Issue of January 18, 2004

bishop perry’s father

Joseph Nathaniel Perry Sr., 81, the father of Auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry, died of a heart attack at his Chicago home Jan. 7.

Perry was born Nov. 29, 1922, in Nashville, Tenn., to George and Annie (Orr) Perry. He married Mary Elizabeth Williams in August 1946, in Louisville, Ky., and the couple moved to Chicago, where they were members of Corpus Christi Parish. The Perrys had six children, Joseph, Teacora, Denise, Olga, George and Peter.

Joseph, the oldest son, graduated from St. Lawrence Seminary in Mount Calvary, Wis., in 1966 and Saint Francis Seminary, St. Francis, Wis., in 1975. He was ordained a priest of the Milwaukee Archdiocese in 1975 and named auxiliary bishop of Chicago in 1998.

Perry is survived by his wife Mary; brother Solomon; sons Joseph, George (Romeoville, Ill.), and Peter (Chicago); daughters Teacora (Pakistan) and Olga (Memphis); and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two siblings, Elizabeth and Walter, and one daughter, Denise.

A prayer service was held Jan. 13 at Cage Funeral Home, Chicago. A graveside service and interment will be held Jan. 31 at Bryant Acres Cemetery in Nashville.

Sr. Ann Mary Dietz

Teacher

Sister of Providence Ann Mary (Eleanor Ottilla) Dietz, 87, died Dec. 11.

Born in Indianapolis, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1940 and professed her final vows in 1948. She ministered as a teacher in several states.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at Our Lady of Sorrows from 1942-47 and at St. Genevieve from 1953-57.

Fr. William Fegan

associate pastor

Father William Fegan, 54, most recently associate pastor of Mary, Queen of Heaven Church, Cicero, died Jan.7.

Ordained in 1975, Father Fegan’s first assignment was as associate pastor at Divine Savior, Norridge. He then served as associate pastor at St. Zachary, Des Plaines, from 1975-81, and at Our Lady of Ransom, Niles, from 1981-86.

Following a sabbatical, he served as associate pastor at Divine Infant, Westchester, from 1986-89, and at St. Tarcissus from 1989-96.

He served in that same capacity at St. Thomas of Villanova, Palatine, for a year from 1995-96, and at St. Odilo, Berwyn, from 1996-98.

Father Fegan was named associate pastor of Mary, Queen of Heaven in 1998. He resided at the parish at the time of his death.

Fr. Norman Bevan

CTU Past president

Congregation of the Holy Spirit Father Norman Bevan, 66, died Jan. 5. Born in Buffalo, N.Y., he made his vows in Ferndale, Conn., and was ordained a priest there in 1963. He studied at the Gregorian University and received a doctorate in moral theology from the Academia Alfonsiana in Rome in 1970.

Father Bevan briefly taught at Duquesne University and at St. Paul’s Seminary in Kipalapala, Tanzania.

He served as the Holy Spirit Fathers’ formation director at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, from 1973-80, when he was appointed to the General Council of the congregation at the international headquarters in Rome.

He served in that capacity until 1985, when he was elected provincial superior of the USA-East Province of the Spiritans, a position he held for three consecutive terms until 1994.

He served as president of Catholic Theological Union from 1995-99. He was then appointed superior of Libermann Hall, the Spiritans retirement home in Pennsylvania.

He was a member of the faculty at Holy Ghost Preparatory Seminary in Bensalem, Pa., at the time of his death.

 Sr. M. Irene Cronin

Teacher

Sister of Providence Kathleen Marie (Mary Irene) Cronin, 87, died Jan. 3. Born in Chelsea, Mass., she entered the congregation of the Sisters of Providence in 1936, professed her first vows in 1939, and her final vows in 1945. She ministered as a teacher in several states. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at our Lady of Sorrows in 1945.

Br. Benedict Lidinsky

missionary

De La Salle Christian Brother John Wenceslaus (Benedict) Lidinsky, 76, died Jan. 3.

A Chicago native, he had been a De La Salle Christian Brother for 60 years. He died in the Philippine Islands, where he had served as a missionary teacher, administrator and vice president at De La Salle University, Manila, for the past 45 years.

