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Archdiocesan Priest, Rev. Charles J. Kouba, Dies

Pastor Emeritus of Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish in Chicago

Chicago, IL (July 14, 2017) – Fr. Charles J. Kouba passed away in the afternoon of July 13, at Presence Saint Benedict Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Niles. Fr. Kouba, Pastor Emeritus of SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish (S. Hermitage Ave. in Chicago, now closed), was 93 years old. He would have turned 94 in three weeks.

Fr. Kouba was born in Chicago on August 3, 1923. He attended Our Lady of Good Counsel School and Sacred Heart High School in Chicago. Fr. Kouba went on to study at Quigley Preparatory Seminary North and graduated from the University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary with Baccalaureate of Arts and  Master of Arts degrees. He was ordained into the priesthood on May 3, 1951 by Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago. Fr. Kouba celebrated his first Solemn Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel on May 6, 1951.

Fr. Kouba served in the Archdiocese in a number of different parochial roles. He was Assistant Pastor of: Mary Queen of Heaven Parish in Cicero (1951-53), Our Lady of the Mount Parish in Cicero (1953-60), Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Chicago (1960-62), St. Agnes of Bohemia Parish in Chicago (1962-69), St. Agnes Parish in Chicago Heights (1969-1971). Fr. Kouba was named Pastor of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Chicago (1971-90) and Associate Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Chicago (1990-93). Fr. Kouba was deemed Pastor Emeritus of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Chicago in 1993.

Fr. Charles Rubey, Vicar for Senior Priests, who has known Fr. Kouba for more than 20 years, said, "Fr. Kouba was very warm, very friendly, very pastoral. He cared for other people, was great at hospital visitations and made everyone feel comfortable."

Rick Nash, Chaplain at Presence Saint Benedict Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where Fr. Kouba has lived for 14 years, said that Fr. Kouba would always be the one selecting the morning hymns, announcing the hymns and leading the hymns at their morning Mass. “He was a wonderful priest, always had a smile on his face and he always had kind words for everybody. Whenever I would visit with him, he would always make a point of saying ‘You’re doing a good job, Rick.’”

Visitation hours will be 9:45 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Eugene Parish, 7958 W. Foster Ave. on Wednesday, July 19 followed by Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Rev. Francis Kub will be the main celebrant and interment will take place at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL.