 |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
May
22, 2006
VOL.
44, NO. 10Oakland,
CA
OBITUARIES
• Sister M. Mercia Zerwekh, O.P.
Judy
Fellner
Judy Fellner, who worked for some 20 years in the administrative offices
of the Oakland Diocese including 16 years as secretary to Bishop Emeritus
John Cummins, died suddenly May 6 in her home in Oakland.
Fellner, 71, was warmly remembered for her deep faith, devotion to family,
quick wit and earthy humor at the May 11 Memorial Mass at St. Theresa
Parish in Oakland that drew more than 40 priests and deacons as well as
family, friends and co-workers. Bishop Cummins, who presided at the liturgy,
noted that Fellner embraced the teachings of the Church in the way she
nurtured her family and friends and reached out to the community.
She also had a “deep and cheerful” commitment to work, said
Bishop Cummins who recalled that Fellner, following the recent death of
Msgr. Bernard Moran, remarked that the priest never considered a job too
small. The same could be said of his secretary, the bishop added.
A graduate of UC Berkeley, Fellner worked in the diocesan Canon Law department
for several years before she became secretary to Bishop Cummins in 1990.
Survivors include her husband, Thomas G. Fellner; sons, Thomas Jr., Robert
and John Fellner; their wives, Jennifer, Finola and Meg Meg Fellner, and
10 grandchildren.
Mary
Elizabeth Grigg
Mary Elizabeth Grigg, wife of Deacon Jerry Grigg, died May 8 following
a short battle with cancer. She was 65.
Born in Pennsylvania, she moved to California as a young child. Along
with her husband, Jerry, whom she married in 1967, Grigg was an active
member of Holy Rosary Parish in Antioch. Over the years she served as
a lector, facilitator for engaged couples and co-coordinator of four parish
retreats for women.
When her husband was ordained to the permanent diaconate in 1995, Grigg,
an employee for 32 years at Kaiser Aluminum in Oakland, embraced the diaconate
ministry. She was involved in deacon formation and served for two terms
as a member of the deacon personnel board. Deacon Dave Rezendes, the Bishop’s
representative to the diaconate, said that Grigg was considered as “mother
to the diaconate of the Diocese of Oakland.”
In addition to her husband, Jerry, survivors include her brothers, Larry
and Denny Slate, her aunts, Ethel and Joan, and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral Mass was held May 16 at Holy Rosary Church in Antioch.
Sister
M. Mercia Zerwekh, O.P.
Sister M. Mercia Zerwekh, a former teacher at St. Elizabeth High School
in Oakland, died May 10 at the Dominican Sisters Motherhouse in Fremont.
She was 98 years old and had been a Dominican Sister for 80 years.
The Denver native taught at St. Elizabeth High from 1947 – 50 and
from 1951 – 57. She also taught at schools in Los Angeles, Anaheim,
Flintridge, San Francisco, and San Gabriel and served as principal at
schools in Los Angeles and Flintridge. She served as a school
