Educator and pastoral minister Sister Mary Norbert Stang died on June 25, 2019, in the Health Care Center at Fredonia Place of Williamsville.

Father Paul J. Dugan, longtime moderator of athletics at Canisius College, died May 11, 2019, in Murray-Weigel Hall on the campus of Fordham University in the Bronx. He was 95.

Sister Mary Patricia Tomasik, 81, a Felician Sister for 63 years, died in Blessed Mary Angela Care Center, Buffalo, June 11, 2019.

Sister Mary Oliver Cabana, an educator and parish minister, died May 20, 2019, at St. Mary Center in Buffalo. She was 90 years old.

Deacon Samuel G. Puleo, a retired attorney, died May 9, 2019, of throat cancer. He was living in Port Charlotte, Fla., at the time of his death.

Sister Mary Thaddeus, 89, a Felician Sister for 66 years, died in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center, Buffalo, on May 7, 2019.

Sister Victoria Masterpaul, who served the Diocese of Buffalo in various ministries, died April 15, 2019 at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany. She was 83.

Sister Pat Perry, who founded Sr. Pat's Home in Olean, died April 11, 2019, at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany. She was 82.

Former Canisius professor Father Joseph M. Gariolo, died April 7, 2019, at the age of 95. He had served as a Barnabite for 69 years.

Father Ronald A. Bagienski, who served as pastor of Holy Apostles, SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Buffalo for 20 years, suffered a fatal heart attack April 9, 2019, while on a cruise in Lima, Peru.

Sister Barbara Connolly, GNSH, educator and social worker, died April 1, 2019, in White Plains. She was 79 years old and in the 62nd year of her religious life.

Sister M. Julie O'Stroske died Feb. 28, 2019, at the Stella Niagara Health Center. She was 89.

Sister Elizabeth Kovacs was born in a village of Western Hungary on Nov. 16, 1929. She was the second of three daughters of a Catholic family.

Sister Ann Marie Striegl, GNSH, who spent more than 40 years in the Diocese of Buffalo, died March 25, 2019, at the age of 84. She was formerly known as Sister John Bosco.

Sister Anne Peter Motto, a Franciscan Sisters of Allegany for over 60 years, died March 9, 2019, at the age of 87.

Msgr. Donald R. Wangler, who served the Diocese of Buffalo for over 60 years, died March 22, 2019, while at Father Baker Manor in Orchard Park. He was 87.

Father Edward R. Czarnecki, who served several parishes across Erie County, died March 17, 2019. He was 78 years old.

Sister Marie McTarnaghan, who taught in Catholic schools for almost 40 years, died March 9, 2019. She was 86.

Sister Mary Frances Welch, OSF, formerly known as Sister M. Peter, died Feb. 18, 2019, at the Health Center in Stella Niagara. The longtime teacher was 91 years old.

Msgr. James N. Connelly, who served the Diocese of Buffalo for nearly 70 years, died Feb. 24, 2019. He was 97 years old.

Buffalo-born Jesuit priest Father Donald James French, SJ, died Dec. 2, 2018, at Murray-Weigel Hall, Bronx.

Longtime Jamestown chaplain Father John L. Kuhlmann died Dec. 21, 2018. He was 76.

Sister Therese Marie Kodz, 75, a Felician Sister for 57 years, died in Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, Dec. 10, 2018. The former Mary Kodz was born on June 23, 1943, in Utica. She entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters on July 2, 1961, and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 3, 1969. After graduating from the Utica Catholic Academy, she furthered her education at Villa Maria College of Buffalo. She then attended Medaille College in Buffalo and Buffalo State College for degrees in education.

