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Rev. Michael S. Michelini Obituary
Dear uncle of Jeff, Arte, Rebecca, and John; great-uncle of Claire, Rachel, Dustin, Jillian, Jason, Riley, and Reagan. Fond cousin of many.
Lying in State Friday, July 14, 3-8 pm at St. Aloysius Church, 2300 W. Lemoyne St., Chicago. Visitation Saturday, July 15, 8:30 am until time of Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 am at St. Aloysius Church. Interment private.
Fr. Michelini's first assignment in 1971 was at St. Aloysius Church as Associate Pastor. After five years, he was assigned as Associate Pastor to St. Agnes of Bohemia in the Little Village neighborhood. In 1981, he was reassigned to St. Aloysius Church, where he served as Pastor until 2000. He was then assigned as Pastor at St. Adalbert parish in Pilsen, where he remained until 2012.
Fr. Mike was a beloved leader of the Cursillo Movement. He was awarded the Noche de Gala award in 2016 and the Primecare Michael Michelini Center for Health was named after Fr. Michelini.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Priests' Retirement and Mutual Aid Association (PRMAA) or the Mundelein Seminary would be appreciated.
For info, please call Jaeger Funeral Home 773-545-1320.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Rev. Michael S. Michelini
J Gaspar
July 25, 2023
I have fond memories of Fr. Mike at Blessed Agnes School when I was in Jr. High. He had a great, fun-loving and enormous presence; we all thoroughly enjoyed when he came in for our Religion class and flocked to him when we saw him. He will always hold a special place in my heart.
Lynda Santrella
July 19, 2023
Fr. Mike was equally as funny as he was holy. He was such a gift to the world and to the Cursillo movement. His intelligence was profound and his humble way of sharing it was life changing. Heaven has gained a treasure.
Losacco Family
July 17, 2023
His smile was as bright as the sun
His heart was as pure as gold
His love was as big as life itself
Those whose paths he crossed were better for just having known him
Thank u for touching us all so deeply
Our sympathy for your loss
The Losacco Family
2308 North Monitor
Many happy memories of baseball games, fishing at Mundelein, White Cap, etc.
carmen Arroyo
July 13, 2023
St. Adalberts Communty remember and pray for Fr. Mike Michelini
Rev Charles Fanelli
July 13, 2023
Mike was one of class´s best priests. He was always smiling and happy. He was always thinking about others others and not himself. He endured his long sickness with patience and love of God. May he now rest in peace!
Chester Slonina
July 13, 2023
Rest in Peace, beloved son of the church. As humorous and wise as you were, your path to using the same made
that resonance in preaching the Gospel of the Lord. There was none better in emulating the teachings of the church. Eternal Rest Grant unto him O' Lord and may perpetual light shine upon him.
Rev. John Clemens
July 12, 2023
Mike was one of the best priest that I have known He was funny and approachable deeply spiritual He was also wise and knowledgeable. He was a great friend and my favorite bridge partner. I worked with him on many Cursillo He was a priest for the people. The only bad thing I can say about Mike was that he was an avid Sox fan. We will all miss you Mike The church is weaker with your passing. my sympathies and prayers for his familyHe was an inspiration to all of us as he dealt with his illness May you Rest in Peaceful Faithful Servant
Juan Alcantar
July 11, 2023
In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will miss you Father Mike.
Ted and Cloudy Rockwell
July 11, 2023
I wish to celebrate his life: De Colores! Father Michelini touched many lives in ways none of us will ever know. He loved trains, all trains, everywhere. When Cloudy and I moved from Chicagoland to Alaska Fr. Michelini said he would take a train up to visit us some time. Fun fact, there is NO train connection between Alaska and the lower 48 states, or Canada. This did not stop Fr. Michelini. He took a train from Chicago, across the continent, through Canada, ending as far as the train line goes toward Alaska, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. That´s about 1800 driving miles from Whitehorse, YT and Anchorage, AK. I threw some camping equipment in our VW van, and my older two boys and I set out to pick him up at the train station in Whitehorse. We arrived the night before he was scheduled to arrive and found a great campsite just out of town. The next day we met The White Pass and Yukon as it pulled into the station. After a quick tour of Whitehorse, we set out to camp for the night. Fr. Michelini hadn´t come to grips yet with the astronomical fact that at our latitude the sun dipped briefly behind the horizon for about 2 hours and we called that `night´; I think he had a hard time falling asleep, not just because we were in the middle of the woods in tents, but it was still daylight.
