Educator

Sister of Charity BVM Lucille (Luciola) Pidgeon, 88, died Feb. 24. A Chicago native, she graduated from Providence High School and attended Mundelein College before entering the Sisters of Charity BVM in 1935. She professed her final vows in 1943.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Angels, 1967-70, and St. Eugene, 1970-85. She lived at St. Eugene in retirement from 1985-97.

She is survived by two sisters, Gertrude Tye and Helen Pidgeon.

Sr. Virginia Sweeney

Educator

Sister of Charity BVM Virginia (Alvita) Sweeney, 92, died Feb. 23. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, she entered the Sisters of Charity BVM in 1939 and professed her final vows in 1947. She taught at Our Lady of Lourdes School, Chicago, from 1944-56. She also served as principal and teacher in schools in several other states. She is survived by a sister, Eileen Burds, and brothers Herbert and John Sweeney.

Sr. Cecile Kuhn

Teacher, missionary

Sister of Christian Charity Cecile (Alice) Kuhn, 88, died Feb. 18. A Chicago native, she attended St. Margaret Mary School. She worked as a fashion examiner at Montgomery Ward Co. and at the Dearborn Supply Co. before entering the Sisters of Christian Charity in 1936. She made her final profession of vows in 1945.

She spent the first 19 years of religious life as a teacher in several states. She was assigned to Josephinum High School from 1958-68. She then served in missions in Uruguay for several years. She was one of the founding sisters of the congregation’s mission in New Mexico.

She is survived by a sister, Virginia Kuhn, of Wilmette, a nephew, and three nieces.

Sr. Mary Anne Kennedy

Teacher, principal, counselor

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Anne Kennedy, 82, died Feb. 14. A Chicago native, she was one of 10 children. She made her first religious profession in 1945 and her final profession in 1948. She ministered as a high school science teacher for 24 years and as a principal and/or guidance counselor for 29 years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as principal at Visitation High School, Chicago, from 1968-71; principal at Trinity High School, River Forest, from 1971-82; and as guidance counselor at Trinity from 1982-94. She is survived by nieces and nephews.

Sr. Rita Joseph Haas

Teacher

Adrian Dominican Sister Rita Joseph (Genevieve Marie) Haas died Feb. 14 at age 87. A Chicago native, she was in the 68th year of her religious profession. She spent 51 years ministering in education in several states. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Laurence, Chicago, from 1961-63; Ascension, Harvey, from 1963-68 and 1971-73; St. Rita, Chicago, from 1968-71; St. Clare, Chicago, from 1974-75; and at St. Colette, Rolling Meadows, from 1975-81. She also served as secretary to the Dominican Friars from 1973-74.

She is survived by three sisters and a brother.

Sr. Francetta Brown

Educator

Sister of Providence Agnes Veronica (Francetta) Brown died Feb. 13 at age 85. Born in Loogootee, Ind., she was one of 15 children. She entered the Sisters of Providence in 1938 and professed her final vows in 1946. She served as an educator and taught in schools in several states. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Maternity BVM from 1941-43, and at St. Sylvester from 1954-56. She is survived by two sisters and many nieces and nephews.

Fr. Jerome Siwek

Pastor emeritus

Father Jerome Siwek, 73, ordained by Cardinal Stritch in 1956, died Feb. 11. He died from an apparent heart attack at St. Benedict Home, Niles, where he resided. He was the pastor emeritus of St. Richard Church, a parish he served for 18 years.

A Chicago native, Father Siwek attended SS. Peter and Paul school. He entered Quigley Preparatory Seminary in 1949 and graduated from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, where he did post-graduate studies. Ordained in 1956, Father Siwek’s first assignment was as associate pastor at St. Simeon, Bellwood.

After serving nine years at St. Simeon, Father Siwek served as associate pastor at St. Roman Parish from 1965-66; Our Lady of Knock, Calumet City, from 1966-70; St. Martin, from 1970-72; and at St. Constance from 1972-75.

Father Siwek served as pastor at St. Josaphat from 1975-76, and then as associate pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary (N. Spaulding) from 1976-81. He was named pastor at St. Richard Church in 1981, a position he held until his retirement in 1999. During his tenure at St. Richard, he also held the position of Dean of that deanery from 1990-96. Father Siwek was named pastor emeritus of St. Richard when he retired.

Sr. Mary Laudet

Teacher

School Sister of St. Francis Mary Laudet (Vitolda), 86, died Jan. 24. Born in Atlantic, Iowa, she entered the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1934 and made her profession of vows in 1936. She lived her religious ministry for 44 years in education, serving in schools in Illinois and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a teacher at St. Peter School, Niles Center, 1935-36; St. Philomena School, Chicago, 1946-48; and she served as a receptionist at Addolorata Village in Wheeling from 1984-88.

Sr. Mary Ruth Hart

Educator

Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes Mary Ruth Hart, 78, died Jan. 22. Born in Ironton, Ohio, she entered the congregation in 1951 and made her profession of vows in 1954. She served as a teacher in several states. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she began her teaching ministry at St. Priscilla Parish in 1954. She taught at Holy Angels School in Chicago from 1971-99.

Sr. Hilda Groschek

Housekeeper

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Hilda Groschek, 91, died Jan. 15. She made her first profession in 1936 and her final profession in 1939. She supported the sisters teaching in the schools by serving as housekeeper in several states.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served as housekeeper at Trinity High School, River Forest, 1944-45; St. Vincent Ferrer, River Forest, 1969-70; and St. Thomas More, 1971-78. She served as secretary at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills from 1978-79. She lived community life at Queen of Peace Ministry Center, Burbank, from 1979-91, and at St. Barnabas, Chicago, from 1991-93.

Sr. Mary Yvonne Meyer

Director of medical records

Franciscan Sister of Mary M. Yvonne Meyer, 91, died Jan. 1. Born in St. Louis, Mo., she was one of nine children. She joined the congregation now known as the Franciscan Sisters of Mary in 1940 and professed her vows in 1943. She served in various capacities at hospitals served by the Franciscan Sisters of Mary. In the Chicago area, she served as director of medical records at St. Francis Hospital and Health Center, Blue Island.

Fr. Walter Mischke

St. Jude League chaplain

Claretian Father Walter Mischke, 89, died Jan. 1. A Chicago native, he attended St. Josaphat School on the Northwest Side, began his studies for the priesthood at Quigley Preparatory Seminary, but transferred to the Claretians’ St. Jude Seminary in 1933. He completed his studies and was ordained a Claretian missionary priest in Los Angeles in 1943.

He spent the next 16 years serving as a teacher, prefect of studies, vocations promoter, and treasurer. He then served as associate pastor and assistant director of St. Jude devotions at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in South Chicago. He served as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Chicago, from 1969-71. He began his work as chaplain with the Chicago Police Department in 1972. He was sent out of state to continue his ministry in 1983, and he retired in 1985.

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