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Obituaries

Pray For Them

Deacon Henry Burke

CLASS OF 1976

Deacon Henry Burke, 70, died April 4. Ordained in 1976, he most recently served at Ascension-St. Susanna Parish in Harvey.

A Chicago native, he was baptized at Corpus Christi Parish and went to grade school there. He graduated from Hales Franciscan High School, attended DePaul University for one year and then served in the U.S. Army. After discharge, he worked a variety of jobs, including cab driver, postal worker, security guard and corporate accountant. He was a salesman for Brown and Williams Tobacco Company for 25 years.

He was married to the late Patricia Rose Sexton for 38 years until her death in 2009, and raised three children with her. He had long felt a call to Christian service and was ordained a deacon in 1974, serving at several parishes over the course of his ministry.

He is survived by his children, Mary Hladio and Reginald and Martin Burke; his sister, Pamela Cowing; and six grandchildren.

Sr. Mary Catherine Baadte

TEACHER

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Catherine (Matthia) Baadte, 94, died April 17 in Hazel Green, Wis.

A South Dakota native, Sister Mary Catherine made her first religious profession in 1940 and her final profession in 1943. She was a teacher, tutor, religious education teacher and support staff member in Wisconsin, South Dakota, California, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and Texas.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Mary Catherine taught at Visitation (1963-1965).

Deacon Joseph Lewis

ORDAINED IN 1972

Deacon Joseph Lewis, 75, died April 19. He was a member of the first class of permanent deacons.

Born in a one-room house in Mississippi, Deacon Lewis moved to Chicago with his family when he was a child, and attended public schools here while doing odd jobs for his neighbors. He served in the U.S. Air Force, got a degree in electronics from Coyne College and worked for the U.S. Post Office for 38 years. He continued his electronic education with the post office, being trained in computer technology.

He converted to Catholicism in August 1967 and was baptized at Our Lady of Sorrows; the following month he married Louise Glass at Corpus Christi Parish.

Five years later, he was ordained a permanent deacon and assigned to Our Lady of Sorrows, where he served as the director of religious education and the ministry of care. He prepared couples for marriage and presided at weddings. He helped create the Black Deacons Organization, where he served as treasurer until his illness.

He is survived by his wife, Louise, his children Angela, Anthony and Michael, and four grandchildren, as well as nine siblings: Rose Ivy, Hattie Williams and Mack, John, Edward, Issac, Maxine, Richard and LaVerne.

Sr. John Fisher Soeldner

EDUCATOR

Dominican Sister John Fisher Soeldner, 93, died April 21 in Hazel Green, Wis.

An Illinois native, she made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1938 and her final profession in 1941. She ministered in education for 44 years, 38 as a teacher, three as assistant principal, and three as library assistant while also serving in family care. Sister John Fisher coordinated the canceled stamp program at the motherhouse for 22 years. She served in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Wyoming and Oklahoma.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister John Fisher taught at St. Jarlath (1939-1945) and St. Barnabas (1945-1947).

Deacon Richard Stojak

CLASS OF 1985

Deacon Richard Stojak, 71, died April 23 in Granbury, Texas.

He was ordained a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1985 and ministered at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Orland Hills. In 1993, he and his wife, Kathleen, moved to Keller, Texas, and in 1998, he was named Family Life director for the Diocese of Fort Worth. He ministered as a deacon at St. Francis Cabrini Parish in Granbury from 2001 until his death.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Kathleen; his children Richard Stojak Jr., Mary Bernice Schneiter, Amy Stojak, Andrea Zmucki and Steven Stojak; six grandchildren; and a sister, Camille Clavio.

Sr. Mary Ann Konieski

TEACHER

Adrian Dominican Sister Mary Ann (Marie Cordia) Konieski, 81, died April 26 in Adrian, Mich.

A Detroit native, she was in the 62nd year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel (1954-1961) and St. Clare of Montefalco (1961-1962).

Sister Mary Ann ministered in education and as a pastoral minister in Michigan, Illinois and Tennessee.

Sister Mary Ann is survived by two sisters, Audrey Negro and Delphine Wronski.

Sr. Lucinda Lee

TEACHER

Sinsinawa Sister Lucinda Lee, 97, died May 1 in Sinsinawa, Wis.

A Wisconsin native, Sister Lucinda made her first religious profession in 1935 and her final profession in 1938. She taught and was a pastoral associate, vicaress and a caregiver.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister Lucinda taught at St. Thomas the Apostle (1941-1955), Epiphany (1972-1978) and Trinity High School, River Forest (1978- 1981).