Sister of Mount Carmel Margaret Safford, who served for 66 years in religious life, died Nov. 4 at Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center in New Orleans.  She was 86 years old.

Sister of St. Joseph Jane Aucoin (formerly Sister Mary Aloysius), a native of Baton Rouge who served for 74 years in religious life, died Nov. 2 at Mount St. Mary Convent in Wichita, Kansas. She was 91.

Retired Auxiliary Bishop Dominic Carmon, S.V.D., was remembered Nov. 17 at his Funeral Mass at St. Louis Cathedral as a humble, dedicated priest and bishop who always put the needs of others before his own.

It was Sept. 11, 2001, and Cheryl Orillion was less than a month into her new role as the principal of Sacred Heart of Jesus Elementary School in Norco.

Deacon Arthur “Art” George Kingsmill died July 22, at age 81.  Deacon Kingsmill was ordained as a permanent deacon in 2001 and served at St. Francis Xavier Church in Metairie. He also was a member of several national and local charity organizations.

Jesuit Father Clair M. Cazayoux, a former high school teacher and chaplain, died Sept. 30 in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. He was 88 years old, a Jesuit for 69 years and a priest for 56 years. A scientist by training but a pastor by nature, Father Cazayoux was remembered at a Mass of Christian Burial Oct. 6 at St. Charles College Chapel in Grand Coteau. He was buried in the Jesuit Cemetery at St. Charles College.

Marianite Sister Audrey M. Strassel, a woman religious for 74 years, died June 30 at East Jefferson Hospital at age 91. Sister Audrey was the daughter of the late Edward C. Strassel and Mary Enola Heitmeier Strassel. She was preceded in death by her two sisters, Emelda B. Maggio and Geraldine S. Meyer; two brothers, Herman Burmaster and Leslie “Pete” Strassel; and two nieces Lynn Burmaster and Marlene Meyer Aysien. Survivors include a brother, E. David Strassel Sr., and numerous nieces and nephews. Sister Audrey, also known as Sister Eusebia, entered the Marianites of Holy Cross in 1944 and made her final profession in 1950.

Sister Gloria Irizarry Rodriguez, a Sister Servant of Mary, minister to the sick, died July 25, after a long illness. She was 63. Sister Gloria was born in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico, on Nov. 21, 1954. At age 13, her family moved to New York. By age 19, she had joined the Congregation of the Servants of Mary.

Josephite Father John E. O’Hallaran, who served as pastor of Corpus Christi, St. Leo the Great, St. Raymond and All Saints parishes and whose love for sports energized his ministry, died Sept. 2 in Red Bank, New Jersey.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, New Orleans, for Vincentian Father Louis J. Franz, a New Orleans native who died July 11 at Apostle of Charity Residence, Perryville, Missouri. He was 86.

Jesuit Father Nicholas T. Schiro, a fixture for 40 years at Jesuit High School, died Aug. 4 in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. He was 90 years old, a Jesuit for 73 years and a priest for 61 years. 

Deacon Ildefonso R. “Poncho” DeLeón died unexpectedly on July 6 at the age of 71. He was ordained on Dec. 10, 1983, and served for 35 years at St. Maria Goretti Parish in New Orleans. Deacon DeLeón grew up in the remote, high desert town of Marathon, Texas, where his first language was Spanish.

Deacon Raymond Rivere  died on Aug. 12 at age 85. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1983, serving at St. Mark Parish in Chalmette through his retirement.

Deacon Gerard “Gerry” J. Fasullo Sr., a deacon at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Metairie for 26 years, passed away Aug. 8. He was 86. Deacon Fasullo was a graduate of Holy Name of Jesus Elementary School, Jesuit High School and attended Loyola University. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Japan and Korea.

Father John P. Finn, the Irish-born, former Christian Brother who later became a priest and spent many years as pastor of Holy Family Parish in Luling, died Aug. 25 at Chateau de Notre Dame. He was 79. “He was a wonderful, outgoing, special priest who loved life and had a marvelous capacity to connect with people,” said Msgr. Harry Bugler, the pastor of St. Philip Neri Parish, who delivered the homily at Father Finn’s Funeral Mass Aug. 31 at Holy Family Church.

Fr. Anthony Serio, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, passed away July 26, in New York. He was 88. Father Anthony Serio was born May 2, 1930, in East Harlem, New York. He was one of 14 children. He attended James Monroe High school in the Bronx.

Jesuit Father Kenneth A. Buddendorff, a native of New Orleans who taught in Jesuit colleges and universities and was a longtime vocations director for the former New Orleans Province, died Aug. 3 in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. He was 88 years old, a Jesuit for 70 years and a priest for 57 years.

Deacon Wilfred (“Wil”) Robichaux Jr., 76, died at his home on April 17 surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was 76 and had served as a permanent deacon in the Archdiocese of New Orleans since 1981. A native of Bayou Blue, Louisiana, Deacon Robichaux later moved to Jefferson Parish. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Monica, his daughter Ann-Marie, his son Julius “Butch” (Martha) and his granddaughter Ashley-Marie (Joshua). He was the honored grandfather of Vanessa (Brandon), Casey (Colton), Courtney, Cade, Erick, Lina, and great-granddaughter, Claire. 

Holy Cross Father Thomas E. Chambers, who combined deep spirituality and kindness with a keen sense for finance and total quality management, died Jan. 2 at Holy Cross House in South Bend, Indiana. He was 83 and had served as a priest since 1961.