BETHLEHEM – Reverend Mother Placid (Patricia Ann) Dempsey, 85, consecrated nun of the Abbey of Regina Laudis, died Sept. 27, 2012, at the abbey after a long illness. Mother Placid was an artist, poet and guest mistress for over 50 years.

She was the daughter of William Ambrose Dempsey and Kathleen Costello Dempsey. She received her bachelor’s degree in art from Marymount College in Tarrytown, N.Y., in 1949. In both high school and college she was awarded honors for her art.

She entered the monastery as a postulant on Aug. 18, 1949, one of the first American postulants, and received the name Sister Placid as a novice. She was perpetually professed and consecrated on the feast of the Ascension, June 3, 1954.

Besides her other ministries, Mother Placid was a council member and postulant mistress for a number of years, as well as mistress of ceremonies. She helped write and present in Rome the abbey’s first constitutions.

Her work as monastic artist included painting, graphics, vestment design, enamel, wood, stone and concrete sculpture, and book illustrations, notably the covers of several of the Classics of Western Spirituality series. Her work has been exhibited in galleries in this country and Europe, especially in New York City and Paris. Her hand-carved Stations of the Cross grace the walls of the lower monastery chapel at the abbey.

Mother Placid designed scenery for several abbey plays as well as for buildings used for the abbey fair. She was instrumental in the development of monastic crafts and supervised the renovation of the Monastic Art Shop to include an art gallery and display space.

In the abbey, Mother Placid taught classes in monastic history and spirituality, philosophy and the Rule of St. Benedict. She was much influenced in her early life by the writings of Jacques and Raissa Maritain, whom she later met when they visited Regina Laudis in 1949. She maintained scholarly and spiritual friendships with psychiatrist and author Dr. Karl A. Menninger and with Caryll Houselander, the English Catholic author. Among her most cherished relationships was the one with renowned children’s book illustrator Tomie dePaola, who first went to Regina Laudis as an art student.

MILFORD – Father Robert G. Ladamus, 73 of Milford, died on Nov. 8, 2012, at home.

He was born on Nov. 7, 1939, in Bridgeport, son of the late George and Emily (Mastrangelo) Ladamus.

He graduated from Milford High School, St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield and Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, N.Y. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop John F. Whealon on May 23, 1970, in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford.

Father Ladamus served as assistant pastor at St. Francis Xavier Paarish in Waterbury; Our Lady of Victory and St. John Vianney, both in West Haven; and St. Mary in Milford. He then was appointed temporary administrator of Christ the Redeemer Parish in Milford, where he was named pastor on April 26, 1995.

Father Ladamus is survived by his niece Shannon Mann and nephews Clifton "Maxi" Mann and Lonnie Mann, all of Milford; grandnieces and grandnephews Desiree Sleath, Jay Thomas Sleath and Nicholas and Jordan Pettit.

Archbishop Henry J. Mansell celebrated a Mass of Christian Burial Nov. 16 in Christ the Redeemer Church. Burial followed in St. Mary Cemetery in Milford.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Father Ladamus may be made directly to the family.

BRISTOL – Father Arthur J. Audet, 71, of Bristol, pastor emeritus of St. John Fisher Parish in Marlborough, died on Nov. 13, 2012, at Bristol Hospital.

He was born on July 6, 1941, in Waterville, Maine, the son of the late Edgar and Simone (Albert) Audet. He graduated from Bulkeley High School in Hartford in 1960, St. Louis University in 1979 and Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, N.Y., in 1984.

He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop John F. Whealon on Feb. 9, 1985, in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford.

Father Audet served as parochial vicar at St. Augustine in Seymour, St. Matthew in Forestville, St. Dunstan in Glastonbury and St. John Fisher in Marlborough. He was named co-pastor of Assumption Church in Manchester in 1991 and administrator of St. Bridget in Cornwall Bridge, St. Bernard in Sharon, St. Matthew, St. Dunstan and St. John Fisher. He was named pastor of St. John Fisher on Nov. 30, 2008.

