Obituary for Fr. Norbert Weber, MSC

Father Norbert Weber was born in Aurora, Illinois, on July 22, 1931, to Theodore and Rose (Michels) Weber, both deceased. He graduated from St. Nicholas Parochial School, Aurora, Illinois, in 1945. In the fall of that year, he entered Sacred Heart Mission Seminary in Geneva, Illinois, where he completed four years of secondary education and one year of college. He entered the novitiate of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Shelby, OH, in 1950, making first profession of vows in 1951. From 1951 to 1958, he completed his studies for the priesthood at Sacred Heart Seminary in Shelby, professing his perpetual vows in 1954.

Fr. Weber was ordained a priest by Bp. George Rehring, D.D., in Shelby, Ohio, on September 21, 1957. He was first assigned as treasurer at the major seminary in Shelby. In 1959, he was transferred to the MSC community in Geneva, Illinois, where he finished his fifth year of theology and taught history to the seminarians. In 1960, he was reassigned to Shelby as treasurer. From 1963-65, he worked as provincial vocation director, and was then appointed parochial vicar at MSC parishes in Nazareth and Revere (Ottsville), Pennsylvania. In 1968, he became pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Manning, Iowa. In 1977, Fr. Weber was appointed superior of the MSC community in Youngstown, Ohio. In 1979, he was assigned as director of development for the province in Aurora, Illinois. He became pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Youngstown, OH, from 1985-86. From 1986-87, he was given a sabbatical leave to study Spanish and Hispanic culture in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and Bogotá, Colombia, while remaining a member of the Youngstown MSC community. In 1987, he took up residence at St. Mary's Parish in Canton, Ohio, and ministered as chaplain at Timken Mercy Hospital. On June 3, 1988, Fr. Weber was appointed once again to St. John the Baptist parish in Revere (Ottsville), PA, this time as pastor, until July, 1991. From July, 1991 until September, 1999, Fr. Weber was pastor of Holy Family Parish in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. In September of 1999 he became pastor of St. James Parish, Lee, Illinois. Effective June 16, 2003, Fr. Weber entered into retirement residing with the Illinois Community in Aurora. He remained active in preaching mission appeals and providing priestly works at local Catholic institutions until his health began to fail in 2010. He was moved to St. Patrick's Residence in Naperville, Illinois, in the beginning of 2011 where he remained until his death on Thursday, January 5, 2012.

Father Weber was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Rose, a brother in infancy, his brother, Nicholas and his sister, Kathleen. He is survived by his three sisters: Corrine Murtaugh of Batavia, Illinois, Alice Abens of Montgomery, Illinois, and Sr. Rose Marie Weber, OSF, of Sugar Grove, Illinois; and his three brothers: Elmer (Lee) of Montgomery, Illinois, Theodore (Shirley) of Aurora, Illinois, and Donald (Mary Ann) of Merrimac, Wisconsin.

Viewing will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 722 High St., Aurora, Illinois, on Monday evening January 9, 2012, from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Tuesday morning, January 10, 2012, also at St. Joseph Catholic Church from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. with Father Raymond Diesbourg, MSC the Provincial of the USA Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart as Celebrant and Father Peter Campbell as homilist. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.

The Daleiden Mortuary, 220 N. Lake St., Aurora, Illinois, will handle the funeral arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the "Father Norbert Weber, MSC, Memorial Fund", Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, P.O. Box 270, Aurora, Illinois, 60507-0270.

"May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem."