Rev. Thomas A. Moran, pastor emeritus of Our Lady of the Brook Parish in Northbrook (now known as St. Norbert-Our Lady of the Brook Parish), died on Nov. 8, at the age of 78, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced.
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According to a release, Moran was born on Feb. 6, 1945, in Chicago. He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and Niles College in Niles, as well as the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.
Moran was ordained to the priesthood on May 12, 1971, by Cardinal John Cody. After ordination, Moran was assistant pastor at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Wheeling and St. Bonaventure Parish on Diversey Parkway in Chicago, the release said.
He then served as associate pastor at St. Ita Parish on Broadway Street, St. Thecla Parish on Devon Avenue, and St. Tarcissus Parish on Ardmore Street, all in Chicago. He was also associate pastor at St. John Brebeuf Parish in Niles and St. Marcelline Parish in Schaumburg, according to the release.
Rev. Mark Canavan, retired archdiocesan priest and one of Moran’s classmates, remembered Moran as a great priest who served his people well. Canavan recalled his zest for life, how “he loved traveling and exploring the world together.”
Deacon Peery Duderstadt from St. Norbert-Our Lady of the Brook Parish had been friends with Moran for 60 years and went to seminary together, the release said.
“Fr. Tom was always interested in archaeology, particularly Egyptology. Every year he would go to the Biblical Archaeology Society Convention and in 2006 he and I started going together,” Duderstadt said in the release.
Duderstadt remembered that Moran loved biblical archaeology so much that his sermons were always laced with references to biblical archaeology. Also, his dog’s name was Seti named after a pharaoh.
Duderstadt’s wife Mary Ann added that Moran was curious, adventurous and enjoyed being with people.
“He was very personable and inclusive, with a dry sense of humor,” Mary Ann Duderstadt said in the release. “After every Mass, he would go to the social area to chat with people.”
According to Duderstadt and his wife, he loved cooking and often entertained at the rectory.
All funeral services will take place at St. Norbert-Our Lady of the Brook Parish, 1809 Walters Avenue in Northbrook. Lying in state will be 9:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesday. The funeral Mass will take place at 10:30 a.m. and will be celebrated by Bishop Francis Kane. Duderstadt will be the homilist. Interment will occur at St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery in Chicago.