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Obituaries

Pray For Them

Fr. Ronald Folger

ASSOCIATE PASTOR

Father Ronald H. Folger, 67, associate pastor of St. Peter Parish in Antioch, died Aug. 29.

Father Folger was a resident of St. Benedict Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Niles. Father Folger was baptized at Our Lady of Grace Parish. He graduated from Quigley Preparatory Seminary in 1960, and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained in 1967.

Father Folger served as assistant pastor of St. John Brebeuf Parish, Niles (1967-74) and St. Daniel the Prophet Parish (1974-79). He was associate pastor at St. Joseph Parish, Round Lake (1979-84); Transfiguration Parish, Wauconda (1984-89); and Queen of the Rosary, Elk Grove Village (1989- 94). In 1994, he began a five-year assignment at St. Joseph Parish in Libertyville as associate pastor and parish administrator. He had served at St. Peter since 1999.

Mrs. Isabel Flewellen

DEACON’S WIFE

Isabel Flewellen, 82, the wife of Deacon Jimmy Flewellen, died Aug. 19.

Mrs. Flewellen was an active member of St. Thaddeus Parish, where her husband ministers. She suffered from sickle cell anemia for most of her life, Deacon Flewellen said, and her health had declined in the last five years.

The Flewellens have one son, Jimmy Flewellen Jr.

Mrs. Maureen Murphy

PRO-LIFE PUBLIC SERVANT Maureen Murphy, 55, died of lung cancer Aug. 9.

A champion of the unborn, she spent over 25 years in public service. State representative from the 36th district from 1993-1997, she served as chairman of the house revenue committee, where she was chief sponsor of the Cook County property-tax cap and a sponsor of Chicago public schools reform.

She was an active parishioner at Queen of Martyrs Parish in Evergreen Park.

A graduate of Mother of Sorrows High School in Blue Island, Mrs. Murphy’s public career began in 1985 as an elected member of the Evergreen Park High School board.

Ralph Rivera, pro-life lobbyist for Illinois Citizens for Life in Springfield, called Mrs. Murphy “an articulate spokesperson for pro-life issues in the capitol, in her district and wherever she had opportunity to speak to people on the subject.” He added she went doorto- door campaigning in support of pro-life positions “so dear to her heart.” She found common moral ground with constituents who were ambivalent on the issue, Rivera said.

Mrs. Murphy is survived by her husband John (“Jack”), sons Jason, Shaun, Michael, Matthew, Patrick (deceased) and four grandchildren.

Mr. Leo J. Henning

MUSICIAN AND BAND DIRECTOR

Leo J. Henning, 85, died Aug. 10. Before retirement in 2000, he was dubbed “Chicago’s Outstanding Music Educator” by peers, students and admirers.

Over the decades he taught award-winning band programs at Brother Rice and St. Laurence high schools in the archdiocese. He also taught at Mount Carmel (his alma mater) and Little Flower high schools and in over a dozen Catholic grade schools. He earned a music degree from DePaul University in 1947.

Henning’s career climbed during the big band era. The Lou Breeze- Leo Henning Orchestra played for show business greats on the stage of the Chicago Theater.

He recalled in an interview in the 1990s for The New World that Frank Sinatra was easy to work for, “He appreciates what musicians do for him.” Henning played for Chicago’s grand balls, Democratic and Republican conventions and entertained five U.S. presidents.

Henning recalled, “At Christmas we get together and play as a family band — my wife, Rosemary, our six children and 14 of the 15 grandchildren old enough to play.”

Henning is survived by his wife, two daughters, four sons, 16 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Mr. Marciano Perez

FATHER OF PRIEST

Marciano Perez, 97, died Aug. 20. He was the father of Father Arturo Perez-Rodriguez, director of the Kolbe House prison ministry and pastor of Assumption BVM Parish.

Mr. Perez was an exporter. In addition to Father Arturo Perez- Rodriguez, he is survived by his children Ramon, Ricardo, Raquel, Rosalia, Cristina, Raul and Margarita (deceased), 11 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Sr. Ursula M. Sinde

PRIMARY TEACHER

Servite Sister Ursula M. Sinde, 89, died Aug. 23.

A Chicago native, she was baptized at Our Lady of Sorrows parish. She ministered as an elementary teacher in Wisconsin, West Virginia and Minnesota, as well as Illinois. She served at St. Domitilla School in Hillside from 1952-53 and 1962-63, returning there about 40 years ago for her final teaching assignment.

Sister Ursula lived in retirement at St. Domitilla, writing letters of encouragement to the sick, until she moved to Addolorata Villa in Wheeling a few years ago, said Servite Sister Rita Stoeberl.

She is survived by a brother, Matthew, and a sister, Josephine Mayer.

Fr. Fred Piegl

OPUS DEI PRIEST

Opus Dei Father Fred Piegl, 65, died from complications of surgery Aug. 26.

A Chicago native, Father Piegl was ordained to the priesthood for the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei in 1970 in Madrid.

He spent much of his priestly life hearing confessions, teaching Catholic doctrine and offering guidance to those who came to him for direction. He served as chaplain at Northridge Preparatory School in Niles until the mid-1990s, and then worked as the chaplain of Midtown Center and an assistant pastor at St. Mary of the Angels Church.

In his youth he was an avid motorcyclist (mostly Harley-Davidson). He was also a technology enthusiast, proficient in audio equipment and computers.

He is survived by his brother, Ron, and other family members.