Sister Cyrilla Jackels, OSF

Funeral Mass for Sister Cyrilla Jackels, OSF, 100, who died Friday, April 5, was celebrated Tuesday, April 9, at the Holy Family Convent Chapel in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, followed by burial in the convent cemetery.

She was born Elizabeth Jackels on April 9, 1923 in Kaukauna, Wisconsin to Nickolas and Christina (Schmidt) Jackels. 

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Holy Family College in Manitowoc. She joined the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity in Manitowoc in 1941 and professed her vows in 1944.

In the Diocese of Columbus, she was a sponsor presence representative for the Genesis HealthCare System in Zanesville from 2001 to 2013. She served in Peru as a teacher from 1969 to 2000 except for a one-year sabbatical and also taught at schools in Wisconsin, Hawaii and Arizona.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and six sisters and is survived by nieces and nephews.

Sister Mary Rosita Schiller, RSM

Funeral Mass for Sister Mary Rosita Schiller, RSM, 87, who died Wednesday, April 17, was celebrated Saturday, April 27 at St. Andrew Cathedral, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Burial was at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Grand Rapids.

She was born Margaret Anne Schiller in New Era, Michigan to Edmund and Julia (Greiner) Schiller.

She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Mercy College in Detroit, a Master of Science degree from Michigan State University and a doctorate from Ohio State University.

She joined the Sisters of Mercy in Detroit in 1951 and professed vows on Aug. 16, 1955. 

She served as director of medical dietetics at Ohio State University’s school of allied medical professions from 1978 to 2003, then retired as professor emerita to take a part-time position at St. Mary’s Foundation in Grand Rapids. She began her career as a hospital dietitian in Manistee and Lansing, Michigan and in 1966 joined the faculty at Mercy College (now the University of Detroit Mercy).

She was a fellow of the American Dietetic Association and internationally known as an educator, researcher and leader in the field of dietetics, serving in many leadership positions for state and national dietetic associations.

Among her honors were the medallion award from the American Dietetic Association and the president’s award from the Ohio Dietetic Association. She was a trustee for the Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus, the Ohio State Alumni Club of West Michigan, St. Mary’s Health Care and All Saints Academy in Grand Rapids and the University of Detroit Mercy.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Thomas, Father Timothy and Francis. Survivors include a brother, Joseph (Ruth); sisters, Stella O’Donnell and Rosemary (Norman) Byrne; and many nieces and nephews.

Catherine E. Lampe

Funeral Mass for Catherine E. Lampe, 89, who died Tuesday, April 16, was celebrated Saturday, April 27 at Worthington St. Michael Church. Burial was at Resurrection Cemetery, Lewis Center.

She was born in Iowa City, Iowa on May 4, 1934 to the late Charles and Mary Agnes (Nutting) Lampe and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1956. 

She taught Latin at Iowa City High School for several years before moving with her husband, Elmer, and their three children to Columbus, where she was a librarian at St. Thiomas the Apostle and Our Lady of Peace schools.

Survivors include her husband; children Mark, Matthew (Lisa), and Jean; sisters Elizabeth (John) Verhoeven and Margaret (Don) Ralph; one grandson and two granddaughters.

Dr. Mary Jane O’Brien

Funeral Mass for Dr. Mary Jane O’Brien, 100, who died Tuesday, April 9, was celebrated Monday, April 15 at Columbus St. James the Less Church. Burial was at Resurrection Cemetery, Lewis Center.

She was born in Cleveland on April 23, 1923 to George and Isabelle Cooper.

She was a graduate of the St. Vincent Hospital Nursing School in Cleveland and received a Bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1978 from Capital University, a Master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Ohio State University in 1982 and a doctoral degree in health education from Ohio State in 1995.

She was instrumental in creating and expanding the nursing program at Columbus State Community College, where she taught for 22 years She also was an adjunct professor for the adult degree program at Capital and a board member of the Mid-Ohio Nursing Association, was inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in 1995 and was chosen Mother of the Year three times by local and state Mothers of Twins clubs.

At St. James the Less, she founded the parish nurse program and volunteered in many other initiatives. The parish school’s gymnasium is named for her and her late husband, Gene. 

