Obituaries

Chicago (March 12, 2024) – Rev. Daniel R. Fallon, former pastor of St. Cornelius Parish on Foster Avenue in Chicago (now St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Parish), passed away Saturday, March 9, 2024. He was 74 years old.

Fallon was born on March 1, 1950 in Chicago. He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, Niles College in Niles and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein. He also earned his master’s degree in divinity at DePaul University in Chicago.

Fallon was ordained to the priesthood on May 12, 1976, by Cardinal John Cody, and he celebrated his first solemn Mass on May 15 of the same year at Divine Savior Parish in Norridge.

After ordination to the priesthood, Fallon served the archdiocese as assistant pastor of St. Isaac Jogues Parish in Niles. He was associate pastor of St. Pascal Parish on Irving Park Road, St. William Parish on Sayre Avenue and Our Lady, Mother of the Church Parish on Lawrence Avenue all in Chicago where he also served as pastor from 1996 to 2008. Later, Fallon became pastor of St. Cornelius Parish where he served until his retirement in 2020.

Rev. Kenneth Fleck, retired priest and former pastor of St. George Parish in Tinley Park, remembered his classmate as a beacon of devotion to his parishioners. “With a quiet but serious demeanor, he served those entrusted to his care,” Fleck said. “His sermons were heartfelt reflections on our faith and their relevance to everyday life. He saw his priesthood as a vocation, not a job. In so doing, he touched countless lives leaving behind a legacy of compassion, kindness and faith.”

“Fr. Dan was a special priest. He served generously and in an entirely unassuming way,” said Rev. Louis J. Cameli, archdiocesan priest and a friend of Fallon. “He rooted his life and ministry in prayer and, from that experience, was able to bring people close to the Lord and to each other. He quietly but effectively built bridges to unify the communities he served.” Cameli added, “Cardinal Francis George was deeply grateful to Father Dan, because Father Dan had cared for the Cardinal's parents in St. Pascal Parish. Many people will miss him, but they will continue to be inspired by his witness and ministry.”

Rev. Vincent Costello, pastor emeritus at Holy Cross Parish in Deerfield and a classmate, described “Fr. Dan” as a very dedicated priest. “He always did what was expected of him. He cared very much for the people he served and he had tremendous amount of courage in the way he faced his illness.”

All funeral services will take place at Our Lady, Mother of the Church Parish, 8747 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. Lying in state will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 15, 2024 and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. The funeral Mass will be on Saturday, March 16 at 11 a.m. The main celebrant of the Mass will be Most Rev. Francis J. Kane, auxiliary bishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and Cameli will be the homilist.

Interment will take place at Maryhill Catholic Cemetery in Niles.