Obituaries

Chicago, IL (August 29, 2018) – Rev. Thomas J. Purtell, retired pastor of St. John Fisher Parish in Chicago, passed away on Friday, August 24, 2018. He was 83 years old. Born on February 11, 1935, in Chicago, Fr. Purtell attended Our Lady of Victory School and Quigley Preparatory Seminary, both in Chicago. He graduated with a master’s degree from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill., in 1960.

Chicago, IL (August 8, 2018) – Rev. Michael A. Olivero, retired pastor of St. Cecilia Parish in Mount Prospect, Ill., died on Saturday, August 4, 2018. He was 70 years old. Born on July 9, 1948 in Chicago, Fr. Olivero attended St. John Berchman Catholic School and Quigley Preparatory Seminary North, both in Chicago. He graduated with a master’s degree in Divinity at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill., in 1974.

Chicago, IL (July 25, 2018) – Rev. John J. McDonnell, pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish on 64th Street in Chicago, died on Monday, July 23, 2018. He had just turned 71 on July 19. Born in 1947 in Chicago, Fr. McDonnell (also known as Fr. JJ) attended St. Cornelius Catholic School and Quigley Preparatory Seminary North both in Chicago. Fr. McDonnell went off to Niles College in Niles, Ill., and to the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill. Later, 14 years into the priesthood, Fr. McDonnell joined the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, to pursue his Doctorate in Sacred Theology.

Chicago, IL (June 21, 2018) – Rev. John L. Harvey, pastor of St. Mary Queen of Apostles Parish in Riverdale, Ill., died on June 9, 2018. He was 67 years old. Born in Chicago on June 16, 1950, Fr. Harvey attended Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago, earned a bachelor’s degree at the St. Louis University in St. Louis, Mo., and a pursued a master’s degree at the Chicago Theological Seminary.

Chicago, IL (June 7, 2018) – Rev. James A. Colleran, pastor emeritus of St. Mary of the Lake Parish on N. Sheridan Road in Chicago, died on June 2, 2018, at the age of 80. He was a resident at The Admiral at the Lake nursing home. Fr. Colleran was born on November 7, 1937, in Chicago. He attended St. Ignatius Elementary School and Quigley Preparatory Seminary both in Chicago, and earned a master’s degree at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill., in 1962.

Chicago, IL (June 6, 2018) – Rev. John J. Rochford, pastor emeritus of St. Emeric Parish in Country Club Hills, Ill., passed away on June 1, 2018, at Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights, Ill. He was 96 years old. Fr. Rochford was born on December 15, 1921 in Chicago. He attended St. Joachim School and Quigley Preparatory Seminary, both located in Chicago. In 1946, he earned a master’s degree at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill.

Chicago, IL (June 4, 2018) – Rev. John W. Tapper, pastor emeritus of St. Ansgar Parish in Hanover Park, Ill., passed away on May 20, 2018. He was 82 years old. Fr. Tapper was born on March 9, 1936 in Chicago. He attended St. Genevieve School in Chicago, and Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago. He earned a bachelor of Sacred Theology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill., in 1959.

Chicago, IL (May 1, 2018) – Rev. James T. O’Connor, pastor emeritus of St. Hugh Parish in Lyons, Ill., passed away on April 27, 2018. He would have turned 90 years old on June 10. Fr. O’Connor was born in 1928 in Chicago. He attended St. Francis Xavier School in La Grange, Ill., and Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago. He earned a master’s degree at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill., in 1953.

Chicago, IL (April 26, 2018) – Rev. Gerald F. Mulcahy, 81, died on April 23, 2018. He was most recently pastor of St. Patricia Parish in Hickory Hills, Ill. Fr. Mulcahy was born on October 14, 1936 in Chicago. He attended St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero, Ill., and Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill.

Chicago, IL (April 26, 2018) – Rev. Dennis S. Riley, 66, passed away on April 15, 2018. He was Pastor Emeritus of St. Angela Parish on Potomac Street in Chicago. Fr. Riley was born on June 9, 1951 in Chicago and was ordained to the priesthood on May 9, 1979 by John Cardinal Joseph Cody, Archbishop of Chicago.