Submitted by: Dan Rich

Father William F. Hickens, CSC

May 21, 1919 - March 2, 2004

South Bend Tribune 3/3/2004

Father William F. Hickens, CSC, was born in Detroit, Mich., on May 21, 1919, to the late James and Mary (Roggenbuck) Hickens. Father Hickens was 84. He was baptized in St. Bernard's Catholic Church and graduated from their parish school in 1933.

After four years at Holy Cross Seminary, Father Hickens went to St. Joseph's Novitiate in Rolling Prairie, Ind., and made his first profession vows on Aug. 16, 1938. Upon graduation from Notre Dame in 1942 he began his studies at the Foreign Mission Seminary in Washington, D.C., with the intention of entering the Bengal missions. After ordination to the priesthood at Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, on June 24, 1946, he spent 33 years serving the church as a missionary.

In 1979 Father Hickens returned to the States and served as chaplain to the Holy Cross Brothers at St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio. In 1988 he was assigned to Holy Cross House where he would spend a great deal of time pouring over a massive stamp collection and entertaining visitors with great stories. Father Hickens is survived by a sister-in-law, Alice Hickens, and by several nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be held for Father Hickens in the chapel of Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, today, March 3, from 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a wake service at 7:30 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, on Thursday, March 4, at 3:30 p.m. The Kaniewski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.