Tag: In Memoriam

Reverend Conan Patrick Mulrooney, O. Praem.

Leave a comment

June 23, 1931 – September 26, 2021

Father Conan Patrick Mulrooney, O. Praem., age 90, a member of the Norbertine Community of St. Norbert Abbey, De Pere, WI, and a Norbertine priest, passed into God’s eternal kingdom on September 26, 2021.

Fr. Mulrooney was born on June 23, 1931 in Rhinelander, WI to the late Frank and Catherine (Morrison) Mulrooney.  His home parish was St. Peter the Fisherman, Eagle River, WI.

He entered St. Norbert Abbey and was vested as a novice on August 28, 1961. He professed Simple Vows on August 28, 1963 and Solemn Vows on May 14, 1967. Fr. Mulrooney was ordained to the Priesthood on September 21, 1967.

Fr. Mulrooney received a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN in 1953. He then went on to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, where in 1959 he received a Bachelor of Pharmacy. In 1976, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and received his Master’s Degree in Marketing. 

While he resided at St. Norbert Abbey, he assumed the roles of Mission Procurator, Vocation Director, and for many years was the Director of the Mail Campaign. For 12 years he worked as an assistant to the Vice President in the Office of Development at St. Norbert College. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Duquesne University during that time.

Over the next few years, he completed a program in Clinical Pastoral Education at the Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, IL. In 1988, Fr. Mulrooney received certification by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. Subsequently, he served as a chaplain at St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay, WI, where he spiritually administered to the needs of many people.

Fr. Mulrooney is survived by the Norbertine Community; nephews: Brian Mulrooney and Tim Mulrooney; cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Michael Mulrooney and Francis Mulrooney.

ARRANGEMENTS

Visitation will be held at the church of St. Norbert Abbey, beginning at 9:30am on Monday, October 4, 2021 until 10:15am. Please enter through the main Church doors only. Masks are encouraged for those attending. 

The Mass of Christian Burial expressing our faith and hope in the promised glory of the Lord’s Resurrection will be at 10:30am. The Rt. Rev. Dane J. Radecki, O. Praem., Abbot of St. Norbert Abbey, will serve as the principal celebrant, and the Rt. Rev. Gary J. Neville, O. Praem., Abbot Emeritus, will serve as the homilist.

Burial will be in the St. Norbert Abbey Cemetery at a later date. 

The Norbertine Community would like to thank the nurses and staff at St. Norbert Abbey and everyone at Unity Hospice who cared for Fr. Mulrooney.

Ryan Funeral Home, De Pere, is in charge of the arrangements.

Rt. Rev. E. Thomas DeWane, O. Praem.

Leave a comment

February 26, 1932 – July 31, 2021

Abbot E. Thomas DeWane, O. Praem.
Abbot E. Thomas DeWane, O. Praem.

Abbot Emeritus Evermode Thomas DeWane, O. Praem., age 89, a member of the Norbertine Community of St. Norbert Abbey, De Pere, WI, and a Norbertine priest, passed into God’s eternal kingdom on July 31, 2021.

Abbot DeWane was born on February 26, 1932 in Green Bay, WI to the late Thomas and Angeline (Bos) DeWane. His home parish was St. Willebrord in Green Bay.

After graduating as salutatorian from what was then Central Catholic High School in Green Bay, his desire to become a priest solidified. Abbot DeWane felt he was “born to be a priest”. He was vested as a novice, professed Simple Vows and Solemn Vows on August 28 in 1950, 1952 and 1955 respectively.

In 1955, he graduated from St. Norbert College in De Pere with a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy while teaching at Abbot Pennings High School. On May 31, 1958, Abbot DeWane was ordained to the Priesthood. After ordination, he served as a teacher, then registrar at Premontre High School in Green Bay for five years.

He attended Marquette University in Milwaukee and obtained a Professional Doctorate Degree in Education in 1964. From there, he went on to the University of Chicago, IL for Doctoral Administration Studies while also being the House Superior at the Holy Spirit House of Studies for six years.

Upon returning to De Pere in 1970, he was appointed Dean of Students at St. Norbert College. In 1973, Abbot DeWane returned to the high school and served as principal for nine years.
During this time, he was on the St. Norbert College board of trustees, held leadership positions
on several educational committees and was active in various professional organizations. In 1983 he returned to St. Norbert College to serve as the Director of Teacher Education, a position he held for nine years.

In 1993 Abbot DeWane was appointed the Director of Formation for St. Norbert Abbey. In April 1994, he was elected as fifth Abbot of St. Norbert Abbey, and received his abbatial blessing from Bishop Robert Banks on June 6, 1994.

After his nine-year term as abbot, he moved to the Priory of St. Moses the Black in Raymond, MS and ministered in a variety of parishes and a state correctional facility. He retired to St.
Norbert Abbey in 2019.

He is survived by the Norbertine Community of St. Norbert Abbey; one sister, Marilyn Marsh; many nieces and nephews.

Abbot DeWane was preceded in death by his parents; siblings: Gordon (Elaine) DeWane, Lois (John) Cawley, Gladys Jentz; brother-in-law, Charles Marsh.

Arrangements

Visitation will be held at the church of St. Norbert Abbey beginning at 6:00pm on Friday, August 6, 2021 until 8:00pm. Please enter through the main Church doors only. Masks are encouraged for those attending.

The Mass of Christian Burial expressing our faith and hope in the promised glory of the Lord’s Resurrection will be on Saturday August 7, 2021 at 10:30am. The Rt. Rev. Dane J. Radecki, O. Praem., Abbot of St. Norbert Abbey, will serve as the principal celebrant.

Burial will immediately follow in the St. Norbert Abbey Cemetery, weather permitting.

The Norbertine Community would like to thank the nurses at St. Norbert Abbey, and everyone at Unity Hospice and St. Vincent Hospital who cared for Abbot DeWane.

In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund will be established in Abbot DeWane’s name. Ryan Funeral Home, De Pere is in charge of the arrangements.