COLORADO SPRINGS. Sister Frances Sedlacek, OSF, died Feb. 20 at St. Francis Nursing Center following a five-year cancer diagnosis. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated March 2 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Colorado Springs, followed by burial in Mount St. Francis Cemetery. 

COLORADO SPRINGS. After a long journey with Alzheimer’s disease, Sister Clarice (Agnes Anna) Gentrup, OSF, died March 5 at Mount St. Francis Nursing Center. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated March 16 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Colorado Springs, followed by burial in Mount St. Francis Cemetery. 

NOTRE DAME, IND. Holy Cross Father Ken Molinaro died Feb. 9 at age 77 at Holy Cross House in Notre Dame, Indiana.  Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 16 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, followed by burial in the community cemetery. 

GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA. Robert J. Golka, father of Archbishop-designate James Golka, died peacefully at age 92 on March 5 — two months to the day after the death of his wife, Patricia, on Jan. 5. Robert and Patricia were married for 64 years and had 10 children.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Evelyn Koprowski, a longtime volunteer at Marian House and parishes in the diocese, died Jan. 4 at age 79. A Vigil will be held on Feb. 24 from 5-7 p.m. at Swan-Law Funeral Chapel, 501 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, 80903. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Feb. 25 at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church, 3122 Poinsetta Dr., Colorado Springs, 80907. 

COLORADO SPRINGS. Patricia “Pat” Stearns, mother of Father John Stearns, died Nov. 12, 2025, at age 87. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 10 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, followed by burial at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Kiowa.  

GRAND ISLAND, NE. Patricia J. “Pat” Golka, the mother of Bishop James Golka, died Jan. 5 in Grand Island, Nebraska. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated  Jan. 9 at St. Leo’s Parish in Grand Island, followed by interment in the Grand Island City Cemetery. 

AURORA. Father John Auer, who served as pastor at several parishes in the Diocese of Colorado Springs before his retirement in 2016, died Nov. 20 at age 79. Funeral arrangements are as follows:

Dec. 4, 5-6 p.m.: Vigil, St. Mary’s Cathedral

Dec. 5, 10 a.m.: Mass of Christian Burial, St. Mary’s Cathedral

Dec. 9, 11 a.m.: Interment at Evergreen Cemetery, Colorado Springs (priest section)

PARKER. Antonette Julia “Toni” Trout-Mikel of Parker died Oct. 19 of cancer. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Bishop James Golka on Oct. 29 at Ave Maria Parish in Parker, followed by interment at Fort Logan National Cemetery.