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Obituaries

Pray For Them

Sr. Macarius Kastenmeier

TEACHER

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Macarius Kastenmeier, 89, died Jan. 24 in Sinsinawa, Wis.

A Wisconsin native, Sister Macarius made her first religious profession in 1949. She taught in elementary schools and early childhood programs for 32 years and in adult education and literacy programs for 13 years. She retired to the motherhouse in 1995.

Sister Macarius served in Illinois; Iowa; Nebraska; South Carolina; Washington, D.C.; Missouri; Alabama; Florida; and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sr. Macarius taught at Visitation Grade School, Chicago, 1957-72.

She is survived by a brother, Lawrence Kastenmeier, and nieces and nephews.

Sr. M. Alfred Massura

TEACHER, LIBRARIAN

Sister of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Mary Alfred Massura, 93, died Jan. 28 in Daville, Pa.

A Chicago native, Sister Alfred was the first vocation from St. Simon Parish. She attended St. Clare of Montefalco School before entering the the Sisters of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in 1936.

Sister Alfred served as an elementary and secondary school teacher as well as a high school guidance counselor in the dioceses of Scranton, Pa.; Charleston, S.C.; Trenton, N.J.; Syracuse, N.Y.; and Gary, Ind.

For 21 of her 69 years as a religious, she was an English teacher and guidance counselor at Andrean High School in Merrillville, Ind.

Prior to her retirement to the motherhouse in 2003, Sister Alfred served as the librarian at St. Simon School in Chicago, living in the convent that her father Joseph built for the sisters of St. Simon Parish.

Sister Alfred was also a member of the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association, Branch 421 in Chicago and later transferred to Senior Branch 543 of Danville, Pa., and served as a Midwest Board Member in the Slovak Catholic Federation.

She is survived by her siblings Julia Tybor, Alfred Massura, Therese Tylus and Lydia Berry.

Sr. Consuelo Fissler

TEACHER, CHAPLAIN

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Consuelo Fissler, 90, died Jan. 29 in Sinsinawa, Wis.

Sister Consuelo entered the Dominican Sisters in Speyer, Germany, in 1932 and immigrated to the United States in 1937 with 21 other young women.

Sister Consuelo was an elementary, high school and college teacher as well as a chaplain and tutor. She served in congregation leadership for the Spokane Dominicans.

Her ministry took her to Washington, Montana, Illinois and France.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Consuelo ministered as a tutor at Dominican University, River Forest, 1995-99.

She is survived by one brother, Karl Fissler and nephews.

Sr. Josita Parrino

SOCIAL WORKER

Daughter of Charity Sister Josita (Vincenzina) Parrino, 73, died Jan. 29 in Evansville, Ind.

A St. Louis native, she worked as a telephone operator before entering the Daughters of Charity in 1957.

Following her initial formation, Sister Josita was sent to Marillac House in Chicago to serve in the arts and crafts program.

She then ministered in Indiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Maryland before returning to Illinois in 1997 to serve as an outreach worker in East St. Louis.

Sister Josita is survived by her sisters, Mary Feldhaus and Clara Hoffman, and brothers, Anthony and Nicholas Parrino.

Sr. Marie Rachel Forster

TEACHER

Adrian Dominican Sister Marie Rachel Forster, 93, died Jan. 30 in Adrian, Mich.

A Detroit native, Sister Marie Rachel spent 47 years ministering in education in Michigan, Illinois, Arizona and the Bahamas.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Philip Neri (1942- 53) and at Ascension, Harvey (1954-62). She also received a master’s degree in Latin from De- Paul University.

Sister Marie Rachel is survived by a sister, Agnes Forster.

Anne Marie OʼNeill

LIFELONG EDUCATOR

Anne Marie O’Neill, 63, director of religious education at St. Thomas of Villanova Parish in Palatine, died unexpectedly Jan. 31. A funeral Mass was offered Feb. 3 at the parish.

The former Ann Marie Mulkerin was baptized at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Chicago, attended the parish grade school and Sienna High School. She graduated from Loyola University, DePaul University and attended the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Mrs. O’Neill was a longtime educator and administrator in Chicago archdiocesan schools for 30 years. She began as a teacher at her alma mater, St. Thomas Aquinas, from 1964-74, and served as its principal from 1974- 77. She taught at Austin Career Education Center from 1977-89 and then became principal of St. Athanasius School in Evanston from 1989-1999.

After a brief stint at St. James School in Arlington Heights, she served as religious-education di- rector at St. Thomas of Villanova in 2000 until her death. Father Thomas Rzepiela, pastor of St. Thomas of Villanova, said of Mrs. O’Neill, “There is a huge void in our parish family with her death.”

She is survived by her husband, William, and brothers, Thomas, John and Edward.

