes Loretta McElligott

Educator

BVM Sister Agnes Loretta McElligott, 95, died June 8 at Caritas Center, Dubuque, Iowa.

Born in Milwaukee, she entered the BVM congregation in 1935. She served as a teacher in Chicago, Missouri and California. In Chicago, she taught at Annunciation (1941-46) and St. Vincent (1957-58; 1959-61), and was an administrator at Our Lady of Angels (1958-59).

Sr. M. Dosithea Ruz

Educator

Franciscan Sister Dosithea (Sophie Marie) Ruz, 91, died June 13. Born in Ohio, she traveled to Chicago when she was 14 and joined the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago in 1929.

In Chicago, she taught at Five Holy Martyrs School. From 1933-90 she served at Guardian Angel Day Care Center in Chicago. She also served at St. Joseph Home from 1990-2005.