A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated June 18 for Jesuit Father William G. Topmoeller, 86, a highly respected theology professor and retreat master. He died June 13.

A native of Cincinnati, he graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1939 and entered the Jesuit novitiate in Milford. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s in English, along with a Ph.L. and S.T.L. from the former West Baden College in Indiana, where he was ordained in 1952.

His principal ministries included teaching Latin, English and religion at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati from 1946-49. In 1956, he was assigned to St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Ill., and from 1968-70, he taught at Loyola University in Chicago. During the late 1960s, he directed Loyola’s Ecumenical Institute and was appointed to the Cardinal’s Committee on Human Relations and Ecumenism and authored the archdiocese’s Directory for Ecumenism. He served on the board of directors for the Catholic Theological Society of America and North American Academy of Ecumenism. In 1970 he was assigned to teach theology at Xavier University in Cincinnati and a year later was named chairman of the theology department. He continued his work in ecumenism. In 1984, he was asked to focus his talents on retreat ministry, traveling throughout the United States and around the world directing retreats for nuns, laypeople and priests. He joined the Faber Jesuit Community in Cincinnati in 1990, where he served as community librarian and continued to direct retreats until his retirement to Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Mich., in 1997.

Interment was in the Colombiere Center Jesuit Cemetery.

Sister Carol Sunderman

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated June 13 for Franciscan Sister Carol Ann Sunderman, 72, at the Sisters of St. Francis Convent chapel in Oldenburg, Ind. She died June 9, her birthday, at St. Clare Hall in Oldenburg.

A native of Cincinnati, she professed her final vows in 1959. She ministered in elementary education from 1955-84 at St. Bonaventure and St. Aloysius schools in Cincinnati and at schools in Indiana. From 1986-94, she was a member of the General Council Leadership Team for the Franciscan Congregation and for the past 13 years was a member of the formation team for the Franciscan Sisters.

She is survived by her brother, Robert of Cincinnati.

Interment was in the motherhouse cemetery.