Sister Thoma Swanson, OP
Funeral Mass for Sister Thoma Swanson, 97, who died Friday, Jan. 9 at the Mohun Health Care Center, was celebrated Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Motherhouse of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Burial was at St. Joseph Cemetery, Columbus.
She was born Joan Swanson on Dec. 5, 1928 in Kent to A. Murray and Marie (Green) Swanson.
She was a graduate of Kent Roosevelt High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in art and English from Cardinal Stritch College in Milwaukee in 1950, a Master of Arts degree in art from the University of Notre Dame in 1958 and a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting and printmaking from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York in 1968.
She entered the congregation of the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs (now the Dominican Sisters of Peace) in 1950 and professed her vows on July 9, 1952.
In the Diocese of Columbus, she taught English and art at Columbus Bishop Watterson High School from 1955 to 1964 and was associated with the Milo Arts community in Columbus from 1999 to 2017, when she became an artist at the Motherhouse. She continued her artwork as part of a ministry at the Mohun center from 2022 until her death. She also was a teacher at St. Mary High School and Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut.
From 1986 to 1998, she served as a missionary in Chimbote, Peru, where she taught and worked with women to develop handcrafted items for sale. She produced many paintings, tapestries, stained glass windows and murals as commissioned artwork in Peru and the United States.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Andrew and Thomas. She is survived by nieces and nephews.
Richard J. Rolwing
Funeral Mass for Richard J. Rolwing, 96, who died Wednesday, Jan. 14, was celebrated Monday, Jan. 19 at Reynoldsburg St. Pius X Church. Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery, Pataskala.
He was born in Indiana on March 18, 1929 to Edward and Rose Rolwing and grew up in Cairo, Illinois.
He received a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Paul’s College at the Catholic University of America, a Master’s degree in theology from the University of Notre Dame and a doctorate from the University of Iowa.
After completing his doctoral studies, he taught theology at Iowa, Xavier University in Cincinnati and the University of Dayton.
He wrote books, essays, op-ed articles and gave lectures about the Catholic Church and participated in many Catholic academic associations. He and his wife welcomed many foster children. At his parish, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the choir and served as a lector and an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist.
He was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Patricia (Gardner); sons, Jon (Amy), Rich (Krista) and Patrick (Andriana); daughters, Julia and Mary Jane; three granddaughters and three grandsons, including Father Joseph Rolwing, parochial vicar at Columbus-Powell St. Peter St. Joan of Arc Church.
Virginia M. Reade
Funeral Mass for Virginia M. Reade, 78, who died Saturday, Jan. 3, was celebrated Thursday, Jan. 8 at the Lancaster Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption. Burial was at St. Mary Cemetery, Lancaster.
She was born on Jan. 22, 1947 in Cambridge, Massachusetts to the late William and Mary Keith. She graduated from Winchester (Massachusetts) High School and received a Bachelor’s degree from Simmons College in Boston.
She spent nearly 50 years as a teacher, developing a national award-winning Latin program at Lancaster Fisher Catholic High School, where she also coached volleyball, softball and cheerleading.
Survivors include her husband of 55 years, Father John Reade, a retired priest of the Diocese of Columbus who was ordained in 2009 after being a member of the Episcopal clergy; a son, Brendan (Kerry); a daughter, Sharon (Benedict) Reade Boyden; a sister, Sharon Keith; four grandsons, four granddaughters, a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter.
ALLEN, Joan H., 98, Jan. 8
Our Mother of Sorrows Chapel, Columbus
ARNOLD, Donald “Tom,” 74, Dec. 21
Ss. Peter & Paul Church, Glenmont
BOWES, Thomas, 63, Dec. 21
Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, Lancaster
CAHILL, Ramona, 80, Dec. 16
St. Mary Magdalene Church, Columbus
CAPOTS, Raymond E., 88, Dec. 27
St. Peter St. Joan of Arc Church, Columbus-Powell
CASEY, John Charles, 89, Dec. 31
Ss. Simon & Jude Church, West Jefferson
CERVI, Lynn M. (Felice), 82, Jan. 4
Our Mother of Sorrows Chapel, Columbus
COUGHLIN, Robert J., 79, Dec. 21
Our Lady of Victory Church, Columbus
DEVINE, James A. Jr., 85, Dec. 24
St. Paul the Apostle Church, Westerville
DRAKE, Kenneth M., 86, Dec. 27
St. Francis de Sales Church, Newark
DUNNIGAN, Keith A., 81, Jan. 2
St. Brigid of Kildare Church, Dublin
FOLEY, Kathleen, 87, Dec. 4
St. Mary Magdalene Church, Columbus
GROVE, Diane Maureen, 78, Dec. 22
St. Peter St. Joan of Arc, Columbus-Powell
GUITTEAU, Thomas J., 84, formerly of Columbus, Dec. 20
Christ the King Church, Toledo
JOHNSON, Gordon Lee “Gordy,” 93, Jan. 4
St. Nicholas Church, Zanesville
KARABINOS, Mary A., 72, Dec. 20
St. Leo the Great Oratory, Columbus
KELLEY, Alice M., 91, Jan. 10
St. Paul the Apostle Church, Westerville
KIBLER, Larry R., 73, Jan. 1
St. Brigid of Kildare Church, Dublin
KILBARGER, Edward, 88, Dec. 3
Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, Lancaster
KNEISEL, Robert Sr., 76, Dec. 24
St. Paul the Apostle Church, Westerville
KOLATTUKUDY, Dr. Pappachan E., 88, Jan. 4
St. Andrew Church, Columbus
LISTON, Joseph, 80, Dec. 10
St. Mary Magdalene Church, Columbus
LITTLE, Linda (Rossi), 62, Dec. 19
St. Joseph Church, Dover
MARMON, Jodie, 64, Dec. 11
St. Mary Magdalene Church, Columbus
MODELICH, Helen M. (Rains), 96, Jan. 5
St. Margaret of Cortona Church, Columbus
MONTELL, James D., 93, Jan. 7
St. Paul the Apostle Church, Westerville
NETTLER, Daniel J., 67, Jan. 2
Church of the Resurrection, New Albany
NYE, William, 89, Jan. 2
St. Charles Preparatory School, Columbus
O’LEARY, Thomas M., 79, Dec. 19
St. Charles Preparatory School, Columbus
PETERS, Delores (Mastri), 85, Dec. 24
St. Joseph Church, Dover
PHILLIPS, Chris, 84, Jan. 2
Holy Spirit Church, Columbus
SCHNEIDER, Eilene, 94, Dec. 15
Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, Lancaster
SHUMAKER, Stephen R., 72, Nov. 28
Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, Lancaster
SIEVERS, Robert J., 80, Dec. 31
St. Joseph Church, Plain City
SITTERLEY, Sarah, 77, Dec. 12
Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, Lancaster
VACHERESSE, Joseph Michael, 62, Dec. 29
Ss. Simon & Jude Church, West Jefferson
WEHNER, Marilyn A. 87, Dec. 13
Our Lady of Peace Church, Columbus
WEHNER, Ronald J., 92, Dec. 13
Our Lady of Peace Church, Columbus
WHITE, Donald, 87, Dec. 31
Sacred Hearts Church, Cardington
WINKELMES, Erin K. (Scott), 60, Jan. 12
St. Nicholas Church, Zanesville