Father Audet is survived by his sisters Carmen Libby of St. Cloud, Fla.; Lorraine Hammerschmidt of Auburn, Maine; and Jeanette Barger of New Britain; and by several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, in St. John Fisher Church, 30 Jones Hollow Rd., Marlborough. A parish Mass will follow at 7. The family will also receive relatives and friends from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 19, in the Church of St. Matthew. Contributions may be made to St. John Fisher Church, 30 Jones Hollow Rd., Marlborough, CT 06477.

Archbishop Henry J. Mansell will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Nov. 20 at St. Matthew Church. Burial in St. Francis Cemetery in Torrington will follow.

TERRYVILLE – Father Joseph K. Parzymies, 60, of Terryville, passed away on Nov. 15, 2012, in his home.

He was born on July 12, 1952, in Bristol, the son of the late Jozef and Catherine (Kucharski) Parzymies. He was a graduate of St. Paul Catholic High School in Bristol and St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from St. Mary’s Seminary College in Cantonsville, Md., and his master’s degree from St. Mary’s Seminary and the University of Baltimore.

He was ordained to the transitional diaconate on Dec. 3, 1977, and served at St. Gregory Parish, where he was ordained to the priesthood on Aug. 4, 1978, by Archbishop John F. Whealon, Father Parzymies celebrated his first public Mass two days later at his home parish, St. Casimir, in Terryville.

He was assistant pastor of St. Stanislaus in Meriden and Holy Cross in New Britain, was chaplain of Sacred Heart High School in Waterbury, and in 1990 was named pastor of St. Hedwig in Union City. He then served as parochial vicar at St. Stanislaus in Meriden, temporary administrator of St. Ann in New Britain and administrator of SS. Peter and Paul in Wallingford. He retired in July 2006.

Father Parzymies was a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Polish American Priests Association.

He is survived by his sister, Patricia Budnick of Terryville; a niece, Katrina; and nephews Brendan and Michael of Terryville.

Archbishop Henry J. Mansell will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Nov. 21 at St. Casimir Church in Terryville. Burial in St. Mary Cemetery in Terryville will follow.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 4-7 p.m. Nov. 20 at St. Casimir Church. A parish Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be sent to St. Casimir Church, 19 Allen St., Terryville, CT 06786.

BROOKSVILLE, Fla. – Frances (Brown) (Pinette) Roy, 100, of Brooksville, grandmother of Father Stuart H. Pinette, pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Rocky Hill, passed away on Nov. 3, 2012, at Hospice Care in Brooksville.

She was born in Wallagrass, Maine, a daughter of the late Ernest Brown and Alice (Martin) Brown. She was a retired teacher of both the Fort Kent and Madawaska districts in Florida

She was predeceased by her first husband, the father of her children, Harold Pinette, and her second husband, Lawrence Roy; one granddaughter, Lori Frances Pinette; one great-grandson, Joshua Jarry; and a son-in-law, Martin Schwartz Jr.

She is survived by four sons, Everette Pinette of Southington, Bill Pinette of Bristol, Allen Pinette of Granby and Philip Pinette of Brooksville; four daughters, Eileen Muir of Newington; Marlene Schwartz of Hartford; Sandra Masse of Tampa, Fla.; and Ann Powers of Bristol; two sisters, Genevieve Stanakis of Oveida, Fla.; and  Theresa Rodney of Glastonbury; two brothers, Elmer Brown of South Windsor and Harold Brown of Eagle Lake, Maine; 18 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren and many nephews and nieces.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 30 at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 280 Brook Street, Rocky Hill. Interment will follow at a later date.

HARTFORD – Brother G. Peter Collins, a member of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, Province of Mary, Mother of the Americas, died on Oct. 14, 2012, at Hartford Hospital.

He was born on June 29, 1939, in East Chicago, Indiana, a son of the late Walter and Vera (Churchill) Collins. After attending schools in Indiana, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, he became a postulant at the La Salette Seminary, Altamont, N.Y., on Sept. 17, 1956. He entered the La Salette Novitiate in Bloomfield on July 1, 1957, and professed his perpetual vows on May 1, 1964, at the La Salette Seminary in Ipswich, Mass.

