RANCHO CUCAMONGA—Noted for his compassion, joy and eagerness to serve God and the Church, Deacon Roberto Cardenas was remembered by close to 400 people gathered at Sacred Heart Church in Rancho Cucamonga at a rosary following the news of his passing.

 Deacon Cardenas, 72, was returning home from visiting his son in Hesperia when he was involved in a fatal car accident on Nov. 29. Cardena’s wife and daughter were taken to the hospital and four other passengers suffered minor injuries

 Fr. George Michael Matanic, OP, a priest of the Western Dominican Province was called to his eternal rest on July 16 in Oakland. He was 69 years old.

 Fr. Matanic was born on September 22, 1943 and was ordained a priest of the Western Dominican Province of the Order of Preachers on June 12, 1970, at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Oakland by the Most Rev. Floyd L. Begin.

 Msgr. Lawrence Battle was called to his eternal rest on June 22, 2013 in Palm Springs.

 He was born in Ottawa, Canada on December 14, 1919 to Henry Joseph and Mary Agnes Battle.

 He was ordained to the priesthood on February 2, 1949 in the Basilica of Notre Dame in Ottawa by Archbishop Alexandre Vachon. He was invited to come to the Diocese of San Diego in 1959 by Bishop Charles Buddy.

ST. MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, INDIANA—Sister Jean Michele Monaghan died on Saturday, February 16 in Mother Theodore Hall, St. Mary-of-the-Woods.

 Born on July 10, 1919 in Indianapolis, IN to Martin and Ellen Sharkey Monaghan, she was baptized Mary Jean.

ASTON, PA—Sister Joan Griffin, OSF (formerly Sister Jamesina), 86, died in Assisi House on January 13. She was a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 67 years. Sister Joan was born in Liskennett, Croom, County Limerick, Ireland, where she was a member of St. Lawrence Parish in Banogue. She entered the congregation in 1944 and professed her first vows in 1946. Sister Joan earned a B.S. in Education and an M.A. in Education, both from Seattle University. She ministered primarily in education on both the elementary and secondary level. She received the Schoolmaster of the Year Award in Contra Costa County, California, for 1978-1979 and the St. Bernardine Award for service in the Diocese of San Bernardino in 2006. 

RANCHO MIRAGE—James Shea, Jr., whose generosity benefited many Catholic parishes, schools and social outreach ministries in the Coachella Valley, was called to eternal rest on January 12 at the age of 87.

 Shea resided in Rancho Mirage and was an active parishioner and benefactor of Sacred Heart Parish in Palm Desert. A Mass of Resurrection was held for Shea at Sacred Heart on January 17.