Rev. Robert J. Fitzpatrick, a Longtime Priest in Waukegan, Has Died

The following obituary is courtesy of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Rev. Robert J. Fitzpatrick, pastor emeritus of St. Bede Parish in Ingleside, passed away on November 24, 2015, at The Village at Victory Lakes in Lindenhurst. Fr. Fitzpatrick was 87 years old.

Fr. Fitzpatrick was born in Chicago on December 31, 1927. He attended
St. Rose of Lima elementary school in Chicago and Quigley Preparatory
Seminary. After graduating from the University of St. Mary of the Lake /
Mundelein Seminary, where he received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of
Divinity degrees, he was ordained a priest on May 5, 1954 by Samuel
Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago.

His first assignment was as Assistant Pastor at St. Cletus Parish in La
Grange, where he served until 1964. He then served as an Assistant
Pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish in Waukegan from 1964 to 1973.
Fr. Fitzpatrick was then assigned as Chaplain at St. Therese Hospital in
Waukegan where he served until 1984 when he was made Associate Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Waukegan. In 1986, Fr. Fitzpatrick was named
pastor of St. Bede Parish in Ingleside where he served until his
retirement in 1992. After residing in St. Joseph Parish in Round Lake
as a Resident from 1993 until 1999, he returned to live at St. Bede
Parish where he was Pastor Emeritus, until his move to The Village at
Victory Lakes.

When asked about Fr. Fitzpatrick, Rev. Timothy Fairman, Pastor of St.
Theresa Parish, said, “Fr. Fitzpatrick was a real legend at St. Bede.
He was beloved by generations of parishioners and their families. He
loved saying Mass and preaching and was especially devoted to helping
the poor and needy.” Fr. Fairman went on to say, “One thing about
Father was that he was a huge sports fan especially for the White Sox,
the Bulls and of course, Notre Dame.”

Visitation for Fr. Fitzpatrick will take place on Friday, November 27,
from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. at St. Bede Church, 36455 North Wilson Road in
Ingleside. A wake service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. Fr. Timothy
Fairman will preside and preach at the funeral Mass and Most Rev.
Raymond E. Goedert, Retired Auxiliary Bishop, will preside at a funeral
Mass for Fr. Fitzpatrick at 11 a.m., on Saturday, November 28 at St.
Bede Church. Interment will be at St. Bede Cemetery in Ingleside.
Fr. Fitzpatrick is survived by his niece, Ms. Nancy Sabatini.