Fr. Anthony C. Puchenski

ASSOCIATE, PASTOR

Father Anthony C. Puchenski, associate pastor of St. Zachary Parish in Des Plaines, died Aug. 11 at Holy Family Villa in Palos Park. He was 65.

Father Puchenski was born and raised in the Midway East area and identified strongly with his Lithuanian heritage and community. He graduated from St. Nicholas of Tolentine School, Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained in 1971 and began a six-year assignment at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in his old neighborhood.

For the next 10 years, Father Puchenski remained in the Southwest suburbs, serving from 1978 to 1984 at St. Damian in Oak Forest, and from 1984 to 1988 at St. Patricia in Hickory Hills. For 11 years beginning in 1988, Father Puchenski was the pastor of Immaculate Conception on 44th Street on Chicago’s Southwest Side.

He served as associate pastor and then administrator of St. Julie Billiart in Tinley Park from 2000- 2005. For the next four years, Father Puchenski served as associate pastor at four parishes in Lemont: St. Alphonsus, St. Patrick, Ss. Cyril & Methodius and St. James at Sag Bridge, before being named associate pastor of St. Zachary.

Father Puchenski is survived by his sister, Mary Wolter.

Sr. Mary Thecla Malawey

EDUCATOR, ARCHIVIST Sister of Christian Charity Mary Thecla (Mildred) Malawey, 79, died Aug. 6 in Evanston.

A St. Louis native, she entered the community in 1946 and made her final vows in 1956.

Sister Mary Thecla began teaching in 1950. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught first and second grade and primary-grade deaf students at St. Gergory (1956-59) and intermediate- grade deaf students at Holy Trinity (1959-60).

She worked as the librarian at Mallinckrodt College and was provincial councilor and provincial secretary. She also was in charge of the Law Library at Mallinckrodt College (1983-91) and province archivist (1983-94).

Sr. M. Equitia Nawracaj

EDUCATOR, ORGANIST

Franciscan Sister of Chicago M. Equitia (Josephine) Nawracaj, 95, died Aug. 6 in Lemont.

An East Chicago, Ind., native, she entered the congregation in 1930. She spent 54 years as an educator, starting when she was a postulant, and 30 years as an organist. She earned an education degree from DePaul University and studied voice and organ at St. Xavier University. Over the course of her ministry, she served at St. Pancratius, Five Holy Martyrs and St. Florian. She also served in schools in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, as well as at Boys Town in Nebraska. She retired from teaching in 1985, but continued to work as a sacristan, receptionist, organist and driver in Crown Point, Ind. She retired to the motherhouse in Lemont in 2006.

Sr. Marie Sarah Dineen

EDUCATOR, PRINCIPAL

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marie Sarah Dineen, 83, died Aug. 9 in Sinsinawa, Wis.

A Milwaukee native, Sister Marie Sarah made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1948, and her final profession in 1951. She taught for 24 years and served as principal for four years and assistant principal for five years. Four of those years she served as both assistant principal and teacher. Sister Marie Sarah served in Illinois, Wisconsin and New York.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Thomas the Apostle (1971-72).

She is survived by a sister, Patricia Foley.

Sr. Janet Ewens

EDUCATOR, PROOFREADER

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Janet Ewens, 108, died Aug. 9 in Hazel Green, Wis.

A Milwaukee native, Sister Janet made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1924, and her final profession in 1927.

Sister Janet served in Washington, D.C.; Nebraska; South Dakota; Minnesota; Wisconsin; Illinois; and Montana.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Janet served as a librarian at Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest (1952-57) and as an administrator at Queen of Peace High School, Burbank (1966-69).

Nancy M. Huber

EDUCATOR FOR DEAF PEOPLE

Nancy M. Huber, 72, former director of religious education for the deaf, died Aug. 15.

Miss Huber retired in 2008.

She was a religious educator for the deaf, hard of hearing and hearing children for more than 40 years, founding board member of the National Catholic Office of the Deaf, a member of the International Catholic Deaf Association, recipient of numerous awards locally and nationally for her work in special education and the religious formation of children. She was a faithful Catholic and teacher of deaf children in the Chicago Public Schools and Holy Trinity School, and a strong supporter of CARE (Chicago Association of Religious Educators).

She is survived by brothers James and John Huber and many nieces and nephews.