Deacon Jack W. Elam
Funeral Mass for Deacon Jack W. Elam, 86, who died Wednesday, April 23, was celebrated Tuesday, April 29 at Newark Blessed Sacrament Church. Burial was at St. Joseph Cemetery, Newark.
He was born on May 1, 1938 in Kitchel, Indiana to Frank and Ella (Berry) Elam. He grew up in New Hope, Ohio, graduated from Springboro High School, studied business administration at Ohio State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management and human resources from Park College, Parkville, Missouri.
He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1957 to 1960. He was employed by Inland Container Corp. in Middletown, the Clinton County (Ohio) Air Force Base and the Newark Air Force Base.
He was ordained to the diaconate at Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral on Feb. 15, 1992 by Bishop James Griffin and served as a deacon at Blessed Sacrament and St. Francis de Sales churches in Newark. He retired from active ministry in 2007.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Donald and Roger; and sisters, Opal Ketron and Jill Evans. Survivors include his wife, Mary Cecilia; a son, Chip (Carmen); daughters, Helen (Eric) Morris and Anita (Larry) Nethers; a brother, Michael (Sharon); 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Dr. Seiji Shikina
A private funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Resurrection Cemetery Chapel, Lewis Center, for Dr. Seiji Shikina, 85, who died Sunday, April 13.
He was born on March 2, 1940, in Okinawa, Japan, graduated from Ryukyu University there and moved with his wife, Shigeko, to the United States, where they lived in Lincoln, Nebraska; Missouri; and Lafayette, Louisiana. He spent 15 years as a graduate student, earning multiple degrees and a doctorate in English literature before coming to Columbus in 1987.
He was an English professor, the founder of the Bilingual Columbus translation company and provost of the former Tokyo campus of the University of Rio Grande (Ohio). After retiring, he and his wife did volunteer work in 15 nations on five continents.
He is survived by his wife; sons, Father Edward Shikina, pastor of Marion St. Mary and Cardington Sacred Hearts churches, and Robert; daughters, Alice and Helen; a sister, Ikuko Ishigaki; and four grandchildren.
Sister Dolores Ann Pfeiffer, OP
Funeral Mass for Sister Dolores Ann Pfeiffer, OP, 95, who died at the Mohun Health Care Center in Columbus on Thursday, April 10, was celebrated Thursday, April 24 at the Motherhouse of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Burial was at St. Joseph Cemetery, Columbus.
She was born on Oct. 9, 1930 in Astoria, New York to Edward and Ella (Olesnovich) Pfeiffer and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1961 from the College of St. Rose, Albany, New York; a Master of Arts degree in 1972 from St. Mary’s College, Moraga, California; and a Master of Science degree in pastoral counseling in 1990 from Loyola College, Baltimore.
She entered the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine de Ricci (now the Dominican Sisters of Peace) in 1955 and professed her vows on Feb. 13, 1958. She served as a staff member at retreat houses, in parish ministry and pastoral counseling, and as a teacher in New Mexico, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania before coming to the Motherhouse in 2021 and entering the Mohun center the following year.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, George. She is survived by a brother, Edward, and nieces and nephews.
David M. Roby
Funeral Mass for David M. Roby, 73, who died Wednesday, March 19, was celebrated Friday, March 28 at Reynoldsburg St. Pius X Church. Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery, Pataskala.
He was born on March 5, 1952 to Andrew and Donna (Dutton) Roby and graduated from Reynoldsburg High School in 1971.
He served as a custodian for more than 10 years at Columbus St. Agatha Church and was a sacristan at St. Pius X Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Barbara (Schrader); and brothers, Kevin and Richard. Survivors include his children, David Roby, Cary VanHorn, Tina Bissel and Devon Westbrook; siblings, Cynthia Gervais, Cheryl Back and Phillip Roby; 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
ABRAHAM, Mitchell C., 93, April 12
Resurrection Cemetery, Lewis Center
ADAMICH, Thomas E., 88, April 11
Sacred Heart Church, New Philadelphia
ALBAUGH, Richard J., 80, April 5
Immaculate Conception Church, Dennison
DEVLIN, Lillian, 83, April 9
Sacred Heart Church, New Philadelphia
DUNN-LIGGET, Anita M., 72, April 5
Immaculate Conception Church, Dennison
CRIST, Lucille (Dandera Denman), 94, April 11
St. Francis de Sales Church, Newark
DAVIS, Mary Lorane, 95, March 27
St. Colman of Cloyne Church, Washington Court House
EBERSBACH, Sarah Jane (Cooper) “Sally,” 82, April 13
St. Nicholas Church, Zanesville
EPPICK, Joan H. (Kondik), 84, April 19
St. Paul the Apostle Church, Westerville
ESSELBURNE, Peter C., 80, April 16
St. Colman of Cloyne Church, Washington Court House
HAMILTON, David M., 73, April 12
St. Francis de Sales Church, Newark
HASELWOOD, Barbara J. (Banks), 93, April 8
St. Paul the Apostle Church, Westerville
HOUGHTON, Virginia (Scardina), 72, March 29
St. Andrew Church, Columbus
JENTGEN, James J., 93, April 12
St. Agatha Church, Columbus
KEYES, Marlene C., 88. April 13
St. Cecilia Church, Columbus
KRIMM, John J., 91, April 7
St. Margaret of Cortona Church, Columbus
McCRATE, Mary Beth, 58, April 9
St. Paul the Apostle Church, Westerville
MEHRABAN, Abbas “Ben,” 80, April 15
St. Andrew Church, Columbus,
MONE, Robert P., 90, April 7
Our Lady of Victory Church, Columbus
OHRSTROM, Ellen (Aken), 72, March 25
Sacred Heart Church, New Philadelphia
ORGANISCAK, Melissa (Kondik), 69, April 3
St. Brigid of Kildare Church, Dublin
RAUCH, Norma Jean, 91, April 22
St. Francis de Sales Church, Newark
REGAN, Joseph T., 91, April 11
St. Mary Magdalene Church, Columbus
REHL, Barbara A., 84, April 14
St. Francis de Sales Church, Newark
STEPHENS, Gloria J. (Delewese), 70, April 20
St. Margaret of Cortona Church, Columbus
VAN ALSTYNE, Carolyn (Bongini), 80, April 22
St. Joseph Church, Dover
WEBB, William L., 81, March 21
St. Paul the Apostle Church, Westerville
WILLIS, John M., 69, April 18
St. Mary, Mother of God Church, Columbus
WOODS, Jo Ellen, 77, April 19
St. Bernard Church, Corning