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The Catholic New World
Obituaries
Issue of July xx, 2005

Fr. Robert Festle
Pastor Emeritus

Father Robert H. Festle, 77, pastor emeritus of St. Edmund Catholic Parish in Oak Park, died Sept. 29. Father Festle had also served as the former pastor of St. Theresa Catholic Parish in Palatine and was a past director of the archdiocesan ministry that assists the work of missionaries throughout the world.

Father Festle attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, graduated from Loyola Academy and first attended the Illinois Institute of Technology before beginning his priestly studies at the St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, in 1948. He was ordained in 1955, and earned a licentiate in sacred theology in 1955.

Father Festle served first as an assistant pastor at the former Our Lady, Help of Christians Parish (1955-58) and at Holy Name Cathedral (1958-63) before becoming a chaplain to the U.S. Air Force and Illinois National Guard (1963-65) at O’Hare Field. He returned to parish ministry as an assistant pastor at St. Gall Catholic Parish (1965-68) and then at the former Our Lady of Solace Parish (1968-69). At the same time he began work as the assistant director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and of the Holy Childhood Association (1966-69), offices which assist the needs of dioceses and missionaries around the world. He became director in 1969 and served until 1982.

From 1981-1987, Father Festle was pastor of St. Theresa Parish in Palatine. After a brief assignment as associate pastor of St. Cornelius Parish in Chicago, he was named pastor of St. Edmund Parish in Oak Park (1987-1992). He retired as pastor and from active ministry in 1992. When he died, he had been a resident of St. Benedict Home in Niles. Father Festle is survived by a sister-in-law, a niece and a nephew.

A memorial Mass was celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Timothy J. Lyne Oct. 4 at Holy Name Cathedral.


Sister Agnes Boddington
College professor

Sister of Providence Agnes (Mary) Boddington, 95, died Aug. 26 at the Sisters of Providence motherhouse in St. Mary of the Woods, Ind. Born in Melrose, Mass., she entered the religious community in 1925.

She was a teacher for 45 years, including 16 years in different departments at St. Mary of the Woods College in Indiana. Her assignments in the Archdiocese of Chicago were at St. Andrew School and Our Lady of Sorrows.

She also worked for 12 years in management and services through St. Mary of the Woods Co-op shop, which she began.


Sr. Frances Ann Volkmann
Navy nurse in WW II

Charity Sister Frances Ann Volkmann, 91, died Sept. 5 at Seton Residence in Evansville, Ind. She was born in Kingston, Wis., and graduated from the School of Nursing at St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee in 1932. She served in the Navy Nurse Corps during World War II, working at hospitals in California. She was honorably discharged in 1946.

Sister Volkmann entered the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in 1947. For the next 25 years, she served as a nurse at Daughters of Charity hospitals in Chicago, St. Louis, New Orleans, Alton and Birmingham. She also served as a patient visitor for St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee; as the local superior at Seton Manor in Evansville, Ind.; and at St. Mary’s Hospital in Saginaw, Mich.


Sr. Margaret Gallagher
Educator

Sister of Providence Margaret (Marie Blanche) Gallagher, 90, died Aug. 31 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind. Born in Chicago, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1932 and professed her final vows in 1940. Sister Gallagher taught at schools in Indiana, Illinois, the District of Columbia, California and Taiwan.

In the Chicago Archdiocese, she served at Marywood High School in Evanston (1951-54 and 1964-65) and Providence High School (1954-58, and 1960-62). Both are now closed.


Sr. Genevieve Wilken
Parish Minister

BVM Sister Genevieve (Lourdes) Wilken, 97, died Sept. 3 at Mercy Medical Center, Dubuque, Iowa. Born in Chicago, she attended Holy Angels and Holy Cross schools. She entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1927.

She ministered in the Chicago Archdiocese for 23 years at St. Pius (1931-35); St. Eulalia, Maywood (1935-40); Sacred Heart, (1940-42); St. Charles (1942-46); St. Callistus (1946-47); Immaculata High School (1968-70); and St. Jerome (1974-78), where she was parish minister.


Sr. Matilde Gaume
Music Teacher

BVM Sister Virginia (Matilde) Gaume, 96, died Sept. 4 at Marian Hall, Dubuque, Iowa.

She taught music at St. Mary High School, Chicago (1931-47) and taught music for 50 years at Clarke College, Dubuque, serving as chair of the department for 26 years.

She was born in Argonia, Kan, and graduated from Mount Carmel Academy, Wichita, before entering the BVM congregation in 1928. She professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1936.


Sr. Celeste Beauregard, OP
Teacher and Principal

Adrian Dominican Sister Celeste (Evelyn Ann) Beauregard, 94, died at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Mich.

Born in Hillman, Mich., she received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Siena Heights (College) University in Adrian.


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