Beloved Joliet Diocese Priest Dies, Illinois FOP Mourns Loss

JOLIET, IL — Sunday's death of one of the Catholic Diocese of Joliet's most beloved and well-known priests, 91-year-old Father Vytas Memenas, has left many local and statewide police agencies and parishoners saddened.

Memenas became a priest in 1957 and served as a police chaplain for numerous police departments over the years including from 1980 until 1995 with the Joliet Police Department.

“Thousands of police officers and our families have been blessed with Father Vytas' wise counsel and comfort at what has often been the most troubling times of our lives," Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge President Chris Southwood said in a statement issued Monday.

"He always had the right words and heartfelt actions to help us through our darkest hours and to point us toward the light of remembrance, duty, honor and dedication to serving our fellow citizens. The men and women of law enforcement are heartbroken at the loss of this incredible man whose dedication to our well-being will continue to humble us the rest of our lives. I'm sure Father Vytas would counsel us to think of the loving memories we have of our time on earth with him, and to look forward to a blessed reunion with him in Heaven.”

On Sunday night, Plainfield's Police Department posted the following statement on its Facebook page: "It is with deep sadness to learn that Father Vytas Memenas passed away earlier this morning at the age of 91. Over his 40-plus years of service to Law Enforcement, Fr. Memenas was a Chaplain for the Illinois State Police (District 5), the Joliet Police Department, the Frankfort Police Department, Illinois State Police Lodge 41, and the Will County Sheriffs Office. Fr. Memenas also served as Chaplain to the Will County Chief's Association, the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Association of Chiefs of Police.

"Fr. Memenas was an inspiration and a positive influence to all he came into contact with. May he rest in peace."

"Father also had a larger-than-life personality," the Will County Sheriff's Office announced Monday afternoon on its Facebook page. "He had a way of bringing a smile to your face with his charm and sense of humor, even on a bad day. He gained our respect and trust and gave of himself tirelessly. If you had the privilege of knowing Father Memenas, you know that he was more than our Chaplain….he was our dear friend and we will truly miss him."

According to the Diocese of Joliet, Father Memenas was born in 1929 in Lithuania and ordained into the priesthood in Rome in 1957.

After his ordination, Father Memenas came to Illinois and served at Visitation Parish in Elmhurst, Holy Trinity in Westmont and St. Anthony's Parish in downtown Joliet in 1962. He went to St. Dennis Church in Lockport in 1967.

In 1967, he became pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Gibson City and St. George Parish in Melvin, Ill. In 1972, he became pastor of St. Mary Church in Mokena, St. Patrick Church in 1978 in Joliet and later St. Anthony Church in Frankfort where he served until his retirement in 1999.

During his retirement years, Father Memenas served as temporary administrator at St. Anthony's in downtown Joliet.

Father John Jay Comerford, who grew up in Joliet, told Joliet Patch that when Father Memenas came to St. Pat's, the west-side church was in debt and needed a new roof, tuck-pointing and new bricks.

"He asked 100 parishoners for a loan of $1,000," Comerford recalled. "He told them it would be repaid in five years. Some told him not to bother. Others, he repaid early. It was amazing."

Patch asked Comerford for some of his memories about Father Memenas.

"He was loud. Expressive. Great at priests' meetings and others. Police chaplain for years, sociable, funny, great humor," Comerford said. "He was pastor of St. Pat's, my home parish, for years. He asked me to preach at the mass starting off the 150th jubilee of the parish and other events."

As of Monday afternoon, funeral arrangements were still pending. The Diocese of Joliet indicated that "funeral arrangements are underway in accordance with the guidelines for COVID-19 and they will be communicated later."

The Illinois FOP announced that Father Memenas' funeral mass will be observed at: https://youtu.be/HXzZ6j8ViUU.