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Obituaries

Pray For Them

Sr. Catherine Gallagher

LEADER, EDUCATOR

Mercy Sister Catherine (Mary Inviolata) Gallagher, 91, died March 2 in Chicago.

A Chicago native, Sister Catherine entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1934 and worked in leadership roles in education, health care and religious life. She was known both in Chicago and across the country for her time as president of Mercy Health Care System, as provincial for the Sisters of Mercy-Chicago Province and her work with the renewal of religious life following the Second Vatican Council.

Sister Catherine served as principal of two Chicago high schools — Siena High School (1955-62) and Mother McAuley High School (1962-68), the largest girls’ high school in the United States.

Sister Catherine began her ministry as a teacher, first at St. Paul of the Cross and then at St. Catherine of Genoa. She served on the faculty of St. Xavier Academy from 1939 to 1954. From 1970 to 1976 and again from 1979 to 1986, she served as provincial administrator of the Sisters of Mercy Chicago Province. The next 13 years, she spent as president of Mercy Health Care System. In 1999, she left health care and volunteered at Mercy Manor in Aurora until her retirement in 2001.

Sister Catherine is survived by a brother, Father Charles Gallagher, and sisters Frances Murray, Rita Fisher and Loretta Moran.

Sr. Francis Margaret Younger

HOMEMAKER, ROSARY MAKER

School Sister of St. Francis Margaret (Agnelda) Younger, 94, died Feb. 11 in Wisconsin.

Sister Margaret lived her religious ministry as a homemaker, baker and rosary maker. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Margaret served as a homemaker at St. Peter, Niles Center (1934- 36); St. Anne, Barrington (1947-49); St. Benedict Parish (1949-52); and St. Dionysius Parish, Cicero (1952-53).

Sister Margaret is survived by her sisters Lucy Younger and Cecelia Steffan.

Sr. Mary Lou Bishoff

EDUCATOR, PASTORAL MINISTER

Sister of the Holy Child Jesus Mary Lou (Mother Mary Christine) Bishoff, 76, died Feb. 21 in Rosemont, Pa.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Veronica (1958- 59); St. Anastasia, Waukegan (1959-60); and Holy Child High School, Waukegan (196-67). She was a pastoral minister at St. Anastasia (1978-79) and St. Mary, Lake Forest (1988-89).

She is survived by a sister, Barbara Morgan, and a brother, Michael.

Sr. M. Rosita Thewes

FOOD SERVICE

Providence Sister Mary Rosita (Marie Anna) Thewes, 86, died Feb. 25 in Indiana.

An Indiana native, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1943. She ministered in food service for 47 years. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at Our Lady of Sorrows (1945-46) and Marywood, Evanston (1948-49).

She is survived by a brother, Alois, and a sister, Frances Jochum.