Submitted by: Dan Rich

Rev. Edmund N. Goedert, C.S.C.

Aug. 8, 1918 - Nov. 3, 1996

South Bend Tribune 11/5/1996

The Rev. Edmund N. Goedert, C.S.C., 78, died at 10:08 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 3, at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind. Father Goedert was born on Aug. 8, 1918, in Oak Park, Ill., to the late John and Elizabeth (Wink) Goedert. He was one of 12 children: nine brothers and three sisters.

He attended St. Edmund's and St. Giles Elementary Schools, and in 1931, he entered Holy Cross Seminary at Notre Dame for his high school education.

Completing his high school education in three years, Father Goedert began his first year of university work while still at Holy Cross Seminary. Then, on Aug. 15, 1935, he entered the St. Joseph's Novitiate at Rolling Prairie, Ind., where he pronounced his first vows on Aug. 16, 1936.

He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1939 and continued his theological education at Holy Cross College and the Foreign Mission Seminary in Washington, D.C.

He pronounced his perpetual vows on June 14, 1941. Father Goedert was ordained to the priesthood on June 24, 1943, at Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, Ind.

Following his ordination, he taught at St. Joseph's College in New Brunswick for one year. Then, he served on the mission band a second year in Montreal, waiting for the war to end in order to begin his missionary work in India.

His lifelong association with the missions of Bengal began in 1945. Except for periods of home leave, he worked in the parishes and missions of, now, Bangladesh until 1983, a span of 38 years.

Health concerns forced his return to the United States, where he served as Associate Pastor at St. Casimir Parish, South Bend, Ind., from 1983 to 1984, and at Sacred Heart Parish, Notre Dame, from 1984 to 1992. In 1992, he retired from parish work to reside at Corby Hall, and had served as chaplain at the University Health Services until his own infirmities necessitated his move to Holy Cross House.

During his years in parish ministry in South Bend, and continuing to the present, Father Goedert maintained an extensive correspondence with generous benefactors who supported the work of the Bengali missions. In every way, he had always remained an active and enthusiastic missionary.

Father Goedert is survived by six brothers, John (Rose) Goedert of River Forest, Ill., Dr. Lawrence (Rayetta) Goedert of Dotham, Ala., Rev. Robert Goedert, O.P. of St. Claire Shores, Mich., Most Rev. Raymond Goedert, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago and Vicar General; William Goedert of Western Springs, Ill. and Charles (Nancy) Goedert of Ferndale, Mich.; and two sisters, Mrs. Lucille Fitzpatrick of Margate, Fla. and Mrs. Caroline Doyle of Hillside, Ill. A sister, Elizabeth Breneisen, and two brothers, Philip Goedert and Jerome Goedert, all preceded him in death.

A wake service will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, in the chapel of Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, Ind. Visitation will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Moreau Seminary. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 7, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame. Burial will follow the funeral mass in the Community Cemetery at Notre Dame.

The Hickey Funeral Home, South Bend, is in charge of arrangements.