Archdiocesan Priest, Rev. Eugene F. Durkin, Dies
Chicago, IL (January 23, 2018) – Rev. Eugene F. Durkin, 94, died at St. Patrick Residence in Naperville, Ill., on January 19, 2018. Rev. Durkin was most recently the associate pastor of Holy Name Cathedral Parish in Chicago. He retired in 1993.
Rev. Durkin was born on November 18, 1923 in Chicago. He attended Little Flower School in Chicago and Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago. He earned a master’s degree in 1947 and a Doctorate of Sacred Theology in 1953 at the University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill. Rev. Durkin was ordained into the priesthood on May 7, 1949 by Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago, and celebrated his first Solemn Mass at Little Flower Parish in Chicago on May 15, 1949.
After ordination to priesthood, Rev. Durkin served as the assistant pastor at the following parishes in Chicago: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish on Ashland Avenue (1951-63), St. Thomas the Apostle Parish on Woodlawn Avenue (1963-67) and Holy Name Cathedral Parish on State Street (1967-76). Later he served as associate pastor of St. Paul of the Cross Parish in Park Ridge, Ill. (1976-82) and returned to Holy Name Cathedral Parish as associate pastor (1982-93). After his retirement in 1993, Rev. Durkin was a resident at Holy Name Cathedral until he moved to Presence Saint Benedict Nursing and Rehabilitation Center first and then to St. Patrick Residence in Naperville, Ill., to be closer to his family.
Resident Priest Rev. William J. Moriarity had known Rev. Durkin for 20 years. “Fr. Gene was a wise and gentle man and priest who cared for people in a compassionate and grace-filled way,” said Rev. Moriarity. “He always asked nice questions – He wanted to get to know you.”
The Funeral Mass will take place on Tuesday, January 23 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Residence, 1400 Brookdale Road in Naperville, Ill.
Reverend Charles Rubey will be the main celebrant and homilist of the Funeral Mass. Interment will take place at Holy Sepulchre in Alsip, Ill.
He is survived by his sisters, Dolores Durkin and Rosemarie Cargie.