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Obituaries

Pray For Them

Sr. M. Edwarda Burdulis

TEACHER, PRINCIPAL

Sister of St. Casimir M. Edwarda Burdulis, 92, died May 29.

A Pennsylvania native, she was a member of the Sisters of St. Casimir for 72 years. She taught at Our Lady of Vilna, Immaculate Conception (44th Street), and Nativity BVM (68th and Washtenaw), where she also served as principal.

Sr. Marian Dahlke

TEACHER, PRINCIPAL

School Sister of St. Francis Marian (Antonelda) Dahlke, 84, died May 30 in Fond du Lac, Wis.

An Illinois native, she was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1942.

Sister Marian was a teacher, principal, ministry director and coordinator in Wisconsin and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marian taught at St. Philomena (1955-60) and Santa Maria Addolorata (1960-64), where she also served as principal (1964-82). She also served as principal at St. Maurice (1982-90), coordinator at Alvernia Center (1990-91), coordinator at St. Priscilla Convent (1991-92 and 1998-2002), ministry director of School Sisters of St. Francis U.S. Province in Chicago (1992-98), and in volunteer services at St. Priscilla (2002-03).

Sister Marian is survived by her sisters Theresa Konopasek, LaVerne Bormann and Anita Kaiser.

Sr. Lois Spear

TEACHER, COMMUNICATOR

Adrian Dominican Sister Lois (Marie Jude) Spear, 88, died June 1 in Adrian, Mich.

An Iowa native, Sister Lois spent 31 years ministering in education in Illinois, Florida, Michigan and North Carolina. She also ministered as communications director for three different congregations of sisters, edited the Intermountain Catholic Newspaper in Salt Lake City, Utah, and reported for The Catholic Mirror in Des Moines, Iowa. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette.

Sister Lois is survived by a brother, William, and a sister, Dorothy Theesfeld.

Sr. Wendy Workman

PHYS ED TEACHER

Providence Sister Wendy Workman, 58, died June 6 in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind.

An Illinois native, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1975. Of her 33 years in the congregation, she ministered as a teacher of physical education for five years in Oklahoma and Illinois, including at St. Angela School (1980-82) and in 1984 joined the faculty at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in the Physical Education Department.

In 1987 she suffered severe brain damage when she was struck by a truck while biking. After several years of rehabilitation therapy, she was able to give service both at the college and motherhouse but beginning in 2001, she devoted herself totally to the ministry of prayer.

Sister is survived by a stepbrother, Peter Workman.

Sr. Margretta Anastasi

HOMEMAKER, TEACHER AIDE

School Sister of St. Francis Margretta Anastasi, 88, died June 7 in Huntley, Ill.

The Iowa native was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1939.

Sister Margretta lived her religious ministry as a homemaker, teacher aide and seamstress in Illinois, South Dakota, Mississippi, and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as a homemaker at St. Martin (1941-42 and 1965-69) and at Alvernia High School Convent (1943-52), and served as a teacher aide at St. Philomena (1969-72) and at St. Bernardine, Forest Park (1972- 79).

Sister Margretta is survived by her brothers Ray and LeRoy.

Sr. Marie William Cahill

TEACHER, PRINCIPAL

Sister Marie William Cahill, 98, died June 11 in Sinsinawa, Wis.

Sister Marie William made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1935. She taught elementary and junior high school for 36 years and was principal for 13 years and assistant principal for seven years. She served in congregation leadership as a provincial councilor for eight years and as finance officer for the Southwest Province for seven years. Sister Marie William also served as a parish minister, librarian and alumnae director. Her ministries took her to Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, California, Texas and Colorado.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Marie William taught at St. Vincent Ferrer, River Forest (1940-53) and was principal there (1947-53), and taught at St. Giles, Oak Park (1963-64). She served as principal at St. Cajetan (1970-71), while at the same time serving as a councilor for the Sinsinawa Dominican Southwest Province. She was the alumnae and development director for Trinity High School, River Forest (1982-86).

Sr. M. Lenore Theisen

TEACHER, ADMINISTRATOR

Sister M. Lenore (Claire Louise) Theisen, 92, died June 10 at the Dominican Sisters Motherhouse, Springfield.

A Colorado native, Sister Lenore ministered in elementary education and administration. She began in 1936 teaching first grade at Our Lady of Grace. She also taught at St. John Bosco and St. Christina; St. Bernadette, Evergreen Park; St. James, Sauk Village; and in Springfield and Aurora, Ill., as well as in California.