Obituries - 10/10/04

Pastor Emeritus

Father Clarence Juchcinski, 82, pastor emeritus of St. John the Baptist Parish, Harvey, died Tuesday, Sept. 28.

A Chicago native, Father Juchcinski graduated from Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary and University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained in 1948 by Cardinal Samuel Stritch.

He was associate pastor at St. John the Baptist Parish, Harvey, from 1948-51; St. Josaphat, from 1951-56; Assumption B.V.M., from 1956-63; St. Mary Magdalene, from 1963-64; and St. Joseph, Chicago Heights, from 1964-70.

He was pastor at St. Joseph from 1970-84 and then served as pastor at St. John the Baptist, Harvey, from 1984 until his retirement in 1992. Father Juchcinski had been living independently in the parish since his retirement.

Sr. Julia Heller

Homemaker

School Sister of St. Francis Julia Rose Heller (Gorgonia), 92, died Sept. 27. Born in Milo, Iowa, she entered the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1935 and made her profession of vows in 1937.

Her religious ministry was primarily as a homemaker in convents of her community in Illinois and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Philomena from 1936-37; St. Clara from 1945-47; St. Joseph, Summit, from 1949-51; and St. Priscilla Convent from 1991-2000. She also served as a volunteer at Alvernia Center in Chicago from 1989-91.

Fr. Edward Fitzgerald

Hospital Chaplain and Pastor

Father Edward Fitzgerald, 88, former professor at Quigley Preparatory Seminary and dean of discipline for philosophy students at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/
Mundelein Seminary, died Sept. 25. He was a patient at Mercy Hospital at the time of his death.

Father Fitzgerald was a chaplain at Mercy for many years following his retirement and was in residence there.

He was a Chicago native, ordained in 1940 by Cardinal Samuel Stritch. He earned his doctorate in theology from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary and did post-graduate studies at DePaul and Loyola universities.

From 1941 to 1944, Father Fitzgerald was associate pastor at St. Ambrose Parish, and for the following year he served in that capacity at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish.

He began his service on the faculty of Quigley Preparatory Seminary in November 1944 and remained there until 1946, when he moved to the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, where he was a member of the faculty for 20 years.

Father Fitzgerald’s first pastorate began in 1966 at St. Patrick Parish in Lemont. Six years later, he became pastor of St. John Chrysostom in Bellwood, serving there for 10 years.

In 1982, he was named pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes on Keeler Ave. in Chicago where he served for four years before his retirement in 1986.

He was made pastor emeritus of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in 1986.

Father Fitzgerald is survived by several cousins, including Adrian Dominican Sister Marion O’Connor.

Sr. Joanne Cullen

Educator/MUSICIAN

School Sister of St. Francis Joanne Cullen, 76, died Sept. 23. Born in Worthington, Minn., she entered the School Sisters of St. Francis community in 1946 and made her profession of vows in 1948.

She lived her religious ministry as an educator, mainly teaching music in Catholic elementary schools.

She taught at schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago for more than 35 years. She taught at St. Anne School, Barrington, from 1950-53; St. Maurice School, 1955-56; and St. Benedict Grade School, 1972-93.

She was also a junior high teacher at St. Paschal School from 1970-71, and a substitute teacher at St. Benedict from 1996-2004.

In addition to her ministry in education, she served as a musician at Our Lady of Victory School, Chicago, from 1957-63.

Sr. Grace Esther Kirner

MUSIC Teacher

Adrian Dominican Sister Mary Grace Esther Kirner, 93, died Sept. 21. Born in Sandusky, Ohio, she was in the 76th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican congregation.

She ministered in music education for 51 years, teaching in several states.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Philip Neri from 1932-35; Ascension, Harvey, 1935-39; St. Edmund, Oak Park, 1939-42; St. Columbanus, 1943-44; and Academy of Our Lady, 1971-79.

She served as attendance clerk at Marist High School from 1979-96.

She is survived by a brother and sister, both of Sandusky, Ohio.

Sr. M. Johnita Ryan

teacher

Sister of Mercy Mary Johnita Ryan, 85, died Sept. 20.

A Chicago native, she was a Sister of Mercy for 67 years. She served as a teacher in several states.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Resurrection; St. Justin Martyr; St. Catherine of Siena, Oak Park; St. Joseph, Libertyville; St. James, Chicago; and Queen of Martyrs, Evergreen Park.

She retired in 1987 and resided at Mercy Convent, Chicago.

Sr. Patricia Monahan

taught special ed

Sister of Providence Patricia Anne Monahan, 74, died Sept. 6.

A Chicago native, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1948, professed her first vows in 1950, and her final vows in 1955.

She taught in schools staffed by the Sisters of Providence in several states, for many years.

She ministered 27 years at Northern Illinois University, De Kalb, in special education as assistant professor, director of special education, and as an academic advisor.

She taught at two archdiocesan schools in Chicago: St. Mel-Holy Ghost, from 1959-65; and St. Columbkille, from 1965-71.