A retired priest who served at six parishes across the Chicago area during his 48-year career, including most recently as pastor at Holy Ghost Parish in South Holland, died Thursday, the Archdiocese of Chicago said in a statement.
The Rev. Anthony Talarico, who had been living at Holy Ghost’s rectory since his retirement in 2018, was 75. He died just two weeks short of the 50th anniversary of his ordination into the priesthood.
A small prayer service was held Monday at Smits Funeral Home in South Holland followed by a burial at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Evergreen Park. A memorial Mass for Talarico will be held in the coming months, once churches can resume services.
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Friends remembered Talarico for his brilliant mind, keen sense of humor, passion for sports and love of animals, especially shelter dogs.
“He was someone who had a wonderful sense of humor and a spirit of life,” said the Rev. William Veith, a part-time hospital chaplain in Elk Grove Village who had known Talarico since their high school days at Quigley Preparatory Seminary.
Roman Szabelski, former executive director of Catholic Cemeteries, said Talarico cared for his ailing brother, the Rev. Joe Szabelski, until his death three years ago.
“The same gentle kindness Fr. Tony showed his parishioners was the same gentle kindness that was applied to my brother.” Szabelski said in a statement.
Longtime friend Earl Frye said Talarico was a “very spiritual man” and “traditionalist” who spoke five languages and loved serving people.
At Monday’s memorial service, Frye shared memories from some of the more than 40 vacations he said they took together, including trips to Jerusalem, Switzerland, the Vatican — where they met Pope John Paul II at his installation — and many times to Sarasota, Florida for White Sox spring training.
“He really hated the Cubs,” Frye said. “Hated ’em!”
After graduating from Quigley in the early 1960s, Talarico attended the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein. He was ordained May 13, 1970, and celebrated his first Mass three days later.
Talarico went on to serve as assistant pastor at St. Priscilla Parish in Chicago and Immaculate Conception Parish in Highland Park, and as pastor at St. Aloysius and Holy Rosary parishes, both in Chicago, before spending his final years at Holy Ghost Parish in South Holland.
He also spent time as chaplain at the former Columbus Hospital in Chicago and administrator at both Cardinal Stritch Retreat House in Mundelein and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Chicago.
Christ Our Savior Parish in South Holland, which formed last summer following the merger of Holy Ghost, St. Mary Queen of Apostles in Riverdale and St. Jude the Apostle in South Holland, announced Talarico’s death on its website and Facebook page Thursday, but did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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