The Reverend Thaddeus Swirski, Senior Priest-Retired, died Sunday, 27 March 2016, after having received the prayerful support and consolation of the Sacraments.
Thaddeus Swirski was born on 26 April 1930. His parents were the late Stephen and Mary (Bogdanski). He was educated in Warsaw, Poland and completed his studies in the Archdiocese of Poznan in Olsztyn, Poland. Bishop Franciszek Jedwabski, Auxiliary Bishop of Poznan, Poland ordained him on 29 June 1954. In June 1962 he was accepted into the Diocese of Cleveland by Archbishop Edward F. Hoban for the service of the Diocese of Cleveland.
Fr. Swirski’s first assignment in the Diocese of Cleveland was as Parochial Vicar of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lorain. On 6 September 1963 he was assigned Parochial Vicar of St. John Cantius, Cleveland. He was assigned Parochial Vicar of St. Barbara, Cleveland on 10 June 1965. Fr. Swirski was incardinated on 7 July 1967 by Bishop Clarence G. Issenmann for service to the Diocese of Cleveland. On 26 August 1971 Fr. Swirski was assigned Chaplain of Holy Family Cancer Home. He was assigned Chaplain for the Sisters of St. Joseph Third Order of St. Francis on 18 October 1971. On 16 August 1972 he was assigned Parochial Vicar of St. Therese, Garfield Hts. Fr. Swirski was named Pastor of St. Hedwig, Akron on 17 July 1974. Fr. Swirski retired on 9 October 2009. In addition to his diocesan assignments Fr. Swirski also served as Military Chaplain achieving the rank of Colonel. He served as Chaplain with the Army ROTC, University of Akron, and the Ohio Military Reserve. Fr. Swirski was kind and always willing to engage you in a conversation which usually ended with a prayer to Our Lady of Czestochowa.
The wake will begin with Vespers on Wednesday, 30 March in St. Sebastian Church, 476 Mull Avenue, Akron, OH at 3:00 p.m. Bishop Roger Gries will be the presider and Fr. John Valencheck will be the homilist. The wake will continue until 6:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, 31 March in St. Sebastian Church at 11:00 a.m. Bishop Richard Lennon will be the main celebrant and Fr. Donald Oleksiak will be the homilist. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland.
Click HERE to review a PDF version of the above obituary letter.