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Obituaries

Pray For Them

Sr. Catherine O’Brien

TEACHER

Sister Catherine (Edward) O’Brien, 88, died April 9 in Adrian, Mich.

Sister Catherine spent 50 years ministering in education in Florida and New York in addition to Chicago, where she taught at St. Laurence Parish (1949-57).

Sr. Adrianna Emery

TEACHER, ORGANIST

Adrian Dominican Sister Adrianna (Patricia) Emery, 83, died on April 12 in Adrian, Mich., in her 64th year of religious life.

Sister spent 47 years ministering in education, teaching in Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. She was also a parish organist and choir director during these years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Infant Jesus of Prague, Flossmoor (1959-62) and St. Celestine (1963-67).

Sister Adrianna is survived by two sisters, Anita Sans Crainte and Jacqueline Riopelle.

Sr. Jamesine Connell

EDUCATOR, PRINCIPAL

BVM Sister Jamesine Connell, 96, died April 13 in Dubuque, Iowa.

A Chicago native, Sister Jamesine entered the congregation from Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in 1932. She attended Our Lady of Angels and Our Lady Help of Christians schools, and graduated from Trinity High School, River Forest. She also earned a master’s degree in education from Loyola University Chicago.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Jamesine taught at St. Cornelius (1938-46), St. Bridget (1948-52), Our Lady of Lourdes (1952-57) and St. Gertrude (1966-73). She was principal at St. Ferdinand (1957-63) and Mary Queen of Heaven, Cicero (1973-81). She was also treasurer at Cathedral High School (1981- 90).

Sister Jamesine was also an educator in Iowa, Montana and Nebraska.

Sr. Mariettina DiGangi

TEACHER

Sister of St. Joseph Mariettina (Frances) DiGangi, 84, died April 13.

Sister Mariettina, in the religious life for 54 years, ministered for 28 years teaching at St. Anthony; St. Cletus, LaGrange; Divine Infant; Westchester; and Bethlehem Center, LaGrange Park. She also ministered as a caregiver to the elderly.

She is survived by her sisters Josephine Pauli and Ann Belmonte.

Sr. Mary Thomas McNeela

SOCIAL WORKER, ADMINISTRATOR

Daughter of Charity M. Thomas (Helen) McNeela, 87, died April 15 in Evansville, Ind.

A Chicago native, she was one of nine children in her family. She attended St. Patrick High School before entering the Daughters of Charity in 1939.

She ministered as a teacher, housemother, social worker, orphanage administrator and Catholic Charities director in Alabama, Missouri, California, Louisiana and Texas.

She also served in her congregation’s administration.

Sister Mary Thomas is survived by her sisters, Patricia Kopeny and Therese Crawford, and a brother, Edward.

Sr. M. Carolita Dilla

FIRST-GRADE TEACHER

Franciscan Sister M. Carolita (Mary) Dilla, 85, died April 17 in Joliet.

A native of Chicago, Sister Carolita was born and raised in Sacred Heart Parish (Huron Street). She attended St. Francis Academy and graduated with a degree in education from the College of St. Francis in Joliet. She was a joyful and dedicated first grade teacher for 55 years of her life. Her years were spent in parochial schools in Illinois and Ohio. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Sacred Heart, Englewood (1954-63), St. Boniface (1963) and Divine Savior, Westchester (1984-98).

Sr. Cecilia Reidy

ST. MARY HIGH SCHOOL ALUM

BVM Sister Cecilia (Virginice) Reidy, 84, died April 21 in Dubuque, Iowa.

A Chicago native, she graduated from Presentation Grade School and St. Mary High School, before entering the BVM congregation in 1944.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Cecilia taught elementary- level students at St. Callistus (1947-56) and St. Dorothy ( 1959-65 , 1966-68). She taught and was administrator at Our Lady of Lourdes (1968-75). She also taught students with special needs at Cooley Vocational School (1975-79) and Near North Career Magnate High School (1979-97). She was on the faculty of Truman College (1997-2004).

She also taught in Rapid City, S.D. and Bellerose, N.Y.

Sister Cecilia graduated from Mundelein College, Chicago, with bachelor degrees in history and education, and earned a master’s degree in special education from Chicago State.