Sister Mary Benilda Nadolski died peacefully on July 27, 2021, at St. Francis Park in the 99th year of life and the 79th year of religious life. Sister Benilda was born on Jan. 18, 1922, in Westfield, Massachusetts to John and Anna (Burek) Nadolski. On Aug. 22, 1940, she became a postulant with the Franciscan […]
Sister Mary Zaenglein, who served as a nurse in several Catholic facilities, died July 20, 2021. Mary Ellen Zaenglein was born in Buffalo on June 5, 1952, to Robert and Shirley Zaenglein. She grew up attending St. Vincent Parish in Springbrook. Following graduation from Iroquois Central High School, Mary attended Potter Road Vocational School with […]
Sister Helen Dirig (formerly Sister Bartholomew) died peacefully on July 13, 2021, at Immaculate Conception Convent in the 89th year of life and the 60th year of religious life. Helen Martha Dirig was born on Feb. 24, 1932, in Hancock, to Benjamin and Catherine (Peake) Dirig. On Aug. 22, 1959, she became a postulant with […]
Sister Mary Telesphore Wozniak died peacefully on Sunday, July 11, 2021, at St. Francis Park in the 95th year of life and the 77th year of religious life. Sister Telesphore was born on Nov. 13, 1925, in Buffalo, to Bernard and Clara (Pilarski) Wozniak. On Jan. 5, 1943, she became a postulant with the Franciscan […]
Father Peter J. Cronin, who had served as the chaplain at St. Columban on the Lake for over 20 years, died July 10, 2021. He was 91. Born in Buffalo and raised near St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Father Cronin was ordained with the Columban Fathers in 1954. His ministry took him to Korea shortly after […]
Deborah Brown, who had the distinction of being the first layperson installed as pastoral administrator in the Diocese of Buffalo, died July 5, 2021, at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo. She was 65. Brown was born on May 2, 1956, to Andrew and Audrey (Klein) Ceglinski in Buffalo. She spent her working life serving her town […]
Sister Dolores Marie Schmidt, OSF (formerly Sister M. Constance), died July 4, 2021, at Niagara Hospice House, at the age of 96.Born April 11, 1925, in Buffalo, Sister Dolores Marie was the daughter of Charles and Amelia (Kauer) Schmidt. Sister Dolores Marie first joined the Sisters of St. Francis at Stella Niagara on Sept. 14, […]
Father Richard J. Cilano, who came to the priesthood after 30 years of marriage, died June 30, 2021. He was 75 years old. Born Sept. 26, 1945, to Alphonse and Louise (Gombetto) Cilano in Rochester. He attended St. Andrew School and St. Bernard Seminary & College in Rochester where he earned a bachelor’s in Philosophy […]
Father John J. Mergenhagen, who had served the diocese, as well as Catholics across the globe, died Wednesday, June 16, 2021. He was 91. Born July 14, 1929, in Buffalo to Walter and Mary McLean Mergenhagen, Father Mergenhagan attended Public School 68 and the Diocesan Preparatory Seminary. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree […]
Sister Philip Marie Cirincione, SSJ, teacher and pastoral associate, died June 10, 2021, at the Sister of St. Joseph Residence in Clarence. Born Sept. 15, 1929, in Falconer as Josephine Circincione, one of six children to Salvatore and Ramona Filutze Cirincione, Sister Philip Marie entered the Sisters of St. Joseph community right out of high […]