Being a priest had been a dream of David S. Slubecky from childhood. He would celebrate a pretend Mass and hand out Necco wafers to his younger siblings as Communion. "I'd keep all the chocolate ones for myself," he said. "I was just drawn to the idea of being able to celebrate Mass and be involved with people in a parish." Among his many duties in the Diocese of Buffalo, He would go on the become a regular fixture on the Daybreak TV produced "Daily Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral." Less than a year after retiring, Msgr. Slubecky passed away on Feb. 12. The son of the late Stanley and Maria Theresa (Zielonka) Slubecky was born Dec. 5, 1947, in Batavia. He attended Catholic schools right from the start with St. John the Baptist in Alden. The Sisters of St. Joseph who taught him claim that even in second grade he had talked about becoming a priest. "My parents actually encouraged me to go to a regular high school and I said 'No, I really want to do this," said Msgr. Slubecky. By age 14, he attended the Diocesan Preparatory Seminary, a high school for young men pursuing a vocation to the priesthood. There were 122 boys in his freshman class, but he was one of only two who went on to be ordained. After studying philosophy for two years at St. John Vianney Seminary (now Christ the King in East Aurora), he went to Rome to study theology at the North American College. He was ordained on July 21, 1973, by Bishop Edward D. Head. His first assignment was at St. Mary Parish in Batavia, where he stayed for only four months before going back to Rome to finish his graduate degree in theology. After spending a few more months at St. Mary's, he went to St. Ignatius Renewal Center in Clarence to serve as the retreat master and to direct the formation team for the permanent diaconate. When he retired last May, he spoke to the Western New York Catholic saying that that assignment remained close to his heart. "Many times I was really humbled by the quality of faith and the depth of faith of the people who came for retreats. In many ways, I gained more from them than I think they ever could've gotten from me." In September of 1983, he returned to Rome to obtain a graduate degree in Canon Law. He eventually moved on to be judicial vicar of the diocesan Tribunal. "So, although I initially went with the idea that I would be working in a parish, I was not really in a parish for most of the first 22 years of my priesthood." In 1988, Pope John Paul II honored him with the title monsignor. The title is a pontifical honor designating a priest as Chaplain to His Holiness. In July 2008, he was elevated to Prelate of Honor to His Holiness by Pope Benedict XVI. In 1994, he became pastor of Fourteen Holy Helpers Parish in West Seneca, a position he held until 2005, at which time he became moderator of the curia and vicar general for the Diocese of Buffalo. In these roles, Msgr. Slubecky served as a chief operating officer for the Diocese of Buffalo. "I serve on every board that exists in the diocese," said Msgr. Slubecky, who loved parish work, but agreed to go where he was needed most. "In every instance I have to say I believed after the fact that it was supposed to happen. In each case, I gained a lot from it with regard to various parts of my life." He considers one of the most moving moments of his priesthood to be in the final days of his grandmother's life in the late 1980s. "I anointed her and when I finished anointing her, she came out of the fetal position, had a clear mind for three days, talked to all the family and then she passed away. It was just very moving the power of that sacrament." Msgr. Slubecky had been living at the Msgr. John J. Coniff Priest Retirement Home in Lancaster since his retirement. He is survived by his siblings Daniel, Elaine Hudson, Rita Gibney and Donald. He had one other brother, the late Tommy Slubecky. Visitation will take place Sunday, Feb. 17, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Fourteen Holy Helpers Church, 1345 Indian Church Road, West Seneca. Msgr. Slubecky will lie in state on Monday, Feb. 18 at 9 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, where a concelebrated funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. with Bishop Richard J. Malone presiding.

Sister Teresa Marie Patora, 92, died at Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in Buffalo on Feb. 1, 2019. The former Theresa Patora was born June 7, 1926, in Erie, Pa. She attemnded school in Erie, then graduated from Villa Maria Academy in Buffalo.

Sister Marie Bernarde Procknal RSM, died January 23, 2019, at Mercy Center Convent in Buffalo after 73 years as a dedicated Sister of Mercy.

Sister Therese Marie Kodz, 75, a Felician Sister for 57 years, died in Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, Dec. 10, 2018. The former Mary Kodz was born on June 23, 1943, in Utica.

Sister Mary Janet Mazierski, 89, a Felician Sister for 69 years, died in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in Buffalo on Nov. 28, 2018. The former Lucille Mazierski was born Sept. 18, 1929, in Buffalo. She entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters on Sept. 17, 1949, and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 13, 1957. She graduated from Riverside High School in Buffalo and furthered her education at Canisius College of Buffalo earning a bachelor's degree and at Medaille College, Buffalo, with a master of arts degree.

Sister Mary Rosalma Pawlak, 98, a Felician Sister for 76 years, died in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in Buffalo on Nov. 28, 2018. The former Josephine Pawlak was born on Feb. 22, 1920, in Morris Run, Pa. She entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province of the Felician Sisters on Oct. 25, 1942, and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 6, 1950. She was a member of St. Casimir Parish in Elmira, and graduated from Elmira Free Academy. She earned a bachelor's degree from Mount St. Joseph Teachers (now Medaille) College in Buffalo. She also received a diploma from Rochester Dental Dispensary and a New York state license as a dental hygienist.

Sister Ruth Haselbauer, a Sister of St. Joseph for 65 years and an administrator and faculty member at Medaille College for 35 years, died Nov. 19, 2018, at the Sisters of St. Joseph Residence in Clarence, after an extended illness. She was 84.

Father Richard A. Jesionowski of the Diocese of Buffalo, died Oct. 27, 2018, just months after retiring at the age of 84.

Sister Grace A. Knauber, an educator who served in Western New York and Puerto Rico, died Sept. 28, 2018, at the age of 91.

Father Bede Fitzpatrick, who spent nearly his entire ministry in Japan, died Sept. 12, at the age of 96.

Msgr. Francis M. Skupien, longtime pastor of St. Mary Parish in Gasport, died Sept. 12, 2018, at the age of 91.

Buffalo native Father Jeremiah McGinley, OFM, a professed Franciscan friar for 67 years and a priest for 63, died on Aug. 30 at Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J. He was 89.

Sister Mary Agnes Czarnecki, 98, a Felician Sister for 79 years, died in Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in Buffalo Aug. 28, 2018.

Sister Eileen Rynne, who served throughout the Northeast, died Aug. 6, 2018, at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany.

Sister Mary Esther Odachowski died July 25, 2018, at St. Francis Park in the 86th year of life and the 68th year of religious life.

Sister Mary Lintner, SSJ, a teacher and school psychologist, died July 15, 2018, at the Sisters of St. Joseph Residence, Clarence, after an extended illness. She was 94.

Msgr. Mecislaus S. Wendzikowski, who served the Diocese of Buffalo for 59 years, died July 4, 2018. He was 84.