Prior to his mission service, he taught in Christian Brothers’ high schools in several states.

Sr. Tarcisia Moroney

Teacher, probation officer

Sister of Mercy Tarcisia Moroney, 81, died Dec. 27. A Chicago native, she had been a Sister of Mercy for 62 years.

She served as a teacher in several states. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Mary, Lake Forest, and at St. Joseph, Libertyville. In addition to teaching, she served as a probation officer in juvenile court from 1972-2003.

Sr. Maria Giovanna Loffredo

teacher

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Maria Giovanna (France Louise) Loffredo, 83, died Dec. 17. Born in Dodge Center, Minn., she made her final profession of vows in 1948. She served as a teacher for 24 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Barnabas from 1945-47; St. Mary School, Evanston, from 1954-61; Epiphany School, Chicago, from 1962-64; and Visitation School from 1965-69. She served as live-in care giver for several women from 1971-72 and 1981-86.

Sr. Margaret Niemeyer

Teacher

Sinsinsawa Dominican Sister Margaret (Fredericus) Niemeyer, 87, died Dec. 17.

An Oak Park native, she made her final profession of vows in 1939. She ministered as an elementary school teacher in several states for nine years.

She served as dean of students and instructor in philosophy at Rosary College, River Forest, from 1950-70. From 1984-96 she served as professor of philosophy at Rosary College (now Dominican University).

She then served as promoter of peace and justice and as volunteer at the Dominican Motherhouse, Sinsinawa, Wis., from 1996-2000.

Sr. Madeleine Perkins

teacher

Sister of Mercy Madeleine Perkins, 79, died Dec. 25 at age 79. Born in Bridgeport, Conn., she had been a Sister of Mercy for 54 years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Joseph, Libertyville, and at St. Patrick, Des Plaines.

Sr. Charles Lang

Homemaker

Sister of Christian Charity Charles (Lucille) Lang, 84, died Dec. 11. A Chicago native, she attended St. Gregory School. She entered the congregation in Wilmette in 1934 and made her first vows in 1939. She served as homemaker at St. Gregory from 1964-67. She worked as cook and homemaker at Holy Trinity Convent from 1969-74. She also ministered at St. Margaret Mary Retreat Center from 1980-81. She is survived by two sisters, Cecilia Pedke of Morton Grove, and Sister Lillian Lang of Wilmette.

Sr. Presentation Brophy

Educator

Sister of Charity Presentation Brophy died Dec. 5 at age 103. Born in Long Grove, Iowa, she was the oldest living member of the congregation.

She entered the congregation in 1923, professed her first vows in 1925, and her final vows in 1931.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Mary, Queen of Heaven, Cicero, from 1945-49; St. Tarcissus from 1949-50; St. Odilo, Berwyn, from 1950-53; and Blessed Sacrament from 1956-60.

Br. Mark Wagner

teacher

De La Salle Christian Brother Mark (George Robert) Wagner, 87, died Dec. 16.

A Chicago native, he attended St. Gertrude Grammar School and St. George High School, Evanston. He made his first vows in Glencoe, Mo., in 1934, and was given the name Brother Hilary Mark. He pronounced his final vows in 1941.

He served as a teacher in several states. In the Chicago area, he taught at St. George, Evanston; St. Patrick High School, Chicago; Montini Catholic High School, Lombard.

From 1978-88 he served as the archivist for the Brothers at the Christian Brothers Center, Romeoville, Ill., and also at the Generalate of the Brothers in Rome.

Sr. Imelda Wehe

Teacher

Sister of Christian Charity Imelda Wehe, 93, died Dec. 2. Born in Loyal, Wis., she entered the congregation in Wilmette in 1932 and made her first profession of vows in 1935. She ministered as an elementary school teacher.

In the Chicago area, she taught at St. Gregory, Chicago, from 1954-59; St. Raphael, Chicago, from 1959-63. She taught at Holy Trinity in Westmont, from 1963-70; and at St. Alphonsus in Prospect Heights from 1970-77. From 1978-83, she tutored students at St. Teresa School in Chicago.