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Obituaries

Pray For Them

Fr. Ernest Ciemiega

PASTOR EMERITUS

Father Ernest D. Ciemiega, pastor emeritus of St. Isidore the Farmer Parish in Blue Island, died March 27 at Holy Family Villa in Palos Park.

He was 79.

A native of Chicago’s South Side, Father Ciemiega was a graduate of Immaculate Conception B.V.M. elementary school, Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained on May 3, 1957 by Cardinal Samuel Stritch.

Father Ciemiega’s first assignment was at St. John Vianny Parish, Northlake, where he served as assistant pastor for five years.

From 1962 to 1966, he was assistant pastor at St. Christina Parish before being named assistant pastor of the now-closed St. John of God Parish.

For five years beginning in 1969, Father Ciemiega was the assistant pastor of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Parish in Posen. For the next five years, he served in the same capacity at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Calumet City.

He was named pastor of nowclosed Sacred Heart Parish on Honore Street in 1979, serving there for three years. He served as associate pastor at St. Anastasia in Waukegan for one year (1983-84) and at St. Barbara Parish in Chicago for three years (1984-87).

Father Ciemiega became administrator and then pastor of St. Isidore the Farmer Parish in Blue Island, serving there from 1987 to 1994. Then he became associate pastor of St. Bruno Parish on Chicago’s Southwest Side, where he served until 1998, when he retired from active ministry.

He was named pastor emeritus of St. Isidore the Farmer that year.

Deacon Joseph Mally

CLASS OF 1977

Deacon Joseph Mally, 95, died in February.

Deacon Mally, ordained in 1977, served at St. Adalbert Parish since the 1990s, said Father Michael Michelini, pastor.

Deacon Mally also ministered at the now-closed St. Vitus Parish for many years.

Over the years, he was involved with youth ministry and worked with the Boy Scouts, and helped out with organizing the fundraising for the parish.

He was employed by the U.S. Postal Service before retiring and fought in France during World War II.

He is survived by a sister.

Sr. Noel Boggs

TEACHER

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Noel Boggs, 98, died March 9 in Sinsinawa, Wis.

Sister Noel entered the congregation in 1932.

She served in elementary education for 37 years as teacher or principal; as a religion teacher or director of religious education for 10 years; as sub-prioress at St. Dominic Villa, Dubuque, for two years; as director of Camp We Ha Kee, Winter, Wis., for 12 summers; and in inter-faith ministry 22 years.

She served in New Jersey, Illinois, New York, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Iowa, Maryland, Florida, California, South Carolina and Israel.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Noel taught at St. Thomas the Apostle (1935-44) and Ss. Faith, Hope and Charity, Winnetka (1957-1958).

Deacon Vicente Estrada

CLASS OF 1989

Deacon Vicente Estrada, 76, died March 17.

Deacon Estrada is survived by his wife, Maria Esther; their children Patricia, Adrianna, Rocio, Judith and Edgar; and 12 grandchildren.

Deacon Estrada was ordained in 1989 and ministered at Immaculate Conception Church, 2745 W. 44th St., for 11 years. Before that, he served at St. Roman Church.

He worked in auto body repair.

In addition to his liturgical duties, Deacon Estrada and Maria Esther were involved in pre-Cana for many years. He also spent many hours visiting the sick at home and in hospitals.

Deacon John Pistone

NATIONAL DEACON DIRECTOR

Deacon John Pistone, 76, died March 22.

Deacon Pistone was a member of the class of 1972, the first class of permanent deacons ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

He served the diaconate community and the Catholic Church in a variety of roles, including as executive director of the National Association of Deacon Directors, executive director of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for the Diaconate and director of the Deacon Formation Program for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Deacon Pistone ministered at St. Thomas of Villanova Parish in Palatine for over 30 years and at St. John Vianney in St. Pete Beach, Fla., for two years.

He and his wife, Rae, gave more than 90 retreats to deacons and wives all over the United States and Canada.

He also was a frequent contributor and columnist for Deacon Digest magazine.

Deacon Pistone received the St. Stephen’s Award and other national awards during his years of service.

He had been a manager at Allstate Insurance Company for 34 years.

In addition to, Rae, to whom he was married for 52 years, he is survived by his daughters Terri Cielsak, Julie Turner, Kathy Erickson, Gia Miller and six grandchildren

Sr. Helene Marie Kelly

MUSIC TEACHER

Sister Helene Marie (Catherine Frances) Kelly, 89, died March 25 in Terre Haute.

Born in Massachusetts, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1937. She ministered for 58 years teaching music in Maryland, Texas, New Hampshire, Illinois, Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts.

In 1998 she returned to the motherhouse where she contributed to community life in many ways.

In Chicago, she served at St. Agnes (1954-57).