Father George Francis Cerny, 81, died Jan. 24. He was pastor emeritus of St. Bartholomew Parish and was a resident at the Franciscan Village/ Mother Theresa Home in Lemont.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. John Nepomucene and St. Rita schools and Quigley Preparatory Seminary before graduating from DePaul University with an accounting degree.

He then served in the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant (1956- 1957) before entering the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained in 1964.

Father Cerny served as assistant pastor of Our Lady of the Mount, Cicero 1964- 1973); St. Peter Canisius Parish (1973- 1978); Holy Ghost, South Holland (1978- 1979); and St. Bartholomew (1986-1991). He was pastor of St. Teresa of Avila (1980- 1986) and St. Bartholomew (1991-2004). He was named pastor emeritus after his retirement.

Father Cerny is survived by his sister, Irene Kucharski.