BR. LOUIS F. HURCIK, C.S.C.
July 8, 1933-Sept. 23, 2016
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Br. Louis F. Hurcik, C.S.C., 83, died at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, Ind. on Friday, September 23, 2016.
Br. Louis was born in Chicago, Ill., on July 8, 1933, to Anthony and Mary (Hartwig) Hurcik. He attended St. Vitus Grade School and St. Ignatius High School, graduating in June of 1950. The next September, he entered the candidate program for Brothers of Holy Cross in North Dartmouth, Mass. In January 1951, he moved to newly opened candidate program in Andre House at Notre Dame, he received the habit on August 15, 1951 and his novitiate year was split between South Bend, Ind., and Jordan, Minn. He made First Vows on August 16, 1952, and his final vows on August 16, 1955.
Br. Louis’ first assignment was as assistant sacristan in Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, Ind., working with the legendary sacristan, Br. Boniface. In 1960, he began working at the Ave Maria Press on the Catholic Boy and Catholic Miss magazines then published by the Congregation of Holy Cross. In 1969 he was assigned to Little Flower Parish in South Bend, Ind. In 1970, he moved to the University of Notre Dame and started what led to a 38-year career as an Instructor in the Department of Physical Education. Br. Louis taught numerous Notre Dame students how to swim, lifeguard and save lives through Red Cross training at various levels and degrees. In 1989, the St. Joseph County Red Cross recognized Br. Louis for 33 years of continuous volunteer services as a life guard, and water and safety instructor, and a CPR instructor totaling 20,500 hours of service. Br. Louis Hurcik did much volunteering in many extra outside places. He spent many Friday nights volunteering his time working down in the ER at St. Joseph Hospital. He also had 55 years helping with many programs for the South Bend Parks and Recreation Department. As of this coming January 1st, it would have been Br. Louis’ 45th year in the National Ski Patrol. During his years at Notre Dame, he was also the Director of the Rockne Memorial facility on campus. In 2008 he began assisting at the Student Health Center at Notre Dame as its webmaster until the present year. Br. Louis moved to Holy Cross House in 2013.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Anthony and Mary Hurcik; a brother Anthony (Hurcik, Jr.) Tahlman and a sister Margarita Hurcik.
Br. Louis is survived by a sister Mary Louise Johnson of Gahanna, Ohio and two nieces, Valarie Navarre and Deborah Tahlman.
Visitation will be from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (September 27, 2016) at Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, IN, where there will be a Wake Service at 7:30 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Notre Dame campus on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 3:30 p.m. Burial will be in the community cemetery at Notre Dame. Kaniewski Funeral Home, South Bend, is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross can be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Development, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0765 or online at donate.holycrossusa.org.
Funeral Homilyby Rev. James Connelly, C.S.C.
Sept. 28, 2016
Readings: Wisdom 3:1-6.9; Revelations 14:13; Luke 12:35-40.
“At an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” (Lk. 12:40)
As we mourn the death of Brother Louis, the most distressful thing is that we were not ready for him to die. The Sunday before he died, in his capacity as sacristan, he had assisted me to get ready for Mass at Holy Cross House. And last Wednesday, only two days before he died, he was also in the sacristy at Holy Cross House getting things ready for Mass.
Brother Lou told one of the nurses at Holy Cross House that his doctor had given him two choices. Either undergo what was admittedly a risky surgery or wait for the heart attack that would surely come. Even though both he and we knew that the surgery would be difficult, most of us assumed, I think, that Louis would come through with his heart restored to good working order. That assumption was based on our experience with Lou, that he was always around, always doing his job, always plugging along in his quiet, steady way, always showing up for meetings, for training sessions, for service, always ready to lend a hand when needed. Brother Louis was always there. Now, suddenly, he is no longer there and it is we are distressed. We weren’t ready for him to die.
“At an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” (Lk. 12:40)
If we were not ready, Brother Louis probably was ready. He had spent long years helping others. He had been a Brother of Holy Cross for 65 years. He had been an instructor in the Department of Physical Education at the University of Notre Dame for 38 years. He had been honored by the St. Joseph County Red Cross for 33 years of continuous volunteer service as a life guard, water and safety instructor and CPR instructor. When the Lord came for Louis last Friday, He found him vigilant in his life of service to others around him. In the words of the Spirit to John in today’s second reading, “let (him) find rest from (his) labors, for (his) works accompany (him).” (Rev. 14:13).
“At an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” (Lk. 12:40) As we heard in today’s first reading, ”The souls of the just are in the hand of God and no torment shall touch them.” (Wis. 3:1) From all that I know and have seen in Louis over the more than 50 years that I have known him, I believe that he was one of the just and that he is with the Lord. As gold in the furnace, Louis’ long life of service and of fidelity to his vows have proved him in God’s sight. I believe that Louis’ soul is now “in the hand of God and no torment shall touch him.”
Brother Louis, pray for us who still await the coming of the Son of Man.
