Father Henry M. Pozdol

PASTOR EMERITUS

Father Henry M. Pozdol, 86, pastor emeritus of St. Joseph Parish in Summit, died Jan. 29, at Palos Community Hospital. He was a resident of the Bishop Lyne Home for retired priests in Palos Park at the time of his death.

Father Pozdol grew up on Chicago’s near West side, attending St. Ann and St. Adalbert schools. After graduating from Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, he was ordained by Cardinal Stritch in 1950. Father Pozdol had a proficiency in languages that allowed him to celebrate the sacraments in five languages.

He earned a master’s in clinical psychology from Loyola University and taught psychology at Niles College in the early 1960s. He was the founder of Northwest Community Mental Health Center and served as its first president from 1964-1970. Father Pozdol was assistant pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Harvey (1950-53) and St. Richard Parish in the Midway area (1953-56). Following a brief term at St. Josaphat on the North side, he served as assistant pastor from 1957-59 at Ss. Peter and Paul Parish.

He was assistant pastor for four years beginning in 1959 at Epiphany Parish on the West side, and for the following 10 years at St. John Bosco on the Northwest side, before being named pastor of St. Adalbert Parish in 1973, a position he held until 1981. From that year until 1994, Father Pozdol was pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Summit. He was named pastor emeritus of St. Joseph upon his retirement from active ministry in 1994.

Sister Brendan Harvey

EDUCATOR, AUTHOR

Sister of Providence Brendan (Margaret) Harvey, 90, died on Jan. 14.

Born in Scotland, Sister Brendan entered the congregation in 1937 and professed her final vows in 1945, later earning a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary-of-the- Woods College and a master’s degree from Cardinal Stritch University. In 73 years of service, she ministered in education for 36 years in five states, including time in the Chicago area at St. Athanasius, Evanston, Our Lady of Mercy, and Mother Theodore Guerin High School in River Grove. Only in December 2009, as the result of a fall, did her service cease.

Sister Brendan co-authored the Grade 1 text of the “To God through Music” series and a children’s book on Mother Theodore Guerin, “The Story of Anne Therese,” as well as workbooks for the Economy Reading Series.

Sister Francis Margaret DeBrosse

TEACHER

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Francis Margaret DeBrosse, 93, died on Jan. 14.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Sister served with the congregation for 76 years. A classroom teacher for 44 years, she taught primary grades during her early years before assuming French and English classes at the high school level. While most of her service years were spent in Ohio, Sister Francis taught at both St. Victor School in Calumet City and Notre Dame High School for Girls.

Sister Louise Stuhlmueller

EDUCATOR, MUSICIAN

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Louise Stuhlmueller, 95, died on Jan. 11 in Cincinnati.

The former Sister Mary Thomas, a native of Hamilton, Ohio, was a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur for 77 years. A lifelong educator and musician, she taught violin, piano and chorus for 55 years beginning at St. Alexander School in Villa Park and later St. Victor School in Calumet City and Notre Dame High School for Girls. She continued her music instruction with private lessons for adults into her final days.

Sister Louise held a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music from the University of Cincinnati and completed a number of post-graduate courses in Gregorian chant and music literature at Manhattanville College in New York.

She is survived by her sister, Vera McCune of Northbrook.

Sister Mary Magdalen Schwartz

EDUCATOR, ADMINISTRATOR

Sister of Providence Mary Magdalen (Armella Ann) Schwartz, 87, died on Jan. 16.

A Chicago native, Sister Mary Magdalen entered the congregation in 1941 at age 18. She earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame.

Through 45 years and four states, she ministered in education, including stints in the Chicago area at St. Mel, Providence High School, Marywood High School in Evanston, and St. Denis School. She also served as an administrator at both St. Mary-Sacred Heart in Joliet (1974-1975) and Providence-St. Mel Schools (1979-1982, 1985-1993). In addition, Sister Mary Magdalen served as an administrator at the Sisters of Providence Provincial Office in Park Ridge.

In 2000, she retired to the motherhouse in Indiana to devote herself to the ministry of prayer.

Sister Phyllis Duffie

TEACHER

Adrian Dominican Sister Phyllis Duffie, formerly known as Sister Barbara Martin Duffie, 68, died on Jan. 27.

A Chicago native, Sister Phyllis spent much of her 51-year religious career teaching in Chicagoarea schools, including time at St. Patrick in Joliet, St. Laurence, St. Joseph in Homewood, Queen of Apostles in Riverdale, St. Gabriel, St. Isidore in Blue Island, St. Gerald in Oak Lawn, and St. Tarcissus, where she served the last eight years. She also spent time teaching in Iowa and Indiana.

She is survived by her mother, Mae Duffie, and a sister, Barbara Burdett, both of Bloomington, Ill.