CHICAGO (April 12, 2004) - Fr. Edward Coffey, the chaplain at St. Ann Hospital in Chicago for 24 years, died on Thursday, April 8, of heart disease at St. Benedict Home in Niles, where he was a resident. He was 93 years old and had been retired since 1986.

Born in De Moines, Iowa, Fr. Coffey attended grade school in Chicago. He graduated from Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein. Fr. Coffey was ordained in 1937 by George Cardinal Mundelein.

Fr. Coffey began his parish ministry at St. Laurence Parish where he served as assistant pastor for six years. He was the assistant pastor at St. Clement for six years and at Holy Rosary parish for nine years, from 1949 to 1958. He was an assistant pastor at St. Bede in Fox Lake for four years before being named Chaplain at St. Anne Hospital in 1962.

For 24 years, until his retirement in 1986, Fr. Coffey served as the hospital's chaplain. St. Anne's, formerly located on W. Thomas St., has since been closed.

Visitation for Fr. Coffey will take place at St. Margaret Mary Church, 2324 W. Chase Ave., Chicago, on Monday, April 12, from 3 to 8 p.m. The funeral Mass for Fr. Coffey will be said on Tuesday, April 13, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Margaret Mary. Interment will be at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines.