Seventeen Women Honored in McHenry Deanery
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
September 19, 2019
MCHENRY—Seventeen women were honored by parishes in the McHenry Deanery at a banquet on Sept. 15, at Church of Holy Apostles here.
Over 325 people socialized, applauded parish honorees and partook of a buffet featuring chicken and Italian beef hoagies.
Some of the priests provided a few extra remarks about their honorees in addition to biographies about them in the evening’s program.
“This girl is on fire!” said Father Burt Absalon about Theresa Emricson who was one of three women he introduced — two from St. Mary Parish in Woodstock and one from St. Patrick Parish in Hartland.
St. Peter Parish, Spring Grove, honoree, Danielle Prato, was proclaimed by Msgr. Joseph Jarmoluk as someone who lives the Mass, and the late Judy Zelz was honored by Father Brian Grady for her faith and joy even as her years-long battle with cancer was coming to an end. Her husband and two daughters accepted the award in her honor.
Written tributes to the women provided litanies of activities and work they have done for their respective parishes, often behind the scenes.
They bless their parishes as well by their presence, the depth of their faith that becomes evident often in trials, and by shining out with love for Jesus and others.
The 2019 Women of Inspiration in the McHenry Deanery are:
Susan Dorwaldt and Evie Goins, Christ the King Parish, Wonder Lake;
Medalit O’Hagan and Sandy Olsen, Church of Holy Apostles, McHenry;
Judy Zelz, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Crystal Lake;
Mary Schmitt, St. John the Baptist Parish, Johnsburg;
Patricia Escobar, St. Joseph Parish, Harvard;
Teresa Weber, St. Joseph Parish, Richmond;
Kristin Kittelson, St. Mary Parish, Huntley;
Catherine Stilling, St. Mary Parish, McHenry;
Theresa Emricson and Rosa Flores, St. Mary Parish, Woodstock;
Patricia Matusek, St. Patrick Parish, Hartland;
Rita Mahan, St. Patrick Parish, McHenry;
Danielle Prato, St. Peter Parish, Spring Grove;
Maureen Bojan, SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Cary;
Rosemary Blazier, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Crystal Lake.