Father Edward S. Stockus, 90, died Oct. 9. He was pastor emeritus of St. Hugh, Lyons.

Born in Chicago, Father Stockus attended St. Rita High School, the University of Illinois, University of Dayton, the Illinois Institute of Technology and Loyola University and had a long career as a mechanical engineer. He also served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Father Stockus was married, had three sons and was ordained to the permanent diaconate in 1974.

After his wife died in 1986, Father Stockus entered the seminary at the Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, and was ordained a priest at the age of 60 in 1991.

He served as associate pastor of Divine Providence Parish, Westchester; St. Germaine, Oak Lawn; and St. Catherine of Alexandria, Oak Lawn, and as pastor of St. Hugh, where he was named pastor emeritus in 2001.

Father Stanley Stuglik, associate pastor of St. Gerald Parish, Oak Lawn, who looked up to Father Stockus as a grandfather, described him as a priest who was very dedicated to the Eucharist and Mass. “He really liked celebrating baptisms and Mass,” said Stuglik.

After retirement, Father Stockus would go to hospitals daily to anoint people and was helpful to the priests in the area when they needed support during weekend Masses, Stuglik recalled.