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Obituaries

Pray For Them

Fr. Wilbert Hegener

PREACHER, RETREAT DIRECTOR

Franciscan Father Wilbert Hegener, 99, died July 15 in Springfield, Ill.

Father Hegener, the oldest friar of the Province of the Sacred Heart at the time of his death, was born in Germany, and immigrated to Petoskey, Mich., where he grew up.

He entered the Franciscans in 1929 and was ordained a priest in 1936.

He served the church as a missionary preacher for most of his priestly career. From 1938 to 1943 he worked out of St. Louis, then Corpus Christi Parish in Chicago, and then Holy Trinity Parish in Dubuque, Iowa.

Sr. Joan Cecile Lacombe

TEACHER, VICARESS, DRE

Sister Joan Cecile (Marian Catherine) Lacombe, 86, died July 20 in Adrian, Mich.

A Michigan native, she spent 36 years ministering in education. She also served as a pastoral minister, director of religious education and vicaress for the motherhouse.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Rita (1952-53); St. Celestine, Elmwood Park (1958-60); St. Ailbe (1960-61); St. Kilian (1961-67); Queen of Apostles, Riverdale (1967-70, teacher; 1970-73, DRE).

Sister Joan Cecile is survived by two sisters, Vivian Rousseau and Lucille Artibee, and a brother, William.

Sr. Benna Henken

TEACHER, RETREAT DIRECTOR

Holy Spirit Missionary Sister Benna (Bernardine) Henken, 97, died July 23 in Techny.

Sister Benna was born in Germantown, Ill., and left school after eighth grade. She went to Techny to join the sisters in 1930.

She taught mostly at schools in Mississippi, as well as St. Norbert in Northbrook. She then worked as coordinator of the retreat center at the convent in Techny. She is survived by a sister, Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ Sister Jude, and a brother, George.