In 1964, Brother Peter was assigned to the La Salette General House in Rome, where he performed secretarial duties for four years. Upon his return to the United States, he was appointed provincial secretary and archivist. He also was director of vocations to the brotherhood. He continued to serve as provincial secretary until 1978, when he was asked to assist in the opening of a new parish in Marietta, Ga., where he ministered as pastoral associate.

Over the years, Brother Peter was appointed to the Marriage Tribunal in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, was financial administrator for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in Connecticut and Boston, and was elected vice president of the National Religious Brothers Association. His La Salette confreres elected him frequently to represent them at congregational and provincial meetings and chapters.

He also was the La Salette provincial treasurer and provincial vicar for senior religious. Most recently, he had resided at Hartford House and had served as first house councillor for the community there.

In addition to his La Salette confreres, Brother Peter is survived by many nieces, nephews and friends. He was predeceased by his brothers Walter, Norman and Paul.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Oct. 17 in the chapel at Hartford House. Burial followed in Mount St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Missionaries of La Salette Retirement Fund, 915 Maple Ave, Hartford.

NEW BRITAIN – Sister Mary Edmunda (Angela) Dalkowski, a member of the Daughters of Mary of the Immaculate Conception, died on Oct. 23, 2012.

A native of New Britain, she was the daughter of the late John and Michaeline (Pociborski) Dalkowski.

She entered the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary on Aug. 17, 1931. She celebrated her diamond jubilee in 2006.

Sister Mary Edmunda was a graduate of Fordham University in New York and Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wis. She taught in Sacred Heart School in New Britain and in schools in New Jersey. She also founded and was the administrator of the Marian Educational Clinic in New Britain, and was a councilor for her congregation.

She is survived by nieces and nephews, including Shirley Janczak, Marilyn Petroka, Linda Neri, Patricia Dalkowski, Steven Dalkowski and Peter Neri. She was predeceased by her brothers Leon and Stephen and sisters Helen Dalkowski, Stella Egan, Mary Dawidowicz, Irene Neri and Sophie Grabowski.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Oct. 26 in the chapel at Marian Heights, 314 Osgood Ave., New Britain.

Burial was in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Daughters of Mary, 314 Osgood Ave., New Britain, CT 06053.

EAST PATCHOGUE, N.Y. – Ursuline Sister of Tildonk Sara Mooney died on Oct. 12, 2012, at Brookhaven Hospital.

She was born June 4, 1921, in County Monaghan, Ireland. She entered the Ursuline congregation on Nov. 2, 1940, and professed her final vows five years later. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Manhattan College and her master’s degree from St. Rose College.

Sister Sara ministered for many years in New York and Connecticut as a teacher and also was a home health care aide. In the Archdiocese of Hartford, she ministered at Our Lady of Victory in West Haven and at St. Thomas the Apostle in West Hartford from 1957-59 and 1963-65.

In 1998, Sister Sara retired to Blue Point, N.Y., where she continued in a ministry of prayer.

She is survived by two sisters-in-law and several nieces and nephews.

Her funeral Mass was celebrated Oct. 15 at the St. Ursula Center Chapel in Blue Point, followed by interment in the cemetery of the Ursuline Sisters there.

Memorial gifts in Sister Sara’s honor benefiting the Ursuline Sisters Retirement fund may be sent to: Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk, 81-15 Utopia Parkway, Jamaica, NY 11432-1308.

BRANFORD – Father John S. Ahern, a son of the late James and Anna Ahern, died on Dec. 7, 2012, at the Connecticut Hospice in Branford.

He was born on Dec. 28, 1925, in New Haven. He entered St. Thomas Seminary in 1946 and completed his studies at Christ the King Seminary, the former St. Bonaventure University, in East Aurora, N.Y.

He was ordained to the priesthood on May 27, 1954, by Bishop John F. Hackett in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford.

