Issue of November 21, 2004

Fr. Eugene Stoll

Taught in the Philippines

Divine Word Father Eugene Stoll died at the Divine Word Residence, Techny, Oct. 17. He would have turned 100 Oct. 18. Father Stoll celebrated 80 years in religious vows Sept. 8.

He was born in Canton, Ohio, and came to St. Mary’s Mission House, Techny, in 1917. He stayed through high school and college, professing first vows in 1924. Six years later, he was ordained and sent to the Philippines where he taught until 1942 when he was imprisoned by the Japanese. Following liberation from the concentration camp in 1945, he returned to he United States to recover.

Two years later he returned to the Philippines. He worked in administration at Divine Word colleges and universities, serving five years from 1953 to 1958 as liaison officer for all Divine Word schools with the government Bureau of Private Schools.

In 1974, he returned to work at churches in the United States and in 1994 he retired to Divine Word Residence, Techny.

Sr. M. Dolora Geraghty

Teacher/principal

Sister of the Holy Cross Mary Dolora Geraghty, 82, died Oct. 29.

She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1940, made her first profession of vows in 1942, and final profession in 1945. She was an elementary school teacher and principal for 34 years. In Illinois, she was assigned to schools in Chicago, Morris and Danville.

She served as a caseworker in Chicago for the St. Gregory Guild, Catholic Charities.

Sr. Mary Reginalla Palac

Principal/teacher

Felician Sister Mary Reginella Palac, 78, died Oct. 20 at Resurrection Life Center in Chicago. She had been a Felician for 60 years.

Her ministry as an elementary school principal and teacher spanned 44 years. She served at schools in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at Holy Innocents, 1944-45 and 1957-61; St. Mary Magdalen, 1946-47 and 1977-80; St. Helen, 1956-57; St. Bruno, 1961-62 and 1975-76; St. Turibius, 1962-64; and St. Joseph, 1064-69.

Sr. Ann Kearney

Teacher

Adrian Dominican Sister Ann Francesca Kearney, 92, died Oct. 27. Born in Philadelphia, she was in the 76th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

She spent 43 years ministering in education in several states. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Nicholas of Tolentine, 1927-28; St. Philip Neri, 1929-38; St. Clare of Montefalco, 1938-39; and St. Rita, 1943-48.

Sr. Francis de Sales Matan

Teacher

Resurrection Sister Francis de Sales Matan died Oct. 14 at age 84 at Resurrection Medical Center.

A Chicago native, she joined the congregation n 1936. She taught elementary school at St. Mary of the Angels, St. Thecla, St. Casimir, Queen of the Rosary, and St. Bede in Chicago. She also taught in several other states and in Vancouver, Canada.

After 47 years of teaching, she served in the quality improvement and risk management department at Resurrection Medical Center.

 

Sr. Charlene Kestler

musician

School Sister of Notre Dame Charlene Kestler died Oct. 13. She had been a School Sister of Notre Dame for 67 years and spent most of her active ministry in the field of music.

She was a music teacher and participated in many parishes as director of liturgy in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois.

She was active in the Ambassadors of Mary. She was one of four people who accompanied the Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima promoting vocations and the rosary.

 

Sr. M. Theresia Staniszewski

Teacher/principal

Felician Sister Mary Theresia Staniszewski died Oct. 9 at age 87.

A Chicago native, she entered the Felician Sisters in 1934 and professed her final vows in 1942.

She was a principal and taught in schools in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she ministered at Holy Rosary, 1936-40 and at Sacred Heart, 1966-76. She ministered to the elderly at St. Andrew Home, Niles, from 1984-90.

 

Sr. Dolores (Desirée) Verdan

Language teacher

Dominican Sister Dolores (Desirée) Verdan, 87, died Oct. 8 at the Dominican Motherhouse in Sinsinawa, Wis. She made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Aug. 5, 1942 and her final profession was Aug. 5, 1945.

She was a high school language teacher for 35 years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Trinity High School, River Forest, from 1953 to 1958.

In addition, she also taught Spanish at the Mexican American Cultural Center in Texas, and served in Peru, Bolivia, Wisconsin, Montana, Minnesota, Illinois, South Dakota, California and Texas.

 

Sr. M. Eroteis Medrzyk

Teacher

Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth Mary Eroteis Medrzyk died Sept. 30 at age 88. She was a member of the congregation for nearly 73 years.

She ministered in the field of education for 65 years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Holy Trinity, St. Joseph Mission, St. Hyacinth, St. Blase, St. John the Baptist, Ascension-St. Susanna, Mary of Nazareth (Harvey), St. Camillus, St. Michael, and Immaculate Heart of Mary.

She spent ten years caring for orphaned and sick children in Alabama from 1940-50. She retired from active ministry in 1992.

She is survived by her sister, Sr. Bernadette, a member of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, two brothers, and several nieces.

 

Sr. Gemma Bopp

Housekeeper, administrator

School Sister of Notre Dame Gemma Bopp died Sept. 29. She had been a School Sister of Notre Dame for 67 years.

For many years, she served as a homemaker and cook in convents in Wisconsin and Illinois. She later studies food management and administration and became assistant executive administrator of housekeeping at Little Company of Mary Hospital.

 

Sister Amator Vogel

Teacher

School Sister of St. Francis Amator Vogel, 94, died Nov. 11 at St. Joseph Convent, Campbellsport, Wis. She was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis community June 12, 1928 and made profession of vows Aug. 19, 1930.

She lived her religious ministry in education for 61 years, teaching at schools in Illinois, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Immaculate Conception School, 1937-1941, and St. Matthias School, 1947-1955.

A wake and funeral Mass was Nov. 15 at St. Joseph Convent, Campbellsport.