Rev. Raymond F. Klees

I remember Fr. Klees as the organizer and trainer for Alter Boys at St. Juliana. He was very good at this role. One time I pretty much biffed every element of the daily mass in the convent chapel...kicked the bell, tripped on my cassock, forgot to put the key out for the tabernacle. After Mass in the sacristy, he just asked, without judgement, "Is everything ok?" He was pretty chill. Thanks for your ministry and service, Fr. Klees!

We only met Fr. Klees this past year, but will always remember him as a very kind, charismatic, and generous man. Thank you for all you did for us and for the community. Our sincere condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace.

Fr. K lived in Cavanaugh hall at Notre Dame and was our resident Priest. I attended mass with him very often, much to my surprise. He told good stories and was able to relate to us newbies. His door was always open. He was always there for us. He had advice many of us actually wanted to hear. I ran into some tough times with too much partying, good friends intervened, and he invited me to his family house for a reckoning even after he had left Notre Dame. And I listened and it helped. I...

Father Klees was such an important part of my life in Zahm Hall at Notre Dame. We always felt like he was one of us, and that our growth and well-being was one of his top priorities as an assistant rector. He will be missed.

My condolences and prayers go out to the Klees family. Fr.Ray was good friends with my brother, Fr. Jack Daley.

Fr. Ray holds a special place in the hearts of our family. From marrying us, to baptizing our children, the many visits to California and Notre Dame, his personal tour of Rome (him spontaneously singing in a restaurant in Italian with professional serenaders was by far the best part of that trip!), 4th of July Mass...so many treasured memories. We will miss him terribly, but know that he´s always with us...especially when we are watching ND football. Rest In Peace friend, until we meet again.

As parishioners of St. Mary of the Woods, we enjoyed listening to Father Klees´s sermons. His style was entertaining, humorous, and thoughtful. We always wanted to hear what he had to say, and how this fit in our day to day life. In the small world department, Father Klees´s dad, Mr. Klees, as he was known, was my first District Manager at Illinois Bell. Father Klees facilitated the original First Responders´ Mass, celebrated every fall thereafter, at St. Mary of the Woods, which were...

I remember Fr. Klees when I was a parishioner at St. Cletus. He baptized my sister Natalie back in 1996 and presided my first Holy Communion Mass on May 11th, 2002. Rest In Peace Fr. Klees! You and your family are in my thoughts and prayer.

A good man with a big heart and a terrific soul. He was bigger than life back in 1977 at St. Juliana's Parish on the far Northwest Side of Chicago. I was in 7th grade and Father Klees had the most beautiful early 1970's Pontiac Lemans, the desire of many a young boy. He was always cheerful and helpful to the students and Alter Boys. Many of us were sad to see the good Father Klees transferred to our neighbors over at St. Mary of the Woods. Several of us young teens moved him to his new...