Robert James DeCabooter

DeCabooter, Robert James
Robert James DeCabooter, also known as Bob, Bobby, Fr. Edmund, Edmund or Ed, departed this life suddenly from an aortic dissection in his sleep at home on October 20, 2008. A Phoenix resident for the last 20 years, Robert was the third of five children born to Arthur J. and Vivian Nauslar DeCabooter. He was born on June 8, 1945 in Omaha, NE, and attended elementary school at Holy Cross School before moving to Wichita, KS at the age of eight, where he attended Church of the Magdaline School. He graduated from St. Gregory's High School in Shawnee, OK and received an Associate Degree from St. Gregory's Junior College. He received his bachelor's degree and doctorate of theology at St. Meinrad College in Indiana. He became a Bendictan Monk in 1965, and was ordained in 1972. He did further studies at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. A caring, loving, compassionate and supportive man to many in his life, he served as a Parish Priest at St. Benedict's Parish in Montebello, CA, St. Jerome's in Phx, AZ, St. Elizabeth Seton in Sun City, AZ and at St. Mary's in Kingman, AZ. He celebrated his 15th anniversary working at Fry's Supermarket #40 in Phoenix, AZ. He spent many years as a loving caretaker to his mother, Vivan DeCabooter, who was known as Mom to his many friends. He is survived by two of his siblings, Catherine (Gary) Metzger of Wichita, KS, and Arthur (Mary) W. DeCabooter of Scottsdale, AZ, sister-in-law Lyn DeCabooter of Scottsdale, AZ, nieces and nephews, Gregg (Becky) Thompson, Cheryl (Bill) Stockwell, Melinda Metzger of Kansas, Darcy Metzger of Oklahoma, Kristen (Troy) Foster of Phoenix, Laura (Todd) Johansen of Santa Fe, NM and David DeCabooter of Tucson as well as nine great-nieces and nephews, Abbie, Amber, Samantha, Karly, Kelsy, Luke, Lily, Henry and Doran. He is also survived by his Uncle Raymond (Jo) Nauslar of Lincoln, NE, Uncle Maurice J. (Darlene) DeCabooter of Scottsdale, his Aunt Darlene Waggoner of Iowa as well as numerous cousins. Bob/Ed was preceeded in death by his parents, his sister, Susan Lynn DeCabooter, and brother, Raymond Joseph Decabooter. Private internment services will be conducted at Holy Cross Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the DeCabooter. Memorial Scholarship Fund at Scottsdale Community College, 9000 E. Chaparral Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85256.