FATHER CAMILLO "CAM" TIRABASSI

1931 - 2021

FATHER CAMILLO "CAM" TIRABASSI, 90, passed away on Saturday, July 10, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. Born Feb. 25, 1931, in Cleveland, Ohio, Father Cam was a son of Camillo and Angelica (Minillo) Tirabassi. He grew up in the Italian neighborhood surrounding Holy Redeemer Church on the eastside of Cleveland. While attending Holy Redeemer Grade School, he was inspired by his active and involved parish priests to answer Christ's call to the priesthood. Because the Diocese of Cleveland had numerous vocations, he was encouraged to finish his seminary education with the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. He attended Our Lady of the Lake Seminary in Syracuse, Ind., and Mount Saint Mary Seminary in Norwood, Ohio. Father Cam was ordained on May 30, 1959 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne by the Most Reverend Bishop Leo A. Pursley. Following his ordination, on June 17, 1959, Father Cam was appointed Chaplain for the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Summer Camp in Lake Wawasee, and on Aug. 22, 1959, became an Assistant at St. Joseph Church in Fort Wayne. On July 1, 1969, he was appointed Fort Wayne Deanery Moderator of CYO. Father Cam's gifts as an advocate and mentor for young people, especially high school youth, was encouraged and nurtured by Father Joseph Crowley, who would later become Bishop Crowley. Father Cam and Bishop Crowley became great friends, and Father Cam was always grateful for Father Crowley's guidance and mentoring in his early priesthood. On Sept. 1, 1972, Father Cam became Pastor of St. John Bosco Church in Churubusco, Ind., and Immaculate Conception Missions Church in Ege, Ind. From 1978 through 1988, he served as Pastor at Queen of Peace Church in Mishawaka, and as Pastor of Corpus Christi Church in South Bend from 1988 through his retirement in 2009. He also served as a chaplain for St. Joseph High School and on its Board of Education. Father Cam spent his retirement residing at Holy Family Church and St. Hedwig Church in South Bend. In his priestly ministry, making connections with people was at the center of his efforts. Father Cam had a lifelong love for and dedication to mentoring young people and his Italian heritage. He was devoted to praying the Mass and the Rosary, and to the Blessed Mother, Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Confession. Father Cam repaid his mother's love for him by caring for her in his own home during her final years. In his love for food, friendship, athletics and faith, Father Cam found an opportunity to connect people to God. He was a faithful priest who used the gifts God gave him to minister to people in body and soul. In 2019, he marked his 60th Anniversary of Ordination by celebrating Mass with many priests and over 700 in attendance. Father Cam will be greatly missed by the thousands of parishioners, students and friends whose lives he touched throughout his many decades of service. He is survived by many loving nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Camillo and Angelica (Minillo) Tirabassi; brothers, Alfred (Rita) Tirabassi, Nicholas (Monda) Tirabassi and Louis (Gena Kusa) Tirabassi; and sisters, Elizabeth (Louis) DiDonato and Mary (Steve) Pilar. Mass of Christian Burial Celebration is noon Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at Corpus Christi Church, where a visitation is from 9 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. The Mass will be livestreamed on the Corpus Christi Church Facebook page. Visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, with Evening Prayer for the Deceased at 4 p.m. and visitation will follow from 5 until 7 p.m., with a Vigil Service/ Rosary at 7 p.m. A visitation, Mass, and burial is 11 a.m. Friday, July 23, 2021, at Holy Redeemer Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and will be livestreamed at: https://www.facebook.com/Holy-Redeemer-Church-Collinwood-Cleveland-Ohio-110673168951760/. Memorial Contributions may be made to Corpus Christi Church or School, St. Hedwig Church, or St. Joseph High School in South Bend, Ind., or to Queen of Peace Church or School in Mishawaka. To read Father Cam's full obituary or send online condolences, visit kaniewski.com