January 17, 1926 - April 7, 2025
With gratitude and in the firm hope of the promise of eternal life, I want to share that Fr. George Kane has journeyed to the eternal embrace of God on Monday, April 7, 2025.
At 99 years old, Fr. George was the longest serving priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago. In almost 74 years of priesthood, he served in many parishes, Mundelein Seminary and in the United States Air Force.
He was the founding Pastor of Church of the Holy Spirit in Schaumburg, and after his retirement he served another 14 years as Associate Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Inverness.
We will announce arrangements as soon as they are finalized.
I know that Fr George touched the lives of many and he will be missed. To you all, I extend my sincerest condolences.
Fr Jeremy Thomas, Pastor
St Gregory of Nyssa Parish
= (cont.) =============================================
Courtesy of Chicago Catholic newspaper:
Father George J. Kane, 99, Pastor Emeritus, died April 7. At the time of his death, he was the longest tenured priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and pastor emeritus of Church of the Holy Spirit in Schaumburg, now part of St. Gregory of Nyssa Parish.
Born in Chicago, Father Kane attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1951.
He served as assistant pastor of Holy Rosary (113th Street), Holy Cross (65th Street), St. George (Wentworth Avenue) and St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates. He taught at St. Mary of the Lake University/Mundelein Seminary (1966-1972) and he was the founding pastor of Church of the Holy Spirit.
Between his assignments at Holy Cross and St. George parishes, Father Kane served as a U.S. Air Force chaplain from 1959 to 1963. He served in South Korea, ministering to fighter pilots preparing to go to Vietnam.
Father John Hoffman knew Father Kane since his seminary internship at Father Kane’s parish, more than 50 years ago.
“He was a great homilist, wicked smart and had a great sense of humor,†Hoffman said.
He added that Father Kane was a supporter of women’s participation in the church and the Second Vatican Council.
“He believed in it, he believed it made such a difference for the laity, parishes and the church,†Hoffman noted. “He believed in Christ’s way of life for us and that it is Jesus Christ we seek, as Pope John Paul II said.â€
During a January 2024 interview with Chicago Catholic, Father Kane looked back on his ministry in the archdiocese and impact of the Second Vatican Council. “I was hoping we would get away from this ultra-authoritarian mode the church had, and get into the way of Vatican II,†he said. “That struck me as a life-giving kind of a vision, and it correlated with the best I had in my seminary training.â€
= (cont.) =============================================
Courtesy of Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services:
Reverend George Joseph Kane, 99, of Schaumburg, Illinois, passed away peacefully into God's eternal presence surrounded by family and friends on April 7, 2025. He was preceded in death by his father George Joseph Kane, his mother Mary Helen Kane, his sister Margaret Mary Norris, and his Brother Bernard Aloysisus Kane. He is survived by his brother Thomas Raymond Kane and numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and great grand nieces and nephews.
Father George Kane dedicated his life to the Catholic communities in which he served as a priest for 74 years. He served as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force, taught at Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary, and was the founding pastor of Church of the Holy Spirit in Schaumburg, Illinois where he served for over two decades. Father George Kane had a profound impact on the many people he worked with and served throughout his life. After retirement, he continued to serve at Holy Family Parish and then at Encore Village.
Lie in state Friday, April 11th from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Holy Family Catholic Community at 2515 W. Palatine Rd., Inverness, IL 60067. Wake service at 7:00 PM. Lie in state on Saturday, April 12th, 9:00 AM until 10:15 AM at Saint Gregory of Nyssa Parish, at Church of the Holy Spirit Campus at 1451 Bode Road, Schaumburg. Mass at 10:30 AM. Services will be live streamed on the parishes' website.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Misericordia Foundation:
(https://www.misericordia.com/giving/donate-online/), or to Catholic Charities:
(https://www.catholiccharities.net/give/donate-form/), "In Memory of Father George Kane". |