She served as a student nurse in the U.S. Nurse Cadet Corps, working with wounded World War II veterans at a military hospital in Cambridge, and later was employed at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Lakewood Hospital near Cleveland and the Ohio State University Hospital.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, eight siblings and one grandchild. Survivors include sons, John (Debbie), Tony (Lynn), Brian (Linda), Danny (Janet), Dennis (Della), Mickey (Tina), Victor, Robert (Kathy) and Vincent; and daughters, Fran and Ruth (Bob); 27 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Mary Lou Pelzer

Funeral Mass for Mary Lou Pelzer, 83, who died Wednesday, April 10, was celebrated Wednesday, April 17 at Mother Angeline McCrory Manor, Columbus.

She was born on Feb. 24, 1941, in Cleveland to John and Marcelline (Hassett) Hannon, graduated from Ursuline College in Cleveland and received a Master’s degree at Ohio University.

She was a third-grade teacher at Columbus Immaculate Conception School and with her husband, Dan, was an active member at Columbus St. Philip Church. The couple had resided at the Villas at St. Therese in Columbus from the time it opened in 1999 until she moved to Mother McCrory Manor, which is nearby, in 2021 to receive intensive nursing care.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Alice Hannon and Bee Jay McGreal. Survivors include her husband; son, John (Amy); daughter, Marci (James LeDuc); brothers, Tom and Pete (Linda); one grandson and two granddaughters.

Patrick J. Purcell Jr.

Funeral Mass for Patrick J. Purcell Jr., 79, who died Monday, April 8, as celebrated Tuesday, April 16 at Columbus St. Patrick Church.

He was born on Oct. 20, 1944 to Patrick and Regina Purcell, graduated from Columbus Aquinas College High School and Ohio State University and received a Master’s degree from Ashland University.

He spent 30 years as a coach and teacher at Ohio Dominican College (now University) and Columbus Bishop Ready, Marion Elgin, Whitehall, Hebron Lakewood and Heath high schools.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Kathleen Pepper, Sue Dennis and Theresa Helphrey. Survivors include his wife, Kathleen (Schwarz); a son, Shawn (Jamie); a daughter, Jennifer Ryan; a brother, Michael (Patty); and five grandchildren.

BARLEYCORN, Michael, 71, April 17
St. John Neumann Church, Sunbury

BATTAT, R. Richard “Rick,” 78, April 22
St. Francis de Sales Church, Newark

BEITER, Clara J., 76, April 17
St. Bernadette Church, Lancaster

BOWEN, Dr. Donald F., 71, April 12
St. Brendan Church, Hilliard 

CHAMBERS, Michael J., April 21
St. Mary, Mother of God Church, Columbus

CRISTALES, Dr. Quirico G. “Ric,” 83, April 22
St. Paul Church, Westerville

CHRISTY, Roberta (Sweeney), 92, April 15
St. Rose of Lima Church, New Lexington 

CORTEZ, Louise A., 89, April 14
St. Francis de Sales Church, Newark

COSTELLO, William R. Jr., 60, April 7
St. Michael Church, Worthington

CROSS. John, 89, April 17
St. Aloysius Church, Columbus

DiPIETRO, Grace, 67, April 12
Our Mother of Sorrows Chapel, Columbus

FORKIN, John A. Jr., 84, April 19
St. Paul Church, Westerville

GALLICCHIO, James P., 92, April 13
St. Edward Church, Granville

GORDON, Lottie R. (Dumolt), 91, April 9
St. Patrick Church, Junction City 

HEIGLEY, David C., 81, April 13
Church of the Atonement, Crooksville

LAWSON, Hazel M., 90, April 21
St. Nicholas Church, Zanesville

McMILLEN, Melissa K. (Wagner), 46, April 18
St. Joan of Arc Church, Powell

MEDLEY, Donald B., 79, April 7
St. Elizabeth Church, Columbus

MELLE, James, 80, April 6
Our Lady of Peace Church, Columbus 

MENDINI, Louis Jr., 73, April 19
St. Margaret of Cortona Church, Columbus

MUSSER, Joan A., 97, April 18
St. Peter Church, Columbus

PADGETT, Don R., 82, April 15
Sacred Heart Church, Coshocton

STALEY, Marian R., 99, April 23
St. Nicholas Church, Zanesville

YELICH, Mildred M. (Rodich), 89, April 21
St. Cecilia Church, Columbus