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I have little doubt that in my three and a half years on staff, I have lost some readers, mid-story that is. I don’t like to think that, but I figure somewhere after the first paragraph or two, some readers either have the necessary info they need from a story or aren’t engaged enough to continue.

I do the same thing when reading secular newspapers.

Evelyn Bargmann, left, passed away earlier this month after an unspecified illness. She and her daughter, Brenda, right, appeared in an April 2008 article.

That kind of loss is expected, but I learned a week or so ago of an unexpected loss: the loss of a Catholic Sun reader whom I interviewed two all-too-short years ago.  Perhaps it seems short because I never knew she was sick. Nor did I know that her unspecified illness meant she and her adult daughter with Down Syndrome moved to Oregon where the woman’s son and family could better care for his mom and sister.

I interviewed both Evelyn and Brenda Bargmann for an article about the diocese’s role in evangelizing persons with disabilities. A Scottsdale Catholic who told The Catholic Sun about Eveyln’s passing last week called both of them “major prayer warriors.”  I remember them being devout Mass-goers.

A Mass will be celebrated in her honor at 3 p.m. Jan. 26 at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Scottsdale. A rosary begins at 2 p.m. Brenda and the Bargmann family are traveling to Scottsdale for the occasion.

On another note, the Diocesan Pastoral staff recently received word about the death of a priest,

Fr. John Cullinan, founding pastor of both Christ the King Parish in Mesa and St. Joseph Parish among other priestly assignments. He retired from St. Joseph in 1994 and recently assisted at St. Joan of Arc Parish.

The visitation and funeral Mass will be Thursday, Jan. 28, at St. Joan of Arc Parish. Visitation is 3-6 p.m. followed by a rosary and then Mass at 7 p.m.