He was an assistant at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Washington Depot, St. Mary in Unionville, St. Patrick and St. Anthony in Hartford, St. Michael in Beacon Falls and St. Mary in Newington between 1954 and 1976. He was named pastor of St. Michael Parish in Beacon Falls in November 1976, and stayed there until he became pastor, in February 1989, of Immaculate Conception Parish in Norfolk.

He retired on July 31, 2004.

Father Ahern is survived by his brother Donald Ahern, his sister Jeanne Hines, and nieces and nephews  He was predeceased by sisters Julia Lang, Vera Reynolds, Margaret Heffernan and Rita Borger.

Archbishop Henry J. Mansell celebrated a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Dec. 14 at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Seymour. Burial followed in St. Lawrence Cemetery in West Haven.

Contributions in memory of Father Ahern may be made to the Archdiocese of Hartford Fund for Retired Priests and Religious, 134 Farmington Ave., Hartford, CT 06105-3784.

WILTON – Sister Catherine Marie O’Donnell, a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 67 years, died on Nov. 24 at Lourdes Health Care Center in Wilton. She was 87.

She was born on March 16, 1925, in Medford, Mass., a daughter of the late Patrick and Katherine (Kelly) O’Donnell. She graduated from Girls Catholic High School in Malden, Mass., in 1942 and entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Baltimore. She made her final vows in 1951.

She was principal of St. Mary School in Meriden, where she stayed from 1970-86. She then taught for two years at St. John the Evangelist in Watertown before moving to the former motherhouse in Wilton. She retired to the Lourdes Health Care Center in 1991.

Sister Catherine Marie also taught or was a principal at grade schools in Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Jersey and New York.

Sister Catherine Marie earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1952 from what is today Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore. She earned a master’s degree in education from Boston College in 1961.

Sister Catherine Marie is survived by two sisters, Charlotte Reilly of Waltham, Mass., and School Sister of Notre Dame Miriam Patrick O’Donnell, who lives at Lourdes Health Care Center.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Nov. 27 at Villa Notre Dame in Wilton. Burial followed in St. Mary Cemetery in Bethel.

PUTNAM – Sister Pearl Rita Veilleux, 82, of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, died on Dec. 25 at Holy Spirit Health Care Center, where she had resided since June 2000.

Born on Aug. 15, 1930, the daughter of the late Simeon and Henedine (Gagné) Veilleux, she made her religious profession on Aug. 23, 1950, at the Motherhouse in St. Brieuc, France. She was then known as Sister Simone de la Croix.

She taught in parish schools in Massachusetts and Connecticut for most of her religious life. From 1974-95, she worked in pastoral ministry at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury and, later, at St. Mary Home in West Hartford.

She retired to the provincial house in 2000 for health reasons.

Survivors include a brother, Hervey Veilleux of Vernon, and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Dec. 28 at the provincial house.

WEST HARTFORD – Sister of Mercy M. Leo Joseph Devine died on Nov. 30, 2012, at St. Mary Home.

She was born on May 1, 1925, in Bridgeport, a daughter of the late Peter and Margaret (Doherty) Devine. After two years of study at the University of Connecticut, she entered the Sisters of Mercy on June 27, 1945, and professed religious vows on Jan. 2, 1948. She completed her degree at St. Joseph College in West Hartford and went on to earn a master’s degree in education and a doctorate in higher education, both from Boston College.

She taught in Catholic elementary and high schools throughout the state for 17 years before she was appointed as assistant dean of the Diocesan Sisters College in Madison. She also served as dean of the graduate school at St. Joseph College, now called the University of St. Joseph.

She then ministered as the assistant administrator and director of human resources at St. Mary Home until her retirement in 1996.

Sister Leo Joseph was predeceased by her brother William Devine and her sister Margaret McDonald. She is survived by nieces, friends and the Mercy community.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Dec. 5 in the chapel of St. Mary Home. Burial followed the next day in St. Mary Cemetery.

Contributions in Sister Leo Joseph’s name may be sent to the Sisters of Mercy, 55 E. Cedar St., Newington, CT 06111.

QUEENS, N.Y. – Vincentian Father Joseph M. Lachowski passed away on Dec. 20, 2012, after 58 years of priestly service. He was 84 years old and a resident of Ozanam Hall Nursing Home in Bayside.

