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Obituaries

Pray For Them

Sr. Celine Laketek

TEACHER, LIBRARIAN, LPN

Benedictine Sister Celine Laketek, 89, died May 3 in Lisle.

A Chicago native, she entered Sacred Heart Monastery in 1939. She worked as an elementary and high school teacher and librarian in Chicago, Glen Ellyn, Cicero and Lisle. She also studied gerontology and earned licensed practical nurse certification so she could care for the elderly sisters at the monastery.

She is survived by her sister, Cele Putz.

Sr. Imelda Spitzer

TEACHER

School Sister of St. Francis Imelda Spitzer, 91, died May 18 in Milwaukee, Wis.

A Chicago native, she entered the congregation in 1923.

Sister Imelda lived her religious ministry in Illinois and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago Sister taught at St. Benedict (1967–77) and lived at St. Priscilla in Chicago (1991–2000).

Sr. Mary Therese Cusack

TEACHER, ADMINISTRATOR

BVM Sister Mary Therese (Kenneth Michael) Cusack, 76, died May 20 at Our Lady of the Resurrection Hospital, Chicago.

A Chicago native, she attended Presentation Elementary School and graduated from St. Mary High School before entering the BVM congregation in 1952.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Therese taught at St. Ferdinand (1956-59), St. Pius (1959-64), and St. Joseph, Round Lake (1964-67). She was principal at St Callistus (1969-74), and St Eulalia, Maywood (1977-81). She also taught at St Bartholomew (1981-83) and St Cornelius (1983-85). She was principal at Holy Family School (1985-94) and Consolidated Schools/Children of Peace (1994- 2000). She also taught in western Iowa early in her teaching career.

Following her retirement from teaching, Sister Mary Therese volunteered at Our Lady of the Resurrection Hospital. She was also the Health Care Coordinator for the Great Lakes Region of the Sisters of Charity, BVM.

Sr. Carol Artery

EDUCATOR, ARTS PROMOTER

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Carol (Amandus) Artery, 71, died May 21 in Sinsinawa , Wis.

A Chicago native, Sister Carol made her first religious profession in 1948. She ministered in education for 48 years, serving four years in elementary; 21 years in secondary, of which 14 were as co-principal; 23 years with the Dominican Arts Project; and 18 as an adjunct professor. She served the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation as a member of the leadership team for four years and, since 2005, as copromoter of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Office. A skilled musician, choir director and liturgist, she served in Wisconsin, Illinois and Louisiana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Carol taught at SS. Faith, Hope, and Charity, Winnetka (1962-64); St. Thomas the Apostle (1964-66); Visitation (1966-80), where she was also coprincipal; and Unity Catholic (1980-86). In 1986, Sister Carol cofounded the Dominican Arts Project, which brought fine arts experiences to children in economically challenged areas.

Sr. Bernice Nofs

TEACHER, COUNSELOR

Adrian Dominican Sister Bernice (John Vercelli) Nofs, 77, died May 27 in Adrian, Mich.

A Michigan native, Sister Bernice spent 25 years ministering in Michigan, Illinois, California, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Florida, Alabama, Iowa and Arizona.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. James, Maywood (1953-54), and Bishop Quarter Military Academy, Oak Park (1954-55)

Sister Bernice is survived by four sisters: Virginia Parker, Joyce Driggers, Angela McCallumore and Catherine Aud-Miles; and a brother, Bernard Nofs.

Deacon Julius Frazier

BROADCASTER, TEACHER

Deacon Julius Frazier, 55, died May 29. He was ordained in 2005 and served at St. Philip Neri Parish.

Frazier had been teaching at Hales Franciscan High School for the spring semester, after starting the school year teaching at Christ the King Jesuit College Prep High School. He previously taught at Notre Dame High School for Girls, said his wife of 16 years, Leslie.

Before he began teaching, he was a writer, editor and consultant in the corporate world, the consultant for African-American Catechesis in the archdiocese’s Office for Catechesis and pastoral associate at St. Peter Claver Parish.

He also had a radio program, “God’s Praises Tell,” as part of the Catholic Community of Faith programming from 2001 to 2006.

Deacon Frazier was born in East Chicago, Ind., and graduated from Mount Carmel High School. As an adult, he received a master’s degree in theology from Catholic Theological Union as an Augustus Tolton Scholar.

He had long expressed a desire to serve the church in the diaconate, but he delayed entering the formation program until after he married, Leslie Frazier said.

Once ordained, he was dedicated to his ministry at St. Philip Neri, where the family are parishioners. “He loved it immensely,” she said.

In addition to his wife, Deacon Frazier is survived by their daughter, Della Elizabeth, 14, who graduated from St. Thomas the Apostle School June 5.