Retired Pope Benedict XVI, who had an impressive record as a teacher and defender of the basics of Catholic faith, is likely to go down in history books as the first pope in almost 600 years to resign.

Just a few hours after retired Pope Benedict XVI died in his Vatican residence Dec. 31, Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, provided a few early details of what to expect in the coming days.

A funeral Mass for Daughter of Charity Sister Natalie (Margaret Isabelle) McCubbin was offered Dec. 7 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg.

A funeral Mass for Franciscan Sister Agnes Bonner (formerly Sister Catherine Michael) will be offered at 11 a.m. Dec. 21 at Assisi House in Aston, Pa.

A funeral Mass for Daughter of Charity Sister Alice Marie (Frances Elizabeth) Smith was offered. Nov. 26 at the Basilica of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg.

A funeral Mass for Daughter of Charity Sister Margaret John Kelly was offered Dec. 3 at the Basilica of the Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg.

Sister Anne Conrad Koerner died Nov. 30. She was 94 and had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 73 years.

Cardinal Richard Kuuia Baawobr of Wa, Ghana, died in Rome Nov. 27 at the age of 63.

An 11 a.m. funeral Mass for Franciscan Sister Helen Mary Reynolds will be offered Nov. 16 at Assisi House in Aston, Pa. Sister Helen Mary died Nov. 7.

Father Kenneth Doyle, who wrote the popular Catholic News Service “Question Corner” column for the last 11 years and had served as the CNS Rome bureau chief in the early 1980s, died Oct. 28 at Teresian House in Albany. He was 82.