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Archdiocesan Priest, Rev. Thomas A. Tivy, Dies

Tivy was a retired archdiocesan priest and pastor emeritus of Resurrection Parish on Nelson Street

Chicago (April 29, 2021) – Rev. Thomas A. Tivy, pastor emeritus of Resurrection Parish on Nelson Street, passed away Sunday, April 25, 2021, at the age of 84.

Tivy was born on Oct. 29, 1936, in Chicago. He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.

Tivy was ordained to the priesthood on April 28, 1962, by Cardinal Albert Meyer, and celebrated his first solemn Mass on April 29 of the same year at Our Lady of Mercy in Chicago.

After ordination, Tivy served as assistant pastor at St. Lambert Parish in Skokie and St. Hilary Parish on California Avenue, and as associate pastor at the following parishes: St. Gregory the Great Parish on Paulina Street and St. Sylvester Parish on Humboldt Boulevard. Tivy was also pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish on Ridgeway Avenue and Resurrection Parish. The title of pastor emeritus of Resurrection Parish was bestowed on him in 2009. In addition to his parochial assignments, Tivy served, most notably, as judicial vicar, vicar for clergy, dean and member of the Priest Personnel Board.

Rev. Edwin D. Pacocha, pastor emeritus of St. Cornelius Parish on Foster Avenue, remembered his classmate as a hard-working and dedicated priest, who devoted most of his years to parish life. “He and I were probably the shortest students in the class and yet he turned out to be the giant of our class,” Pacocha said.

Rev. Lawrence Gorski, former associate pastor at St. Mary Parish in Buffalo Grove, was mentored by Tivy before he was ordained a priest. Gorski and Tivy became lifelong friends after that first year of mentorship. “He was a priest to the priests; he always cared and looked out for us. He was very sensitive to people’s difficulties and went out of his way to help people.”

Visitation hours will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 5, at St. Isaac Jogues Church, 306 W. 4th St., in Hinsdale. The funeral Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Ronald Hicks at 11 a.m. at the same location and will be livestreamed on the parish website (sij.net) as well as on the parish Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/StIsaacJoguesChurch).  

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, reservations are necessary and can be made on St. Isaac Jogues Parish’s website or by calling the Rectory Office at 630.323.1248.