Issue of December 19, 2004

Fr. Thaddeus Makuch

Cicero Pastor

Father Thaddeus Makuch, 78, pastor for 18 years of St. Mary of Czestochowa Parish in Cicero, died Dec. 3 of kidney failure at McNeal Memorial Hospital.

He was a Chicago native who graduated from St. John of God Elementary School and De La Salle High School before entering Quigley Preparatory Seminary in 1944. Father Makuch graduated from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein in 1953 and was ordained that year by Cardinal Stritch.

For 25 years, Father Makuch served as an assistant pastor at four parishes: Assumption Parish (1953-1960), St. Casimir Parish (1960-1966), St. Michael Parish on South Shore Drive (1966-1973), and St. Peter and Paul Parish on South Paulina (1973-1979).

In 1979, he became pastor of St. Mary of Czestochowa Parish in Cicero. At that time, the parish was predominantly Polish. As the community of Cicero became more Hispanic, Father Makuch saw to it that Hispanic Catholics were integrated into his parish.

His classmate, Father John Enright, said it was a notable part of his career as a pastor that he had a great openness to Hispanic ministry and he was very successful in helping the community of St. Mary of Czestochowa transition from a Polish to a Hispanic parish.

When the Redemptorist priests took over the parish in 1997, the year Father Makuch retired, they offered Father Makuch hospitality and he was pleased to remain in residence there continuing to assist the parish.

Father Makuch also served on the Priests Personnel Board of the Archdiocese for several years in the ’70s and ’80s, and in his role as co-director of the Office for International Priests, encouraged students from Poland and other countries to become priests. He also served on the Board of the Catholic League for Religious Assistance to the Church in Poland.

Father Makuch is survived by three of his seven sisters, Stephanie Budz, Martha Wolszon and Helen Stoniecki, and many nieces and nephews.

Sr. Anna Marie Boudreau

school administrator

Sister of Providence Anna Marie (Rose Michele) Boudreau, 76, died Dec 4.

A Chicago native, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1947, 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 and in Taiwan.

Of her 57 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered 12 years as a teacher, assistant professor, and retreat director in Taiwan.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Andrew, 1958-59; St. Mel, 1959-61; St. David, 1961-66 and 1972-75; St. Angela, 1966-69; and St. Genevieve, 1972.

She served as associate superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Peoria from 1975-80.

She is survived by a sister, Rita Lynch, of Orland Park, nieces and a nephew.

Sister Kenneth Barnett

educator

School Sister of St. Francis Kenneth Barnett, 91, died Dec. 1 at Sacred Heart Convent, Milwaukee.

Born in Milwaukee, she was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis community June 12, 1930, and made profession of vows Aug. 21, 1932.

Sister Kenneth lived her religious ministry in education for 59 years, serving as a teacher and librarian at schools in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister taught at St. Joseph School in Wilmette (1935-37), Our Lady of Victory School in Chicago (1938-47 and 1985-90), St. Matthias School in Chicago (1948-51) and was a substitute teacher at Our Lady of Victory and St. Paul schools in Chicago (1990-92). Sister Kenneth was also a librarian at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Chicago (1992 -94).

Sr. Eleanor Marie Wolf

Educator

Sister of Providence Eleanor Marie Wolf, 87, died Dec. 2.

Sister Eleanor Marie was born in Indianapolis, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1935, professed her first vows in 1937 and her final vows in 1943.

She taught in schools staffed by the Sisters of Providence in Indiana and Illinois.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mel, 1939-41; St. Francis Xavier, Wilmette, 1943-46; and Immaculate Conception, Norwood Park, 1958-60.

She is survived by a sister in Muncie, Ind., a sister-in-law and nieces and nephews.

Br. Kenneth Pfister

teacher

De La Salle Christian Brother Kenneth Pfister, 64, died Nov. 24 at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

A Chicago native, he was a De La Salle Christian Brother for 47 years. He made his first vows in 1958 and his final vows in 1964.

He was a teacher, counselor, and administrator at high schools in several states, and was the financial aid administrator at Christian Brothers University in Memphis from 1987 to 1993.

He taught at Mercy Boys Home in Chicago and at Morton College in Cicero.

From 1998 to 2002 he was the executive director of the National Association of Religious Brothers (now Religious Brothers Conference) with offices in Chicago.

Survivors include his sister, Terri Tader, of Chicago, and brothers Stephen, of Wailuku, Hawaii; and Lawrence of Frankfort, Ill.; and step-brothers and sisters.

Sr. M. Avila Kwiatkowski

Educator and organist

Felician Sister Mary Avila Kwiatkowski, 86, died Nov. 9 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Chicago.

A Chicago native, she entered the Felician Sisters in 1935. She ministered in education from 1937-88 as a teacher and principal in several states.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Wenceslaus from 1937-38 and 1956-57; St. Bronislava from 1948-55; St. James, 1968-74; St. Joseph, South Hermitage, from 1977-79.

She then spent 12 years serving elderly residents in a retirement facility in Wisconsin before moving to Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Chicago.

 

 

 

Sr. M. Adora Tito

Teacher

School Sister of Notre Dame Mary Adora Tito died Nov. 14 at Resurrection Life Center in Chicago.

She was a School Sister of Notre Dame for 73 years. Her ministry devoted almost entirely to teaching primary grades began at St. Margaret of Scotland School where she taught for 25 years.

She taught at other Chicago schools, including St. Michael; St. Benedict, Blue Island; Santa Maria/Santa Lucia; St. Constance; and St. Benedict. Many former students remember her kindly manner in the classroom.