Obituario

Chicago, IL (April 26, 2018) – Rev. Gerald F. Mulcahy, 81, died on April 23, 2018. He was most recently pastor of St. Patricia Parish in Hickory Hills, Ill.

Fr. Mulcahy was born on October 14, 1936 in Chicago. He attended St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero, Ill., and Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill.

Fr. Mulcahy was ordained to the priesthood on April 28, 1962, by Albert Cardinal Meyer, Archbishop of Chicago, and celebrated his first Solemn Mass at St. Frances of Rome in Cicero, Ill., on April 29 of the same year.

After ordination to priesthood, Fr. Mulcahy served the archdiocese in a number of roles. He served as assistant pastor at the three parishes: St. Edward Parish on Sunnyside Avenue in Chicago, St. Louise de Marillac Parish in La Grange Park, Ill., and Queen of All Saints Basilica Parish on Sauganash Avenue in Chicago. Subsequently, Fr. Mulcahy was associate pastor at St. Monica Parish on Foster Avenue in Chicago, St. Mary Parish in Riverside, Ill., and St. Giles Parish in Oak Park, Ill. In 1989, Fr. Mulcahy was named pastor of St. Patricia Parish in Hickory Hills, Ill., where he served until his retirement in 2007.

Rev. Robert H. Oldershaw, pastor emeritus of St. Nicholas in Evanston, Ill., remembers his classmate as a very good priest who enjoyed music and liturgy. “I’ve known him since Mundelein. He was very pastoral and cared for the sick and people in need. He was just a fine priest,” said Fr. Oldershaw.

“Fr. Mulcahy was an outstanding classmate who was gracious and dedicated to his faith,” added Rev. John P. Smyth, executive director of the Rev. John P. Smyth Standing Tall Foundation. “He was a great seminarian and a fantastic priest.”

Visitation hours will be 3 – 9 p.m. on Friday, April 27 and 10 – 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 28. A prayer service will be celebrated on Friday, April 27 at 7 p.m. while the Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, April 28 at 11 a.m. All funeral services will occur at St. Patricia Church, 9050 S. 86th Avenue in Hickory Hills, Ill. 

Most Reverend John G. Vlazny, Archbishop Emeritus of Portland in Oregon, will be the main celebrant.  Father Thomas Tivy will be the homilist. Interment will take place at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, Ill.