Father Albert R. Adamich, 101, died Sept. 21. He was pastor emeritus of Queen of Peace Parish in North Chicago, now part of Most Blessed Trinity Parish in Waukegan, and the oldest priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago when he died.

Father Al, as he was known, was born in Joliet and attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein before being ordained in 1948. He celebrated 75 years of priestly service in May 2023.

After ordination, Father Adamich was assistant pastor of Mother of God, Waukegan; St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates; and St. Symphorosa. He also served as moderator of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women in 1979. Later, he was associate pastor of Most Holy Redeemer, Evergreen Park, and pastor of Mother of God for 20 years. He was named pastor emeritus in 1992.

Father Adamich resided at Most Holy Redeemer after his retirement was a beloved figure in the parish.

Father James Hyland, pastor of Most Holy Redeemer, remembered Father Adamich’s great love of the Mass and the Eucharist.

“He really loved what he did as a priest,” Hyland said, “and even in retirement he continued to minister to the people in the parish.”

“He’s such an inspiration,” Deacon Mark Phelan told Chicago Catholic in 2022, for an article featuring Father Al’s 100th birthday celebration at the parish. He’s a man of God. He prays for everyone. He prays constantly,” Phelan said. “He’s just the most wonderful man I ever met. He really is.”

Longtime parishioner Winnie Ligda said in 2022 that Father Al didn’t want any kind of celebration for his centenary, but parishioners overruled him.

“We all looked at him and said, ‘Too bad for you,’” Ligda joked. “He’s a good man,” she said.

When Ligda’s husband was ill, Father Al visited him in the hospital, in the nursing home and at her own home.

“He came repeatedly, and he was just wonderful. He was that way with all the parishioners. He’s a very kind, loving and compassionate man,” she said.

On the same occasion, Father Adamich said the secret to his long life was intercessory prayer.

“If you have to pay people to pray for you, do so,” he quipped. “Never pass up the chance to ask people to pray for you.”

Father Steven W. Patte, 79, died Sept. 20. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former pastor of St. Ita Parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Patte attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1969.

After ordination, Father Patte was assistant pastor of Holy Name Cathedral, St. Joseph, Wilmette; and Church of the Holy Spirit, Schaumburg.

He also served as associate pastor of St. Zachary, Des Plaines; St. Joseph, Round Lake; St. Mary of Vernon, Indian Creek; and St. Emily, Mount Prospect. He was pastor of St. Helena of the Cross and St. Ita Parish. In addition, he was a professor at St. Mary of the Lake University for two years.

He retired from ministry in 2015.

Father Leon J. Rezula, pastor emeritus of St. Julian Eymard in Elk Grove Village, was a classmate of Father Patte. “He was a very hard-working, zealous priest with a variety of experience,” Rezula said.