He was born on March 16, 1928, in Ansonia, the son of the late Walenty and Walentyna Lachowski.

Survivors include nine nieces and nephews and 21 great-nieces and great-nephews. Father Lachowski was predeceased by his three sisters, Mary Adamski, Jane Poslusny and Martha Lachowska.

He attended Ansonia High School and graduated in 1945 from St. John Kanty Prep in Erie, Pa. He entered the Congregation of the Mission and went to St. Joseph’s Preparatory Seminary (Princeton); St. Vincent’s Novitiate in Germantown, Pa.; and Mary Immaculate Seminary in Northampton, Pa., where he completed his studies in philosophy and theology.

He was ordained as a Vincentian priest on May 27, 1954. He was assigned to teach English and biology at St. John Kanty Prep, where he also served as the music director and student director. At the same time, he worked at Gannon University in Erie toward a Bachelor of Arts degree, which he received in 1956.

Father Lachowski received his Licentiate of Sacred Theology and, in 1958, his doctorate of sacred theology, both from St. Thomas University (Angelicum) in Rome. He then returned to Kanty Prep where, for more than 15 years, he shared his numerous talents. He fluently spoke English, Polish, French, Italian, Latin and Greek, was the music director, taught science, and served as head of the Science Department.

Father Lachowski then became a full-time visiting professor of religious studies at Niagara University, where he also was the community chapel’s organist and moderator of the Glee Club. In 1983, he became the director of the Vincentian House of Studies and novice master for Vincentian candidates for the priesthood in Wethersfield. He also taught at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell.

Father Lachowski was a member of the Catholic Biblical Association of America, for which he reviewed 25 biblical books. He wrote eight articles for the New Catholic Encyclopedia and received several National Science Foundation grants to support his development as a science teacher.

In 1987, Father Lachowski was appointed parochial vicar of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Brooklyn, N.Y. He also worked with the school’s children’s choir and played the organ at Masses. In retirement, he was chaplain of the St. Aloysius Club, Fatima Society and Golden Age Club.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Dec. 28 at St. Joseph Church in Ansonia. Burial followed in the Vincentian Community Plot at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Derby.

EL PASO, Texas – After a short battle with lung cancer, Father Edward G. Pfnausch passed to his eternal reward on Jan. 11, 2013.

He was born on May 13, 1942, in New Haven, a son of the late Edward G. Pfnausch and the late Lillian Mary Lynch. He entered St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield in 1960 and continued his studies at St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester, N.Y. He was ordained by Bishop Joseph P. Donnelly on May 23, 1968, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford.

After serving as assistant pastor at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in West Hartford, Father Pfnausch was assigned to pursue graduate studies in canon law at the Gregorian University in Rome. He completed his initial degree in 1973 and returned to the Hartford Chancery, where he served as defender of the bond and judge in the marriage tribunal.

During those years, he was surrounded and inspired by internationally known canonists who encouraged him to become involved in the process of the revision of the Code of Canon Law. Following the vision of Pope Paul VI, canonists around the world were reformulating the 1981 Code of Law to bring it into conformity with the Second Vatican Council.

Father Pfnausch thus began a 25-year membership in the Canon Law Society of America, including a year as its president in 1982 and service on various committees. In 1986, he was appointed as its first full-time executive coordinator at its national office at the The Catholic University of America in Washington. While there, Father Pfnausch earned his doctorate in canon law in 1994; he then was an assistant professor of Church law at the university.

Father Pfnausch was appointed parochial vicar at Most Holy Trinity Parish in 2000. He then was administrator and pastor of St. Mary the Immaculate Conception Parish in Derby beginning in 2002. He was appointed pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish in North Haven in 2006. Because of his deteriorating health, Father Pfnausch began a medical leave of absence in 2010 and retired to El Paso in 2011.

Father Pfnausch is survived by two sisters, Barbara Coyle and. Deborah Ritchie; four nephews and three nieces.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church in El Paso on Jan, 15. Burial was private.

Memorial donations may be made to the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Building Fund, 12200 Vista del Sol, El Paso, Texas 79936.

HARTFORD – Father John Patrick Tracy, 89, of Hartford, passed away on Jan. 2, 2013, with his family by his side.

He was born on Feb. 16, 1923, in Hartford, the son of the late Thomas and Elizabeth (Johnson) Tracy. He attended Our Lady of Sorrows Grammar School and graduated from St. Joseph Cathedral School, both in Hartford. He went on to study at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield and St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore.

Father Tracy was ordained to the priesthood on May 6, 1948, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford by then-Bishop Henry J. O’Brien. His extensive service to the Catholic Church included appointments as assistant at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Hamden in September 1948, St. Mary in Norwich in January 1951, St. Mary in Meriden in May 1952, St. Bernard in Sharon in October 1953, again at St. Mary in Meriden in September 1963 and St. Mark the Evangelist in West Hartford in November 1964.

Father Tracy was pastor of St. Rose Parish in New Haven from 1971-78, after which he became pastor of St. Lawrence O’Toole Parish in Hartford from June 23, 1978, until his retirement on his 75th birthday on Feb. 16, 1998.

In addition to his parents, Father Tracy was predeceased by his sister Margaret, who died in 1945. He is survived by many cousins.

Archbishop Henry J. Mansell celebrated a Mass of Christian Burial on Jan. 7 in the chapel of St.  Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield. Interment in the family plot at Mount St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield followed.

Memorial donations may be made in Father Tracy’s name to The Alzheimer’s Association, 2075 Silas Deane Highway, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.

WEST HARTFORD – Brother Frederick D. Barton, a member of the Passionist Congregation, died on Jan. 3, 2013, at St. Mary Home.

He was born on Feb. 12, 1934, in New York City at the former Flower Hospital in Manhattan. He was baptized at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Manhattan on April 15, 1934. Predeceased by his parents, Clyde and Margaret Barton, he was raised by guardians John and Lillian Ronnie in Long Island City, N.Y., where he received his first Communion and was confirmed at St. Rita’s Church.

He attended the former elementary school No. 83, and then Queens Vocational High School in Sunnyside, Queens.

Before joining the Passionists, Brother Fred worked for a number of years as a printer in Long Island City and made annual retreats at Immaculate Conception Monastery and Retreat House in Jamaica, N.Y. 

He made his novitiate at St. Paul’s Monastery in Pittsburgh, Pa. After receiving the required schooling, he took temporary vows and then moved to Holy Family Monastery, where he was further educated and trained for hree years before taking his final vows on March 7, 1968.

Brother Fred went on take care of monastery buildings, grounds and cars in a number of different Passionist monasteries in the Province of St.Paul of the Cross in the eastern United States. He eventually returned to Holy Family, where he spent the larger part of his Passionist life in service to the local community at Holy Family.

EAST ORLAND, Maine – Sister of Mercy Marie Therese (Mary William) Ahern, of East Orland, died on Jan. 25, 2013, following surgery at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford.

She was born in South Boston, a daughter of the late William and Elizabeth (McCarthy) Ahern. She grew up in Unionville, graduated from Mount St. Joseph Academy and attended St. Joseph College, both in West Hartford. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the Diocesan Teachers College in Madison and a Master of Arts degree in history from St. Joseph College (now the University of St. Joseph).

She entered the Sisters of Mercy on Sept. 8, 1956, and made her perpetual vows on June 28, 1962. She taught at St. Margaret School in Waterbury, St. Patrick School in Thompsonville, Holy Trinity School in Wallingford, St. Mary School in New Britain, as well as at South Catholic High School in Hartford in 1964 and again from 1969-73.

She then worked on environmental issues and went into parish ministry in Provincetown, Mass., until 1976, when she resumed teaching at Mount St. Joseph.

She was involved for the next 35 years with H.O.M.E. (Homeworkers Organized for More Employment) in Maine, a nonprofit that provides direct charity and aims to develop people’s skills, build community and change oppressive systems. Sister Marie directed H.O.M.E.’s Learning Center, coordinated the construction of numerous homes for the poor through the Covenant Community Land Trust and recently oversaw five shelters.

