Archdiocesan Priest, Rev. John Walter Roller, Dies
Chicago (July 3, 2025) – Rev. John Walter Roller, retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and pastor emeritus of St. Thomas Becket Parish in Mount Prospect, passed away Saturday, June 28, 2025 at the age of 91.
Roller was born on March 12, 1934 in Chicago. He attended Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and the University of St. Mary of the Lake Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein. Roller was ordained to the priesthood on May 3, 1960, by the late Albert Cardinal Meyer.
After ordination, Roller was assistant pastor at the following parishes: Santa Maria del Popolo Parish in Mundelein, St. Luke Parish in River Forest, St. Ann Parish in Lansing, St. Benedict Parish in Chicago.
He then served as associate pastor at St. Athanasius Parish in Evanston and St. Theresa Parish in Palatine.
Roller went on to become pastor and then pastor emeritus of St. Thomas Becket Parish in Mount Prospect. He served as a retired resident at St. Thomas Becket Church and St. Emily in Mount Prospect. Roller celebrated his 65th anniversary and completed his final Mass on May 3, 2025.
Rev. Michael Grzesik, an archdiocesan priest and friend of Roller, remembers the love and respect he received from the communities he served. Grzesik also remembers Roller’s boisterous and authoritative voice, “When he spoke, people listened. When he gave homilies, he told great stories and he engaged the people and really brought them closer to Christ.”
All funeral services will take place at St. Emily Church, 1400 E. Central Road in Mount Prospect. Visitation hours will be Thursday, July 3 from 12 - 4 p.m. and Saturday, July 5 from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. The funeral Mass will take place at 10:30 a.m. at St. Emily and interment will occur at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside.