Obituario

Chicago, IL (January 9, 2018) – Rev. Theodore C. Stone died at Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Ill, on January 4, 2018. Rev. Stone was most recently the associate pastor of Mary, Seat of Wisdom Parish, Park Ridge. He retired in 2002, but continued to serve the parish. He was 91 years old.

Rev. Stone was born on June 14, 1926 in Chicago. He attended the following elementary schools: Western Springs Public Schools in Western Springs, Ill., Our Lady of Bethlem Academy in La Grange, Ill., Faulkner Public School in Chicago and St. Ferdinand Catholic Elementary in Chicago. Rev. Stone attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, and earned a master’s degree in 1950 and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 1952 at the University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill. Rev. Stone was ordained into the priesthood on May 1, 1952 by Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago, and celebrated his first Solemn Mass at St. Ferdinand Parish in Chicago on May 4, 1952.

After ordination to priesthood, Rev. Stone served as the assistant pastor at St. Tarcissus Parish on Ardmore Avenue in Chicago (1952-57) and at St. Cornelius Parish on Foster Avenue in Chicago (1966-1991). During his first years as a priest, he became aware that children in non-Catholic elementary schools had little training in Catholic education and started serving as associate director and director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine from 1957 through 1969.

“Living the Paschal Mystery of the dying and rising of the Lord was preeminent in his life, faith and teaching,” said Rev. Ron Kalas, vicar for senior priests.

In 1969, Rev. Stone requested a leave to pursue his vocation to the Sacrament of Marriage. In marriage, he and his wife had two children, Bethanne and Timothy Stone. After his wife died in 1981, Rev. Stone petitioned to return to the active priesthood, which was accepted under Cardinal Bernardin.

“He was an extraordinary person. He believed we have an obligation to help the needy,” said Rev. Stone’s sister Mary Lippa.

Rev. Stone began his priestly journey again as associate pastor at Our Lady Mother of the Church Parish in Chicago in 1991 and at Mary, Seat of Wisdom Parish in Park Ridge, Ill., in 1992. He retired in 2002.

The Funeral Mass will take place on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Mary, Seat of Wisdom Church, 920 West Granville Avenue in Park Ridge, Ill.

Bishop Raymond Goedert will be the main celebrant of the Funeral Mass while Rev. Ronald Kalas will be the homilist. Interment will take place at St. Joseph Cemetery, River Grove.    

He is survived by his daughter, Bethanne Stone, his son, Timothy Stone, and sisters, Mary Lippa and Dorothy Moore.