She is survived by her sister Elizabeth Olivieri of Old Saybrook, her brother William Ahern of Farmington, nieces and nephews and her religious community. She was predeceased by her brother Timothy Ahern and a nephew.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Jan. 31, 2013, at Connor Chapel at the University of St. Joseph.

A memorial service was held Feb. 3 at Orland Methodist Church near H.O.M.E. Burial was in Maine.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 55 E. Cedar St., Newington, CT 06111-1103 or to H.O.M.E. Inc., PO Box 10, Orland, ME 04472.

WEST HARTFORD – Sister of Mercy Mary Joan (Joan K.) Cook, Ph.D., died on Feb. 13, 2013, at St. Mary Home, where she had been a member of the order’s Baggot Street Community.

Born in New Rochelle, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late William O. and Mary E. (Sullivan) Cook. She graduated from Mount St. Joseph Academy and St. Joseph College in West Hartford and received advanced degrees from Boston College and the University of Toronto.

She entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1947 and taught in St. Patrick and St. Joseph Schools in Hartford as well as in Danbury and Greenwich. She then joined the English department at St. Joseph College, now the University of St. Joseph, where she remained for nearly 50 years, retiring as Faculty Emerita. She took a sabbatical to serve as dean of studies at Lauralton Hall in Milford for two years.

After retiring from teaching, Sister Mary Joan served as an academic advisor in the Weekend Program for Adult Learners and volunteered in the college archives. Recently, she wrote the history of the first 75 years of St. Joseph College entitled St. Joseph College 1932-2007: The Art of Becoming in a Changing Society.

Sister Mary Joan was a long-standing active member of the Sisters of Mercy Justice Committee and a woman of many interests.

She is survived by several nieces and nephews and her religious community. She was predeceased by her sisters, Mary O. Bidwell, Jane G. Murphy and Edna K. Hammond, and her brothers, William O. Cook and Father John P. Cook.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Feb. 20 in Connor Chapel at the University of St. Joseph. Burial was in St. Mary Cemetery.

Donations in Sister Mary Joan Cook’s memory may be sent to the Sisters of Mercy, 55 E. Cedar St., Newington, CT 06111, or to  the University of St. Joseph, 1678 Asylum Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117.

MONROE, N.Y. – Sister Norbert Marie Molitor, a member of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, died on Feb. 13, 2013, at Marycrest Convent. She was 75.

She was a catechist and co-director of religious education at St. Paul Parish in West Haven from 1986-94.

She was born Sept. 26, 1938, in Chicago.

She professed her final vows on July 2, 1962. She was involved in family visitation, direction of religious education and catechesis primarily in Scranton, Pa.

She went into semiretirement at Marycrest Convent in 2002.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Feb. 18 in the Immaculate Conception Chapel at Marycrest. Interment followed in Assumption Cemetery there.

WATERBURY – Deacon Donald E. Cruess Sr., 88, passed away on, Feb. 13, 2013, at Middlebury Convalescent Center.

A permanent deacon who served for more than 25 years at St. Francis Xavier Parish, he was the husband of Vera (Mason) Cruess.

He was born on April 23, 1924, a son of the late Raymond and Charlotte (Moran) Cruess. He was a graduate of Crosby High School and attended Wesleyan University in Middletown until he was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II.

After the war, he worked at his family’s markets until he became a quality control manger for Timex and, later, Buell Industries/Anchor Fastener for many years before his retirement.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his children Donald Jr. of Meriden; David of Columbia, Md.; Daniel of Wilmington, N.C.; Dean of Storrs; Diane Maxwell of Pleasanton, Calif., Deborah Beveridge of Watertown; and Darcy Braisted of Bethel; as well as by 16 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Auxiliary Bishop Christie A. Macaluso celebrated a Mass of Christian Burial on Feb. 16 at St. Francis Xavier. Burial followed in Calvary Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Francis Xavier Church, 625 Baldwin St., Waterbury, CT 06706.