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Archdiocesan Priest, Rev. Fred W. Tomzik, Dies

Rev. Tomzik was Pastor of St. Monica Church in Chicago

Chicago, IL (December 18, 2017) – Rev. Fred W. Tomzik died at Resurrection Hospital, Chicago, on December 12, 2017. Before retiring for health reasons, Rev. Tomzik was most recently pastor of St. Monica Church in Chicago. He was 59 years old.

Rev. Tomzik was born on July 3, 1958 in Chicago. He attended Divine Savior School in Norridge, Ill., St. Patrick High School in Chicago, Triton College in River Grove, Ill., and Niles College in Niles, Ill. Rev. Tomzik went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in 1980 at Loyola University in Chicago and a master’s degree in 1984 at the University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill. He was ordained into the priesthood on May 19, 1984 by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, Archbishop of Chicago, and celebrated his first Solemn Mass at Divine Savior in Norridge, Ill., on May 27, 1984.

“I'll always remember when Fred arrived at Niles College,” said Rev. Kenneth Baker, associate pastor at St. Cletus Parish who had known Rev. Tomzik since their days in the seminary. “Those of us in theater discovered we had another comrade. […] I will always remember Fred's great love of train travel and his train travelling vacations all across the country! We have lost a good friend and the Church, a faithful priest, who carried with grace (and occasionally with humor) the cross of illness. Now we pray and trust that his journey will be rewarded as he meets the Lord face to face.”

After ordination to priesthood, Rev. Tomzik served the Archdiocese in a number of roles. He started as associate pastor at the Nativity of Our Lord Parish on 37th Street in Chicago (1984-89) and at the Divine Infant Jesus Parish in Westchester (1989-96); he became associate pastor of St. Eugene Parish on Foster Avenue in Chicago (1996-97). Later, Rev. Tomzik served as pastor at St. Louise de Marillac Parish in La Grange Park (1997-2010) and at St. Monica Parish on Foster Avenue in Chicago (2010-15).

Rev. Tomzik was also chaplain of the Norwood Park Fire Department and an active member in both the Catholic Committee on Scouting and the Girl Scout Medals Committee.

“Fred was a wonderful parish priest always engaged in the lives of people,” said Rev. Lawrence Lisowski, pastor of Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph Parish in Chicago. Rev. Lisowski added that Rev. Tomzik was “very good to his family and a delight to be with. A loyal friend.”

The Funeral Mass will take place on Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 10 a.m. at Divine Savior Church, 7740 West Montrose Avenue in Norridge, Ill.

Bishop Francis Kane will preside at the Funeral Mass while Rev. Lawrence Lisowski will preside at the vigil service and will be the homilist at the Funeral Mass. Interment will take place at Maryhill Cemetery, Niles, Ill.  

He is survived by his mother, Beverly, and siblings, John (Kathy) Tomzik, Philip Tomzik, Steven (Peggy) Tomzik, David (Kristine) Tomzik and Janice (Rick) Vercillo.