In 52 years as a priest in the Chicago area, the Rev. John "Jake" Ahern baptized more than 10,000 babies and married more than 1,000 couples.
But Father Ahern, who died Wednesday at age 77, also served a larger flock, the community, and a smaller one, his fellow priests.
While serving at St. Giles Church in Oak Park, he co-founded the Northwest Community Housing Coalition to combat racial discrimination by real estate agents. Father Ahern also was part of a group of community leaders who met with U.S. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.) to initiate direct deposit of Social Security checks to protect the elderly against theft.
In service to his colleagues, he was a compassionate friend. "If a guy managed to get a day off and had nobody to be with," Father Ahern "would be with him," said the Rev. Larry Craig, his associate at St. Sylvester Church, 2157 N. Humboldt.
Father Ahern died at Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights.
Reared on the South Side, he received his seminary training at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein.
He served as pastor at St. Sylvester from 1970 to 1975, and was associate pastor at seven other parishes: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Vicariate (1949-50), St. Giles in Oak Park (1950-65), St. Genevieve (1965-68), Our Lady of the Snows (1968-70), St. Matthias (1975-81), Our Lady of Knock in Calumet City (1981-86), and St. Bernadette in Evergreen Park (1986-93).
Father Ahern was a sports fan, favored the White Sox and Notre Dame teams, and was a world traveler who visited colleagues in foreign missions.
Survivors include two sisters, Jane Cantieri and Sister Catherine, O.P., and three brothers, Patrick, Eugene and Gerald.
Funeral mass will be offered at 11 a.m. today at St. Bernadette Church, 9343 S. Francisco, Evergreen Park, with burial in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip. (Chicago Sun-Times (IL) - July 7, 2001—Author/Byline: GARY WISBY)
But Father Ahern, who died Wednesday at age 77, also served a larger flock, the community, and a smaller one, his fellow priests.
While serving at St. Giles Church in Oak Park, he co-founded the Northwest Community Housing Coalition to combat racial discrimination by real estate agents. Father Ahern also was part of a group of community leaders who met with U.S. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.) to initiate direct deposit of Social Security checks to protect the elderly against theft.
In service to his colleagues, he was a compassionate friend. "If a guy managed to get a day off and had nobody to be with," Father Ahern "would be with him," said the Rev. Larry Craig, his associate at St. Sylvester Church, 2157 N. Humboldt.
Father Ahern died at Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights.
Reared on the South Side, he received his seminary training at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein.
He served as pastor at St. Sylvester from 1970 to 1975, and was associate pastor at seven other parishes: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Vicariate (1949-50), St. Giles in Oak Park (1950-65), St. Genevieve (1965-68), Our Lady of the Snows (1968-70), St. Matthias (1975-81), Our Lady of Knock in Calumet City (1981-86), and St. Bernadette in Evergreen Park (1986-93).
Father Ahern was a sports fan, favored the White Sox and Notre Dame teams, and was a world traveler who visited colleagues in foreign missions.
Survivors include two sisters, Jane Cantieri and Sister Catherine, O.P., and three brothers, Patrick, Eugene and Gerald.
Funeral mass will be offered at 11 a.m. today at St. Bernadette Church, 9343 S. Francisco, Evergreen Park, with burial in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip. (Chicago Sun-Times (IL) - July 7, 2001—Author/Byline: GARY WISBY)
In 52 years as a priest in the Chicago area, the Rev. John "Jake" Ahern baptized more than 10,000 babies and married more than 1,000 couples.
But Father Ahern, who died Wednesday at age 77, also served a larger flock, the community, and a smaller one, his fellow priests.
While serving at St. Giles Church in Oak Park, he co-founded the Northwest Community Housing Coalition to combat racial discrimination by real estate agents. Father Ahern also was part of a group of community leaders who met with U.S. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.) to initiate direct deposit of Social Security checks to protect the elderly against theft.
In service to his colleagues, he was a compassionate friend. "If a guy managed to get a day off and had nobody to be with," Father Ahern "would be with him," said the Rev. Larry Craig, his associate at St. Sylvester Church, 2157 N. Humboldt.
Father Ahern died at Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights.
Reared on the South Side, he received his seminary training at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein.
He served as pastor at St. Sylvester from 1970 to 1975, and was associate pastor at seven other parishes: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Vicariate (1949-50), St. Giles in Oak Park (1950-65), St. Genevieve (1965-68), Our Lady of the Snows (1968-70), St. Matthias (1975-81), Our Lady of Knock in Calumet City (1981-86), and St. Bernadette in Evergreen Park (1986-93).
Father Ahern was a sports fan, favored the White Sox and Notre Dame teams, and was a world traveler who visited colleagues in foreign missions.
Survivors include two sisters, Jane Cantieri and Sister Catherine, O.P., and three brothers, Patrick, Eugene and Gerald.
Funeral mass will be offered at 11 a.m. today at St. Bernadette Church, 9343 S. Francisco, Evergreen Park, with burial in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip. (Chicago Sun-Times (IL) - July 7, 2001—Author/Byline: GARY WISBY)
But Father Ahern, who died Wednesday at age 77, also served a larger flock, the community, and a smaller one, his fellow priests.
While serving at St. Giles Church in Oak Park, he co-founded the Northwest Community Housing Coalition to combat racial discrimination by real estate agents. Father Ahern also was part of a group of community leaders who met with U.S. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.) to initiate direct deposit of Social Security checks to protect the elderly against theft.
In service to his colleagues, he was a compassionate friend. "If a guy managed to get a day off and had nobody to be with," Father Ahern "would be with him," said the Rev. Larry Craig, his associate at St. Sylvester Church, 2157 N. Humboldt.
Father Ahern died at Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights.
Reared on the South Side, he received his seminary training at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein.
He served as pastor at St. Sylvester from 1970 to 1975, and was associate pastor at seven other parishes: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Vicariate (1949-50), St. Giles in Oak Park (1950-65), St. Genevieve (1965-68), Our Lady of the Snows (1968-70), St. Matthias (1975-81), Our Lady of Knock in Calumet City (1981-86), and St. Bernadette in Evergreen Park (1986-93).
Father Ahern was a sports fan, favored the White Sox and Notre Dame teams, and was a world traveler who visited colleagues in foreign missions.
Survivors include two sisters, Jane Cantieri and Sister Catherine, O.P., and three brothers, Patrick, Eugene and Gerald.
Funeral mass will be offered at 11 a.m. today at St. Bernadette Church, 9343 S. Francisco, Evergreen Park, with burial in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip. (Chicago Sun-Times (IL) - July 7, 2001—Author/Byline: GARY WISBY)
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