Issue of December 4, 2005

Fr. Joseph John O’Brien

Pastor, Chicago native

Oblate Father Joseph John O’Brien died Sept. 22 in San Antonio, Texas. He was 77.

A Chicago native, Father O’Brien was one of seven young men from St. Gabriel Parish to become a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate. He made his religious profession in 1948 at St. Peter’s Novitiate in Mission, Texas. Following his studies, Father O’Brien was ordained in 1954 by Archbishop Robert E. Lucey of San Antonio.

From 1955 to 1962, he was parochial vicar at parishes in Houston, Brownsville and McAllen. He then became a chaplain with the Texas Prison System in Huntsville. While in this position, Father O’Brien was wounded during a 1974 hostage-taking siege at the prison.

In 1981, he became pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Brownsville, and in 1987 was named pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Port Isabel. In 2001 he retired at Oblate Madonna Residence in San Antonio.



Sr. Bernella Decker

principal, educator

School Sister of St. Francis Bernella Decker, 94, died Oct. 14 at Sacred Heart Convent, Milwaukee. She entered the School Sisters of St. Francis community in 1929 and made profession of vows in 1934.

Sister Decker was an administrator and a teacher in Wisconsin, Illinois, New York and Nebraska.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Bernardine School, Forest Park, 1929-31; was principal at the same school, 1960-66; served as principal at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Glenview, 1940-46; principal at Our Lady of Victory School, 1954-60; taught at St. Peter School, Skokie, 1966-68; and was principal at St. Catherine Laboure School, Glenview, 1968-74. Sister Decker was also an office manager for “Friends of Children” in Chicago and a provincial secretary for the SSSF Holy Name Province in Chicago.

Arleen Simpson

Mother of priest

Arleen Simpson, mother of Father Kenneth Simpson, died Oct. 19. A funeral Mass was offered Oct. 22 at St. Paul of the Cross Church in Park Ridge. Burial was at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines.

Sr. Paul Marie Gutgsell

Educator

Sister of Providence Paul Marie (Gertrude) Gutgsell, 88, died Oct. 31 in St. Mary of the Woods, Ind. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence in 1936 and professed her final vows in 1944. She was an educator at schools in Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts and Maryland. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mel, 1939-44, and St. Andrew, 1944-52.

Sr. Noreen McKeough

Educator

Dominican Sister Noreen (Mary Paul) McKeough, 91, died Oct. 31 at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Mich. Born in Detroit, she received a bachelor’s degree in English from Siena Heights University in Adrian, and a master’s degree in literature and a Ph.D. degree in English language and literature from the National University of Ireland in Dublin.

Sister McKeough was an educator for 35 years in Michigan, Illinois, Missouri and Florida. In Chicago, she taught at St. Columbanus, 1936-37, and Aquinas High School, 1979-83, and as a coordinator for the Penafort Program, 1976-79. She also was president of St. Dominic College in St. Charles from 1963-66.

Sr. Ann Clement

Cook, housekeeper

Sister of Providence Ann Clement (Dorothy Veronica Voegerl), 77, died Oct. 13 in Union Hospital, Terre Haute, Ind. She was born in St. Anthony, Ind., Jan. 1, 1928. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence in 1944 and professed final vows in 1952.

Sister Clement ministered as a housekeeper and cook in convents and schools in Indiana, Illinois and California. She was a cook at Marywood School in Evanston from 1952-54.

Sr. Lucy Williams

Principal

Sister of St. Francis Lucy Williams died Nov. 1 at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Family, Dubuque, Iowa. In Chicago, Sister Williams was principal of St. Thomas the Apostle School until June 2005. She also served as principal at St. Denis, St. Thaddeus, Blessed Sacrament, Holy Family on May Street, and Sacred Heart in Englewood. She served as a principal for 25 years in the Archdiocese of Chicago. She also taught for 13 years at Corpus Christi School.

Sr. Trinette Schweitzer

Educator

School Sister of St. Francis Trinette Schweitzer, 93, died Oct. 22 at Sacred Heart Convent, Milwaukee. Born in Chicago, she entered the School Sisters of St. Francis community in 1934 and professed her vows in 1936.

Sister Schweitzer taught at St. Maurice School in Chicago from 1941-55.

Sr. M. Anna Black

Educator

Sister of the Holy Cross Mary Anna (Anna Wanda) Black, 88, died Oct. 10 at St. Mary’s Convent in Notre Dame, Ind. A funeral Mass for Sister Black was held Oct. 13 at the Church of Our Lady of Loretto in Notre Dame.

She was born in Morris, Ill., and ministered as an elementary school teacher. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Theodore School, 1967-70; and Most Holy Redeemer School in Evergreen Park,1957-64.



Lucy Beck

Educator

Holy Spirit Missionary Sister Lucy (Helen) Beck, 98, died Oct. 2 at the Convent of the Holy Spirit in Techny. Three of her sisters had entered the Sisters of Notre Dame and preceded her in death.

Sister Beck taught kindergarten and first grade in Mississippi and Arkansas. She went on to teach religious education and work in social ministries for 30 years in Pennsylvania.

She returned to Techny in 1967 and worked in communications, vocation ministry and mission education until her retirement.

Patty Crowley, social justice advocate, dies
In her 92 years of life, Patricia C. “Patty” Crowley worked diligently to live out the Gospel message of faith and service. Mrs. Crowley, a founder of the Christian Family Movement, died Nov. 23 at her home in Chicago. She also established a shelter for women, and spent time visiting women in prison.

Mrs. Crowley, born July 24, 1913, in Chicago, received a bachelor’s of arts degree in 1936 from Trinity College, Washington D.C. The following year she married Patrick Francis “Pat” Crowley. Mr. Crowley died in 1974. The couple had six children (a daughter died in infancy) and also took in several foster children and foreign exchange students.

In the 1940s, the Crowleys moved to Wilmette and became involved in Catholic action groups that met at their church. These discussions of how to combine faith and social justice eventually led to the founding of the Christian Family Movement (CFM), the first church movement begun by laity. During a time when most church organizations were separated by gender, CFM provided support for married couples. For several years, the Crowleys visited other countries to help the people start CFM groups there.

The Crowleys were also involved with the Friendship House of Chicago, a Catholic social action group that focuses on improving race relations. In 1964, they were named to the Vatican’s Commission on Birth Control by Pope Paul VI. The Crowleys were the only American married couple to participate in this commission of the Vatican Council. In later years, she was said to have been unhappy with the commission’s action regarding the document, Humanae Vitae.

Following her husband’s death, Mrs. Crowley continued her involvement in social justice work, founding Deborah’s place, a North Side women’s shelter, in 1985 and visiting the women there often. She also visited female inmates weekly at the Metropolitan Correction Center for almost 30 years.

She received numerous awards for her work, including the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal from Pope Pius XII in 1957. She also received medals from Mundelein College in 1962 and Notre Dame University in 1966. In addition, she was one of 25 Chicago women included in the Women Alive Exhibit, which featured social justice pioneers. Deborah’s Place dedicated the Patty Crowley Apartments which provide housing for women who had been homeless.

Mrs. Crowley is survived by four daughters, Benedictine Sister Patricia Ann, Mary Ann Kono (Gary), Catherine Ann George (Clyde), and Theresa; a son, Patrick Joseph (Carolyn); and a brother, John Caron. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 1 at Holy Name Cathedral.