Sister Irene Morence

TEACHER

Adrian Dominican Sister Irene (John Marie) Morence, 94, died Feb. 1 in Adrian, Mich.

A Michigan native, she spent 36 years ministering in education in Illinois, Florida, Michigan and the Dominican Republic.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a teacher and cafeteria manager at Aquinas High School from 1944-46.

Sister Irene became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 1994. Sister Irene is survived by a sister, Margaret Conley.

Mr. Edward Mulcrone

FATHER OF TWO PRIESTS

Mr. Edward Vincent Mulcrone, 94, died Feb. 5.

Mr. Mulcrone, who retired from the Chicago Police Department as a lieutenant, is the father of Father Joseph Mulcrone, the director of the archdiocesan Catholic Office of the Deaf, and Father Thomas Mulcrone, chaplain for the Chicago Fire Department.

A World War II veteran, Mr. Mulcrone served in the 23rd Coast Artillery. When he joined the police department, he was first assigned to the old Town Hall District, where his father, Peter, also served. During his tenure with the Chicago Police Department, he was elected as a trustee for the Chicago Patrolman’s Association (1949-53), and vice president of the Chicago Policeman’s Benevolent Association (1953-57).

Since 1951, he lectured at the Chicago City Colleges, DePaul University, the Illinois Institute of Technology and the Chicago Police Academy. He was an instructor of criminology and criminal justice at Kendall College in Evanston, and an assistant professor for the Chicago City Colleges.

He also was past Grand Knight of the St. Cabrini Council of the Knights of Columbus.

He is also survived by sons Laurence, Michael and James and daughters Mary Nellis, Ellen Schuetzner and Jean Gronke; grandchildren Mara Helmke, Joel Nellis, Joseph Mulcrone, Julie Sochacki, Coleen VandeWalle, Kristen Mulcrone, Patrick and Andrew Mulcrone, Matthew and Katherine Schuetzner, Michelle and Allison Mulcrone and Lauren, Mary Catherine and Marguerite Gronke; and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Mary and brother Vincent.

Sr. Josef Riordan

EDUCATOR, PASTORAL WORKER

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Josef Riordan, 79, died Feb. 7 in Sinsinawa, Wis.

A Chicago native, Sister Josef made her first religious profession in 1951. served as an elementary and high school teacher for more than 20 years; school administrator for 10 years; college rector for 12 years; and chaplain/pastoral care worker at hospitals for six years.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Josef ministered in educational administration at St. Thomas of Villanova, Palatine (1963-69), and St. Philip the Apostle, Northfield (1969-73). She served as a pastoral care worker/chaplain at Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge (1993-95).

She is survived by one brother, Thomas Riordan.

Sr. Mary Berchmans Wysocki

EDUCATOR

Resurrection Sister Mary Berchmans (Stella Veronica) Wysocki, 89, died Feb. 8.

Sister Berchmans graduated from Resurrection High School in 1938 and received a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University and a master’s degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Sister Berchmans spent 67 continuous years in education ministry, as a teacher in grade school and high school and as a school principal.

For 38 years, she was a member of the Resurrection High School faculty in a variety of roles. She taught social studies, English and religious studies; she was chair of the social studies department and served as dean of students.

Fr. Darrell Rupiper

MISSIONARY, PEACE AMBASSADOR

Oblate Father Darrell Rupiper, 71, died Feb. 10 in Des Moines.

Father Rupiper celebrated his 50th anniversary as a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate last year. After an initial assignment to Recife, Brazil, he returned to the United States and served the community as director of formation houses. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, he was pastor of Precious Blood Parish ( 1 9 8 5 - 9 5 ) . While there, he established a volunteer outreach project known as “Oblate Connections.”

Always deeply committed to social justice he was able to express it in various ways such as being a peace ambassador to U.S. hostages in Iran (1980), and advocating for nuclear disarmament and peaceful conflict resolution. Most recently he had been conducting parish missions with a focus on the need to care and protect the earth and the environment as God’s gifts.

Fr. Thomas Martin

TEACHER, THEOLOGIAN

Augustinian Father Thomas F. Martin, 65, died Feb. 20 following a struggle with cancer.

A Chicago native, he was baptized at St. Symphorosa Parish and attended elementary school there

He graduated from St. Rita High School in 1961 and entered the Augustinian novitiate the same year.

He was ordained in 1969.

He served at Mendel Catholic High School (1970-78); was director of theologians and lived at St. John Stone Friary in Chicago (1978-81, 1990-95).

In 2005 he was named founding director of the Augustinian Institute at Villanova University. In 2006, while continuing as director of the institute, he was assigned to reside at St. Thomas of Villanova Friary, Rosemont, Pa. In 2008 Villanova University promoted him to the status of full professor. He is survived by three sisters, Joyce Varak, Diane Wayland and Denise Martin; and by two brothers, Charles and William Martin.