Obituaries

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Elizabeth Toohey shared her joy and deep spirituality along with her love of music and art through teaching, leading retreats, spiritual direction and commitment to social justice.… Read More

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Zita Simon, whose 55 years of religious life included service as a teacher and principal at Catholic schools in the Omaha archdiocese, died Jan 5 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. She was 75.… Read More

Deacon Jerome “Jerry” Gau wasn’t one to lead large ministries in the archdiocese or at his parish, St. James in Omaha. Instead, he mastered a simple one-on-one ministry and affected countless… Read More

One might expect to find vestments, a chalice and religious books among a priest’s belongings. But some more unusual items also graced the assisted-living apartment of Father Bernard Byrne: photos… Read More

Father William Bartek, who served several urban and rural parishes and for nine years at Boystown in Omaha, died Jan. 4 in Omaha. He was 86. Visitation is set for… Read More

Redemptorist Father Kenneth Sedlak, an Omaha native who served much of his 48-year priesthood in Illinois, died Dec. 19 at his order’s St. Clement Center in Liguori, Missouri. He was… Read More

A love of children and concern for their welfare and that of their families was a central focus for Servant of Mary Sister Evangeline Wilkinson throughout her 70 years of… Read More

In her 70 years of service that spanned the continental U.S., Hawaii and South America, Sister Florence Gavin exercised her gentle influence through teaching, spiritual guidance and pastoral care. Sister… Read More

Sister Ethel Widhalm, a Sister of Saint Francis of Colorado Springs for 72 years, was a teacher or principal in numerous schools in the Archdiocese of Omaha over the course of… Read More

Deacon John “Jack” Finney was the first permanent deacon to serve at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Omaha, beginning even before the church was built. He became a deacon that… Read More

As a child, Sister Esther Heffernan, a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa, became aware of poverty and inequality in the world. From there, she made it her life’s work to fight for… Read More

Sister Dorothy Gabel of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa served God and her students as a science teacher, researcher and author. Those students included some at the former Cathedral High… Read More