Sr. Geraldine O'Meara

Teacher, Principal

Dominican Sister Geraldine O’Meara, 71, died Oct. 25 at the Dominican Motherhouse in Sinsinawa, Wis. Born in Minnesota, she entered the congregation in 1955. Sister Geraldine was an elementary school teacher and principal for 35 years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Visitation 1955-58, and was principal at St. Thomas the Apostle 1973-78.

Sr. Macrina Conlon

Teacher, Principal

Dominican Sister Macrina Conlon, 90, died Oct. 21 at St. Dominic Villa, Sinsinawa, Wis. Born in Wisconsin, Sister Macrina entered the congregation in 1934. She was an elementary teacher and principal for 46 years in Wisconsin, New York, California, Illinois and Texas.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Thomas of Villanova, Palatine, 1965-67. She also supervised 44 elementary schools in Illinois that were staffed by the Sinsinawa Dominicans. She served as principal at St. Cajetan from 1974-81, and at St. Sabina College, 1982-84. Sister Macrina was also a provincial councilor in Madison, Wis. from 1967-74.

Sr. Joan Buckett

Teacher

BVM Sister Joan Buckett, 70, died Oct. 18 at Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge. Born in Chicago, she entered the congregation in 1954. A teacher in Illinois and Iowa, Sister Joan was principal at St. Odilo, Berwyn, and taught at Mary Queen of Heaven, Cicero. She taught at St. Eugene School since 1979.

Sr. Susan Hart

Teacher, Administrator

Dominican Sister Susan “Sukey” Hart died Oct. 12 at Milwaukee Catholic Home, Milwaukee. Sister Susan entered the congregation in 1960.

She was a teacher and principal in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Alabama, Massachusetts and Florida. Sister Susan also served as a hospital chaplain and a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) supervisor and consultant from 1982 to 2003.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Susan taught and was an administrator at St. Thomas the Apostle, 1968-72. She ministered as a theologian at Angel Guardian Center, Chicago, 1975-76; taught English as a second language at St. Mary of the Lake Parish, Chicago, 1976-77; and was a CPE supervisor at Winchester House, Libertyville, 1987-1991, and at Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Elk Grove Village, 1993-99.

Sr. Mary Laudetta Sojka

Teacher

Felician Sister Mary Laudetta Sojka, 94, died Oct. 28. Born in Minnesota, she entered the congregation in 1929.

Sister Mary Laudetta taught middle and upper grade school students in Alabamba, Illinois, Minnesota, Texas, Michigan and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Helen 1929-30, St. Turibius 1921-32, St. Mary Magdalen 1937-1940, St. John of God 1942-48, St. Wenceslaus 1948-56, St. Bruno 1956-57, Good Shepherd 1961-64, Our Lady of Ransom, Niles 1979-82 and St. Joseph 1986-91.

Sr. Elizabeth Williams

Teacher

Dominican Sister Elizabeth Williams, 75, died Oct. 31 at the Dominican Life Center, Adrian, Mich. Born in Detroit, she entered the congregation in 1947.

Sister Elizabeth spent 38 years ministering in education in Illinois and Michigan.

Sr. Madonna Therese Conway

Teacher

Dominican Sister Madonna Therese Conway, 92, died Oct. 30 at the Dominican Life Center, Adrian, Mich. Born in Chicago, she entered the congregation in 1933.

Sister Madonna Therese spent 51 years ministering in education in Michigan and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was principal of Ascension School, Harvey from 1947-53.

Fr. Ernest Larkin

Priest

Carmelite Father Ernest Larkin, 84, died Oct. 26 at Hospice of the Valley Coronado Home in Phoenix, Ariz.

Born in Chicago, he was ordained in 1946. Father Larkin was assigned to Whitefriars Hall in Washington, DC, where he served as a teacher, spiritual director and master of students from 1951-59.

In 1959, he was appointed lecturer of ascetical and mystical theology at Catholic University of America.

In 1972, he co-founded the Kino Institute, which was established as the Phoenix diocesan school of adult religious education for clergy, religious and laity. As its first president, he helped the enrollment grow to 1,780 students within two years.

In 1980, Father Larkin relocated to Chicago, where he spent the next six years teaching, preaching and writing. He was consultant for the spirituality section of the international review Concilium and the Center for Human Development in Washington, DC.

Sr. Mary Winfrida O’Rourke

Teacher

Sister of Mercy Mary Winfrida O’Rourke, 90, died Oct. 19 at McAuley Convent in Aurora. Sister Winfrida had been a Sister of Mercy for 72 years.

Born in Park Ridge, she served as a teacher in Illinois and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Resurrection, St. Ita, St. Paul of the Cross, Park Ridge, St. Catherine of Genoa, St. Justin Martyr and Queen of Martyrs in Evergreen Park.

Sister Mary Carey

Educator, Therapist

Dominican Sister Mary Carey, 85, died Oct. 26 at the Dominican Life Center, Adrian, Mich.

Born in Chicago, she entered the congregation in 1940. Sister Mary spent 28 years ministering in education in Michigan, California, Ohio, Illinois and New Mexico.

In Chicago, she was principal at St. Mary Star of the Sea from 1962-68, and at Santa Maria Del Popolo, Mundelein from 1968-69.

She also served as a social rehab therapist at Ravenswood Hospital Medical Center.