This was a time of major road work on the Alaska Highway and it was common for the road to be closed for 6 to 8 hours at a time for blasting or other construction activity. We had to get past one of these to get home; an 8 hour closure would make our 30+ hour drive another 8 hours long, sitting beside the roadway in the woods. I was not about to let that happen, so off we went pushing through the gravel and mud as fast as I could go, sliding on the greasy mud we made it past the road work with a little time to spare, whew! Following that trip and for years to come whenever we got together with a group of friends Fr. Michelini would recount his train trip to Whitehorse and his side sliding ride in a VW van on the Alaska Highway to Anchorage.
We feel so blessed to have been a small part of Fr. Michelini´s life, his love and spirit will never be lost. From our hearts, Ted and Cloudy Rockwell
Cloudy & Ted Rockwell
July 11, 2023
Our condolences to his whole family. We've known Mike since our first Cursillo in 1980, and he was a good friend to our family ever since. When we moved to Alaska, he came & visited us many times, once to take the train (he loved trains!) from Chicago all the way across Canada to Whitehorse, where my husband & kids picked him up and drove him to our home in Anchorage. He visited another time, bringing Jeff & Artie, and chaperoned a teen boys' retreat that was memorable in many ways! He helped us get Cursillo going in Alaska. We send much love to the family, and will always love our great memories of what a blessing it is to know Fr. Mike Michelini!
Elsie Albelo
July 11, 2023
My dear Fr Mike, so full of joy, laughter, and compassion. You gave me space to be a young adult full of questions, rebellion, anger, fear, angst, hope, curiosity, and perserverence. You never said no. Even when I knew I was frustrating you and taking up your time, you listened. You encouraged. You counseled. You loved. You were the face of Jesus I needed and you never once denied me that. I am a faithful Catholic woman today in large part because of your love and leadership. Rest well my dear pastor. I expect to catch up and laugh some more when we meet again in God´s glory. And if I never said it before "thank you for giving to the Lord. I am a life that was changed...".
Rosa Morales Tryba
July 11, 2023
We were blessed to meet Fr. Mike in 1971 when he came to St Al's. We lived a couple of blocks from the parish and he came over weekly for dinner and family games (he loved to play Sorry). He was there for all our joyous occasions and for all our sorrowful occasions. Filling us with hope, laughter and friendship. I had the honor of working with him for 19 years when he returned to St Al's and I will never forget those years. Our most memorable occasion was when we took him with us to Puerto Rico to celebrate my parents 50th Anniversary. Fr. Mike rest in peace and know that you were loved and will continue to be loved by all the people whose lives you touched.
Jacqueline Marie Spagnolo
July 10, 2023
God Rest your soul Father, you were such a beautiful comfort for my mother and your prayers for both of us played an INTEGRAL part of my MIRACLE.... My human language struggles to express my IMMENSE gratitude for every single word spoken to Jesus for my healing! I will never forget you in my prayers because every day I am Blessed to wake up without any back pain! May you rejoice and rest peacefully in Our Father´s Kingdom
Carmen Arroyo
July 10, 2023
Celebrating one of his Birthday at St. Adalbert Church. RIP From Familia Arroyo, Villafranca.
Irene Zamora
July 10, 2023
My condolences to all the family.
Father Mike was a very good friend to the Zamora Ruiz Family, and for that I am extremely grateful.
Once he was invite to dinner at my parents house and was enjoying his meal but was not sure what kind of meat he was eating. He asked my mom. Mom said it was beef tongue, after that he was polite to finish the mole but he did not want seconds. He never forgot and talked about it frequently stating that it had been very tasty but he was "tongued out". We laugh about it every time he talked about it.
