Obituaries

Sister Mary Iavarone, teacher for 40 years, dies at 87

The Sister, Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary hailed from Most Blessed Sacrament Parish in Philadelphia. In addition to teaching, she cared for the sick and elderly for another 16 years.

Lockwood made ‘singular contribution’ to Catholic publishing

The former president of Our Sunday Visitor, longtime columnist for OSV Newsweekly and former director of communications for the Pittsburgh Diocese, died March 4 at his home in Fort Wayne, Ind., after suffering from a variety of illnesses. He was 69.

Despite visual impairment, sister ministered in schools, elder care

Before Sister Nancy Logan, S.H.C.J., died at age 84, she earned advanced degrees and certifications, and served the growing population of aging members of the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus.

Sister Dorothy Payne, 79, dies in 57th year of religious life

The New Jersey native entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1961 and ministered in the archdioceses of Newark and Philadelphia, and the Diocese of Trenton.

Bernardine Sister who ministered for 72 years dies in Reading

Sister Lourdine Bielawski of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Third Order Regular of St. Francis, died at age 90. The Philadelphia native studied at Villanova University and served in six states.

Maryknoll Sister Margaret Tryon dies at 90, served in South Pacific

The native of Bucks County entered the Maryknoll Sisters in 1947. She would go on to teach, serve in parishes and in prison ministry in the Marshall Islands and Hawaii.

Father Michael Sheehan, retired pastor and Anglophile, dies at 82

The pastor emeritus of Sacred Heart Parish in Philadelphia was of mixed Irish-English heritage, and loved all things British. Both highly intelligent and pastoral, he is remembered for his care to the marginalized.

Retired pastor of St. Gabriel Parish, Stowe, dies at 89

Father James W. Gormley, a South Philadelphia native, was ordained in 1954. He was fun loving, generous to the poor, loved his Irish heritage and his sister and her congregation, the Sisters of Mercy.

Msgr. James Mortimer, former pastor of St. William’s, dies at 91

The beloved priest is remembered as the moderator of the legendary Cardinal Dougherty High School Band, for his priestly service at St. William Parish in Northeast Philadelphia, and hearing confessions at Lourdes.

In memoriam — Gaspar Romero, brother of St. Oscar Romero

On Feb. 2, Santos Gaspar Romero Galdamez, 89, died in San Salvador, El Salvador. Gaspar Romero was the last of eight children of Santos Romero and Guadalupe Galdamez, and one of only two who lived to see their martyred brother beatified and canonized.