obituaries
Former House Speaker Casper Taylor leaves legacy of faith, service
Former Speaker of Maryland’s House of Delegates Casper R. Taylor Jr., a frequent supporter of Catholic legislative concerns in state government and a former member of the administrative board of the Maryland Catholic Conference, died April 24. He was 88.
Sister Christopher Marie Wagner, O.S.F., dies at 76
Sister Christopher Marie Wagner died April 20. She was 76 and had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 56 years.
Jerry Filteau, longtime CNS reporter known to ‘speak the truth in love,’ dies at 78
Jerry Filteau, who was a reporter for Catholic News Service for nearly 40 years before his 2007 retirement, died April 4 after a long illness. He was 78.
Vincent Quayle, former priest who fought discriminatory housing, dies at 83
Vincent “Vinnie” Quayle, a former Jesuit priest who passionately fought blockbusting, redlining and other discriminatory practices in the real estate and housing industries in Baltimore, died March 27.
Sister Hannah Ruth Smith dies at 86
A funeral Mass for Sister Hannah Ruth Smith, a member of the All Saints Sisters of the Poor for 63 years, was offered Feb. 28 at the All Saints Convent Chapel in Catonsville. Sister Hannah died Feb. 20 following a brief illness. She was 86.
Sulpician Father Louis Reitz dies at 93
A funeral Mass for Sulpician Father Louis M. Reitz will be offered at 11 a.m. on April 5 at Our Lady of the Angels in Catonsville. Father Reitz died March 27.
Sister Regina Marie de l’Eucharistie Loftus dies at 86
A funeral Mass for Little Sister of the Poor Regina Marie de l’Eucharistie Loftus will be offered March 31 at 10:30 a.m. in the chapel of St. Martin’s Home for the Aged in Catonsville. Sister Regina died March 27. She was 86.
New Orleans Auxiliary Bishop Cheri dies at 71; archbishop thanks God ‘for his life, ministry’
Bishop Fernand (Ferd) Joseph Cheri III, a New Orleans native who had served since 2015 as auxiliary bishop of New Orleans, died March 21 at Chateau de Notre Dame in New Orleans following a lengthy illness. He was 71.
Sister Joan Cooper, O.S.F., dies at 94
An 11 a.m. funeral Mass for Franciscan Sister Joan Cooper will be offered at Assisi House in Aston, Pa., March 27. Sister Joan died March 18. She was 94 and had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for more than 72 years.
Sister Elizabeth Ellen Kane, O.S.F., dies at 81
A funeral Mass for Franciscan Sister Elizabeth “Betty” Ellen Kane (formerly Sister Paul Anthony) will be offered at 11 a.m. on March 23 at Assisi House in Aston, Pa. Sister Betty died March 17.