Advertisements ad

Obituaries

Pray For Them

Fr. Norbert Bykowski

ARMY CHAPLAIN

Father Norbert Bykowski, 78, a U.S. Army chaplain for 30 years, died Oct. 7 from complications from cancer at the Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry.

Father Bykowski lived in McHenry after his retirement as a U.S. Army colonel chaplain in 1996.

A Chicago native, Father Bykowski was baptized at St. F e r d i n a n d Church, 5900 W. Barry Ave. He graduated from St. Constance School, 5841 W. Strong St., Quigley (North) Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.

He was ordained a priest on May 1, 1956, and was named assistant superintendent of St. Hedwig’s Manual Training School in Niles, an institution for Polish youth orphaned after World War II. He then served at St. Cornelius Parish, 5205 N. Lieb Ave. and St. Bartholomew Parish, 3601 N. Lavergne, before becoming a U.S. Army chaplain in 1966.

Sr. Ann Michele Kiefer

TEACHER, HOSPICE VOLUNTEER

Sister of Providence Ann Michele (Catherine Ann) Kiefer, 77, died Sept. 30 in St. Mary-of-the- Woods, Ind.

She worked for 41 years in schools in Indiana, Illinois and California. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mel (1951-55) and St. Francis Borgia (1960-65).

She also ministered as a pastoral care associate and hospice volunteer.

Sr. Mary Giles Howes

TEACHER, VISITOR

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Giles Howes, 84, died Oct. 5 in Sinsinawa, Wis.

She taught elementary and intermediate grade students for 49 years; tutored one year, and visited nursing home residents for four years prior to her retirement. She served in Illinois, Montana, Wisconsin, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Alabama and the District of Columbia.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Giles taught at St. Brendan (1946-49), St. Richard (1949-50), St. Philip Benizi (1950-55) and Visitation (1955-59). She visited residents at Mother Theresa Nursing Home, Lemont (1996-2000). Sister Mary Giles lived in community at Trinity Convent, River Forest, and Divine Providence Convent, Des Plaines.

Sr. Catherine Duffey

BUSINESS MANAGER

Daughter of Charity Sister Catherine Duffey, 89, died Oct. 10 in Evansville, Ind.

An Indianapolis native, she worked as a bookkeeper, business manager and accountant in St. Louis; Milwaukee; Los A n g e l e s ; Alton, Ill.; and Evansville, Ind., after entering the congregation.

In Chicago, she was assigned to St. Vincent Infant Hospital.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in theology in 1971, she ministered in Mississippi, Michigan and Alabama, working as a bookkeeper and visiting the poor and sick. She also worked in congregational administration in Evansville and as a docent in the Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg, Md.

Sister Catherine is survived by her sister, Margaret Eacret.

Deacon Jose Gonzalez

FIRST DIACONATE CLASS

Deacon Jose Gonzalez, 71, died Oct. 11. He was a member of the diaconate class of 1972, the first class ordained to the permanent diaconate in the archdiocese.

Deacon Gonzalez, who was from Puerto Rico, was one of the first Hispanic deacons and one of the first celibate permanent deacons ordained.

Deacon Gonzalez served his entire ministry at St. Aloysius Parish, 2300 W. LeMoyne St.

He is survived by one niece in Chicago, Alma Gonzalez, and family members in Puerto Rico.

Sr. Mary Teresa Oleniczak

NURSE, ADMINISTRATOR

Little Company of Mary Sister Mary Teresa Oleniczak, 94, died Oct. 11 in Evergreen Park.

Sister Mary Teresa, a Milwaukee native, entered the congregation in 1937 and began studying at the Little Company of Mary School of Nursing. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing education and a master’s degree from DePaul University and a degree in hospital administration from Columbia University in New York. She served in hospitals in New York, California and Argentina, as well as at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park (1944-56). She retired there in 1999.

Sr. Ellen Hirzel

TEACHER

Adrian Dominican Sister Ellen L. (Baptista) Hirzel, 93, died Oct. 14 in Adrian, Mich.

Born in East Syracuse, N.Y., she spent 45 years ministering in education in Detroit, Albion and Harper Woods, Mich.; Oceanside, Calif.; Winslow, Casa Grande, Douglas and Tucson, Ariz.; Roy and Tucumcari, N.M.; Toledo and Swanton, Ohio; Las Vegas; Miami Beach, Fla.; and Harvey, Ill., where she taught at Ascension School from 1940-44.

Sister Ellen is survived by two sisters, Nellie MacDonald and Jodi Trudeau.

Gloria M. Condon

DEACON’S WIFE

Gloria M. Condon, 74, of Arlington Heights, died Oct. 13. She was married 54 years to Deacon Edward Condon, who ministers at St. Cornelius Parish, 5205 N. Lieb Ave. She is survived by her children Diane Herdegen, Edward and Therese Rodriguez; six grandchildren and one greatgrandchild. She also is survived by her sister, Jacqueline Pales.

Deacon Martin Hare

SERVED AT VA

Deacon Martin Hare, 94, died Oct. 15.

Deacon Hare was ordained in 1977 and served first at Holy Rosary Parish, 612 N. Western Ave.

However, he did most of his ministry with the military ordinariate at the Veterans Administration Lakeside Hospital, said Father Michael Ahlstrom, the vicar for the diaconate community.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine, and is survived by his three children, Martin, Virginia Carroll and Joan Maratea; six grandchildren; and five greatgrandchildren.