FR. HILARY G. MENY
“Tu es sacerdos in aeternum.”
“Thou art a priest forever.”
On October 7, 2016, Father Hilary George Adam Meny, beloved uncle, great-uncle, great-great uncle, and pastor, was gently lifted up to Heaven, after a wonderful Life of 101+ years here on earth.

Born on January 21, 1915, to Bernard and Catherine (Emmert) Meny, Hilary grew up in Haubstadt, Indiana.

After attending grade school at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School, Hilary attended St. Meinrad Seminary. On May 14, 1940, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by the Most Reverend Joseph E. Ritter, and celebrated his First Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church on May 19, 1940

Fr. Meny’s first priestly assignment took him to St. Philip Neri Parish Indianapolis, where he served as a junior assistant until 1947. After this, Fr. Meny served at St. Joe Hill Parish in Clark County and at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Bedford.
In 1949, Fr. Meny was named pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Madison, Indiana, where he lovingly served for over 40 years. While pastor at St. Patrick’s, Fr. Meny was instrumental in establishing Shawe Memorial Catholic High School, where he served as superintendant and Pope John XXIII Catholic Grade School. During his tenure at St. Patrick’s, he also served the parish of the Most Sorrowful Mother of God Church in Vevay, Indiana.

In 1990, Fr. Meny retired from the active priesthood, moving back to Haubstadt where he lived with his dear sister Renilda and her husband George Kissel. Back in his hometown, Fr. Meny – affectionately called “Uncle” – was surrounded with the love of family and friends.

Proof of how much Fr. Meny was loved, admired and cherished was evidenced at Father’s 100th Birthday Celebration in January 2015, when hundreds of people came from near and far to honor this very special man who had touched, and enriched, their lives. The celebration was an event of historical proportion for the town of Haubstadt.

Throughout his life, Fr. Meny received accolades for his many accomplishments. In 1988, Fr. Meny was honored by Shawe Memorial High School when the school’s gymnasium was named the Hilary G. Meny Gymnasium. Father also received an honorary diploma from the school, and later their Golden Shamrock Award for Special Service. Because of his firm belief in the value of Catholic education, in 1998, Fr. Meny received the Career Achievement Award from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

Fr. Meny was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, and was also named a Kentucky Colonel. He was a charter member of the Haubstadt Historical Society, a constant supporter of Gibson County Right to Life and an avid fan of Notre Dame and Mater Dei sports. In his lifetime, Father visited five of the seven continents, and always claimed that Rome was his favorite place to visit. And even though Fr. Meny had enjoyed food from all around the world, he definitely preferred home cooked and homegrown foods like fresh tomatoes, fried chicken legs, beef barley soup, peanuts, popcorn and a cold beer.

Father was preceded in death by his dear parents, sister and brother-in-law.

Survivors include his loving care-giving nieces Maureen Ruggles (Joe), Laurette Faraone (Bernie), Rachelle Gore (Ted), Celeste Karcher (Dave), Carmen Jay (Rick) and nephew Greg Kissel (Linda). He is also survived by his 19 great nieces and nephews and their spouses, and by his 14 great nieces and nephews.

On Wednesday, October 12, at 11:00 a.m., a Mass celebrating the Life of Fr. Hilary George Adam Joseph Vincent Meny will be offered by Archbishop Joseph Tobin, Bishop Charles Thompson, Fr. Tony Ernst and brother Priests at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Haubstadt. Visitation will be held in Church on Tuesday, October 11, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., and on Wednesday, from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. A Rosary will be prayed in the Church at 7:30 on Tuesday evening. (Note: all times listed are Central Daylight Time.)

The Family of Fr. Meny would like to extend heartfelt thanks to all the blessed caregivers for their friendship and constant love and devotion; to the dear people of Madison, Indiana, who have remained steadfast in their faithfulness to Fr. Meny; and Fr. Tony Ernst for being a true and forever friend to “Uncle”. And first and foremost, the Family thanks God for his Benevolence in gracing their Lives with this dear, humble, remarkable man who loved his God, his Family and his friends with his complete heart and soul, and who has left a legacy of Faith and Service so great that he will be long remembered for generations to come.