Sr. Cecilia Bialk

Teacher

School Sister of St. Francis Cecilia Bialk, 100, died Nov. 3 at St. Joseph Convent, Campbellsport, Wis.

Born in Wisconsin, she entered the congregation in 1922.

Sister Cecilia served as a teacher in Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa and Missouri.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Martin, 1923-24 and 1934-35, Blessed Agnes, 1924-27, Alvernia High School, 1930-32, and St. Philomena School, 1933-34.

George Sullivan

Benefactor

George Sullivan, 89, died Nov. 6 in his Wilmette home.

Born in Chicago, Mr. Sullivan was vice president of manufacturing and vice president of marketing at Illinois Gear and Machine Company. A lifelong Catholic, Mr. Sullivan was a parishioner at Faith, Hope and Charity parish where he helped oversee the collections, served as a lector and usher, and volunteered as reader and storyteller to students every Monday and Friday.

Mr. Sullivan and his wife created the Kay and George Penman Sullivan Catholic Action Award at both Loyola Academy and Regina Dominican for a senior who has demonstrated commitment to serving the poor and others in great need. They also created the Kathleen Sullivan Correa Scholarship Fund at Regina Dominican in honor their deceased alumni daughter, Kathleen.

Sr. M. Amabilis Bellock

Nurse

Franciscan Sister of Chicago M. Amabilis Bellock, 90, died Nov. 3 in Lemont. Born in Cleveland, she entered the congregation in 1931. A nurse, Sister Amabilis ministered as assistant director of nursing and inservice director at St. Joseph Home, Chicago and night supervisor at Mother Theresa Home, Lemont.

Sr. M. Henrica Strassman

Nurse

Franciscan Sister of Mary Mary Henrica Strassman, 100, died Nov. 3 at St. Mary of the Angels Convent, Wis. Born in Wisconsin, she entered the congregation in 1927. A registered nurse, Sister Mary Henrica served in Wisconsin and Missouri.

Fr. Paul Mollan

Priest

Father Paul Mollan died Nov. 9. Born in Chicago, he was a Navy veteran of World War II, and a priest in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City for 52 years.

Sr. Vincita Groff

Teacher

BVM Sister Vincita Groff, 85, died Nov. 13, at Marian Hall, Dubuque, Iowa. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, she entered the congregation in 1941.

Sister Vincita taught at St. Dorothy, 1944-48; Sacred Heart, 1948-54; and St. Ferdinand, 1960-65. She was also an educator in Missouri, Iowa and New York.

Jack King

Guildhaus Founder

Jack King, 75, died Nov. 3. A graduate of DeLaSalle High School, Mr. King joined the Chicago Fire Department in 1959, his five brothers later following in his footsteps. They were the most from one family to ever serve on the Chicago Fire Department.

A recovering alcoholic, Mr. King acquired an abandoned Blue Island school house in 1985. He then founded Guildhaus, which became one of the largest and most successful alcohol and substance abuse rehabilitation centers in Illinois.

Mr. King became a much sought-after speaker on substance abuse and rehabilitation centers. He received several awards, including the 1st Annual Community Service Award from the South Suburban Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, and the City of Chicago Award from Mayor Richard M. Daley. He also received the Service to Mankind Award from the Sertoma Center and the Recognition Award from the American Legion 4th District Council for his efforts in helping veterans with their alcoholism and recovery.

Father Ivan J. Dobnikar

Monk, Pastor

Benedictine Father Ivan J. Dobnikar, 92, died Nov. 13 at St. Patrick’s Residence, Naperville.

Father Ivan was born in Waukegan and worked several years for the Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company in Chicago before entering St. Procopius College in 1940 as a student interested in preparing for the monastic life and, if possible, missionary work in China.

Joining the Benedictine community, Father Ivan professed his monastic vows on June 16, 1944. He was one of a group of five junior monks who volunteered to assist in the Abbey's missionary work in China after the end of World War II. However, just before the group was ready to depart, the U.S. government decided not to permit more Americans to enter into the deteriorating situation on the Chinese mainland.

Father Ivan was ordained to the priesthood in 1949. Over the next years, he held such positions as prefect at St. Joseph’ Orphanage, chaplain at Hines Veterans Hospital, and bookkeeper at St. Procopius College and Academy. In 1968, Father Ivan was appointed associate pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Lisle. .

Sr. Mary Johanne Keevers

Teacher, Campus Minister

Dominican Sister Mary Johanne Keevers, 74, died at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Mich.

Born in Chicago, Sister Mary Johanne entered the congregation in 1951. She spent 32 years ministering in education in Michigan; , Illinois; and Ohio. In Illinois, she served at St. Rita, 1965-67, St. Mary, Star of the Sea, 1967-68, Regina Dominican High School, 1968-71, Aquinas High School, 1971-77. She was also a campus minister at Prairie State Thornton College in Chicago Heights from 1977-78.

Sr. Aimee Laemmrich

Teacher

School Sister of St. Francis Aimee Laemmrich, 80, died Nov. 14, at Vitas Hospice Care in Milwaukee. Born in Milwaukee, she entered the congregation in 1946.

Sister Aimee lived her religious ministry as a teacher, director of religious education, personnel director and in pastoral ministry in Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, She was a teacher at St. William School in Chicago, 1949 -59, and served as Personnel Director for the School Sisters of St. Francis in Chicago, 1989- 92.