Munoz Family St. Aloysius Parish
July 9, 2023
Fr. Mike our sweet, joyful friend, Father and Pastor. We will miss him deeply. We loved him deeply. We were so blessed to have him in our lives for over 35 years. He was part of our weddings, anniversaries ,baptisms ,communions, confirmations, burials and dinners. We loved to cook for him and watch him enjoy one of your favorite meals, rice, beans and pork chops. We will miss his laughter, encouragement and a gentle shoulder to cry on. So grateful for having him in our lives. Our deepest sympathy to the family. Father you will be forever loved and missed.
The Munoz Family
Judy and Phil Abbinanti
July 9, 2023
Our heartfelt sympathies are sent to the whole family of this incredible man who suffered much and always had a positive attitude. Truly a man of God that I´m sure his family is so proud of. Our prayers are for his family but surely we feel now that he is in Heaven, we need him to pray for all of them.
Don & Chris St Aubin, Jul´s parents
July 9, 2023
We met Fr Mike when our daughter Jul became engaged to his brother Jim. The entire family traveled here to Upper Michigan- such a happy, loving family! Fr Mike just enjoyed life- a good joke, a little laughter and always a kind word and attentive ear for everyone.We looked forward to his Christmas letters every year, he will be missed and remembered with a smile
MIKE AND PEGGY BUNYON
July 9, 2023
He was uncle Mickey to us since he officiated our daughter's wedding to his nephew, John. He was always in a good mood when being visited at the nursing especially when bagels and donuts came along. Have a great travel to the big Basillica.
Lisa St Aubin Jahnke- Jules´ sister
July 9, 2023
Thinking of the entire Michelini Family. He was certainly a presence!! We loved having him and his nephews to our home in Gwinn to fish and talk trains and great jokes! He will be missed by all.
Mary Woolcott Tanner
July 9, 2023
My deepest sympathy to the family! Father Mike will forever be in my heart and prayers.
Mary Woolcott Tanner
Lynette (Budacz) Snarski & George Snarski
July 9, 2023
Dear Michelini Family. Our Deepest Sympathy to all.
Mike was a part of our life since Grammer school, at St John Bosco. Yes, he was a little mischieveious, but was smart enough to know not to get in trouble. Many a day, since we only lived a block away from each other, on Monitor Ave, in the city, we would walk home from school. He also met my husband, George, when they worked at the newspaper agency, on Monitor & Grand Ave, delivering newspapers in the neighborhood. He was also present at all, ( except our 60th Reunion), of the St John Bosco Reunion Class of 1959. That was in 2019, when he was starting to really feel the effect that his Diabetes had on him. Usually, he was the life of the party, mingling, dancing to the oldies, and visting with his old classmates. Although we hadn't seen Mike for a few years, he was always in our thoughts & prayers. When I asked him to be the Priest for my Dads funeral Mass, he said "yes" with no hesitation. That was the way he ran his life. He was always there for the people of his past & his church, which meant so much to him. A man of a Strong Faith, will be surely missed, not only by his classmates, but all who knew him.
Mike, may the Good Lord be wraping His Arms around you, as you enter into His Kingdom! Rest in Peace, Dear Friend. You will be truly missed! Love, Lynette (Budacz) Snarski & George Snarski
Mary Coutee
July 8, 2023
He married my husband and I in 1972.
He baptized all 4 of our children and 6 of our grandchildren. He also officiated at my oldest daughters wedding. He also said the funeral mass for my husband when he passed.
Father Mike was always there for me and my family. Heavenly Father eternal rest grant onto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.
My condolences to the family.
Dr. Milt Kobus
July 8, 2023
Fr. Mike was the type of MAN who made you feel good about yourself despite any problems that were troubling him. He was Christlike in his priesthood and care for others. It was foolish of me not to try to know him even better. However, in the eternity to which we all are currently living in and will continue to move into, my genuine prayer is to see his glorified body and worship our triune God in joy together. Fr. Mike, pray for each of us! Dr. Milt Kobus
Cheryl A. Optie
July 8, 2023
Thank you for being there for my family when my Mom was on her way to Heaven. I loved hearing your stories of your "train" travels. I will always remember your laugh and smile.
M SAEZ
July 7, 2023
He was a wonderful person who took time to listen and comfort, always available when needed, he was our pastor for many years and performed my communion, conformation, baptism, and blessed our family with so much love, he will be missed but God has welcomed him home with loving arms, Rest in Peace Father
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