Obituary: Rev. Louis M. Dytkowski, 82; Retired Priest and Chaplain, LTC, U.S. Army

From Pistey Funeral Home

Rev. Louis M. Dytkowski, son of the late Frank and Julia Dytkowski, retired priest and Chaplain, LTC, U.S. Army, passed away Saturday, October 22nd, at, St Vincent's Hospital, after a long illness.

Father Lou was born August 25, 1934 and raised in the Hazelton/McAdoo area of Pennsylvania. He attended college and seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan and was ordained a Catholic Priest for the Diocese of Bridgeport in 1960.

He was a curate at St. Catherine of Sienna Parish in Riverside and Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Stamford before joining the Army as a Chaplain in 1967.

After basic training, he served in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. Other overseas assignments included Korea, Okinawa, AFCENT in the Netherlands, and a community chaplain in Germany. Stateside assignments were Ft. Belvoir Virginia, Ft. Sheridan, Illinois, The Tank Automotive Command, Warren, Michigan and Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

Medals and awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal and several presidential Unit Citations. He retired from the Army in 1992.

Father Lou returned to the Diocese of Bridgeport serving at St. Rose of Lima Church, Newtown, Holy Cross Church, Fairfield, St. James Church, Stratford and then as Pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Sherman before retiring to Florida in 2008. He helped out at Blessed Sacrament Church in Clermont, FL and also ministered at the prison and in nursing homes. Summers would be spent in CT where he resided at St. James Rectory.

His favorite pastimes were spending time with his treasured family and friends. He also loved music, playing the piano, accordion, singing and hopefully a good round of golf and gin rummy.

Father Lou is survived by his sisters, Frances Sudusky of Milford and Patricia Gerety and husband Gene of Seymour; his best friend of 22 years, Suzanne Lehmann; and several nieces, nephews and cousins, along with countless close friends who were like his family over the years.

A special Thank You to Father Tom Lynch of St. James Church for his wonderful friendship, hospitality and care especially over the last 6 months and also to Father Rogerio Perri.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Pistey Funeral Home, 2155 Main Street, Stratford. Friends are invited to attend the funeral on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home and at 10:30 a.m. at St. James Church with a Mass of Christian Burial officiated by Reverend Monsignor Thomas Powers, Vicar General of the Diocese of Bridgeport, officiating. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery, Stratford.

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