Obituary
Detroit Free Press (5/18/2009)
Herman Kucyk: Monsignor tended plants and a parish
Springtime is an especially lovely time of year around Divine Child parish in Dearborn, Michigan, which features a rainbow of colorful flowers, lush grass the shade of emerald green and an array of blossoms bursting forth from ornamental trees.
As pastor of the Dearborn parish, Msgr. Herman Kucyk tended to the outdoor beauty surrounding the church and school buildings along with his spiritual and administrative duties.
Msgr. Kucyk died Friday at the Divine Child rectory of complications from kidney failure and lung cancer. He was 83.
He was known by students and parishioners as Father K. And he was just as familiar a figure in his farmer's hat, blue jeans and worker's gloves as he was in his priestly garb.
"If he hadn't become a priest, my brother would have been a master gardener. He had an incredible eye for beauty and enjoyed sharing it with others," his sister Jan Pierce said. "During his time at the school, he was so happy. He loved the children and mentored many of the younger priests."
During his 40-year association with the parish, Msgr. Kucyk was associate pastor from 1961-66, returned as co-pastor in 1972 and was named pastor in 1976 before retiring in 2007.
"He was a man of great vision who loved the priesthood and embraced life on a daily basis," said the Rev. Jim Bilot, current pastor of Divine Child. "Whether he was overseeing the temporal works of the parish or ministering to the spiritual needs of others, prayer was always the catalyst that guided him."
Born in Montreal, Wis., the fourth of seven children, Msgr. Kucyk was raised on Detroit's east side and graduated from St. Stanislaus High School prior to serving in the Navy in Panama during World War II.
In 1949, he entered Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. He spent four years at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake and attended St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth where he was ordained a priest in 1957.
In addition to Pierce, survivors include two other sisters and a brother.
Visitation is from 3-8 p.m. today and from 1-8 p.m. Tuesday, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, at Church of the Divine Child, 1055 N. Silvery Lane, Dearborn.
The funeral mass is 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church. A morning prayer will precede the mass at 8:30 a.m.
Burial will be in St. Hedwig Cemetery in Dearborn Heights.
Detroit Free Press (5/18/2009)
Herman Kucyk: Monsignor tended plants and a parish
Springtime is an especially lovely time of year around Divine Child parish in Dearborn, Michigan, which features a rainbow of colorful flowers, lush grass the shade of emerald green and an array of blossoms bursting forth from ornamental trees.
As pastor of the Dearborn parish, Msgr. Herman Kucyk tended to the outdoor beauty surrounding the church and school buildings along with his spiritual and administrative duties.
Msgr. Kucyk died Friday at the Divine Child rectory of complications from kidney failure and lung cancer. He was 83.
He was known by students and parishioners as Father K. And he was just as familiar a figure in his farmer's hat, blue jeans and worker's gloves as he was in his priestly garb.
"If he hadn't become a priest, my brother would have been a master gardener. He had an incredible eye for beauty and enjoyed sharing it with others," his sister Jan Pierce said. "During his time at the school, he was so happy. He loved the children and mentored many of the younger priests."
During his 40-year association with the parish, Msgr. Kucyk was associate pastor from 1961-66, returned as co-pastor in 1972 and was named pastor in 1976 before retiring in 2007.
"He was a man of great vision who loved the priesthood and embraced life on a daily basis," said the Rev. Jim Bilot, current pastor of Divine Child. "Whether he was overseeing the temporal works of the parish or ministering to the spiritual needs of others, prayer was always the catalyst that guided him."
Born in Montreal, Wis., the fourth of seven children, Msgr. Kucyk was raised on Detroit's east side and graduated from St. Stanislaus High School prior to serving in the Navy in Panama during World War II.
In 1949, he entered Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. He spent four years at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake and attended St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth where he was ordained a priest in 1957.
In addition to Pierce, survivors include two other sisters and a brother.
Visitation is from 3-8 p.m. today and from 1-8 p.m. Tuesday, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, at Church of the Divine Child, 1055 N. Silvery Lane, Dearborn.
The funeral mass is 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church. A morning prayer will precede the mass at 8:30 a.m.
Burial will be in St. Hedwig Cemetery in Dearborn Heights.
Obituary
Detroit Free Press (5/18/2009)
Herman Kucyk: Monsignor tended plants and a parish
Springtime is an especially lovely time of year around Divine Child parish in Dearborn, Michigan, which features a rainbow of colorful flowers, lush grass the shade of emerald green and an array of blossoms bursting forth from ornamental trees.
As pastor of the Dearborn parish, Msgr. Herman Kucyk tended to the outdoor beauty surrounding the church and school buildings along with his spiritual and administrative duties.
Msgr. Kucyk died Friday at the Divine Child rectory of complications from kidney failure and lung cancer. He was 83.
He was known by students and parishioners as Father K. And he was just as familiar a figure in his farmer's hat, blue jeans and worker's gloves as he was in his priestly garb.
"If he hadn't become a priest, my brother would have been a master gardener. He had an incredible eye for beauty and enjoyed sharing it with others," his sister Jan Pierce said. "During his time at the school, he was so happy. He loved the children and mentored many of the younger priests."
During his 40-year association with the parish, Msgr. Kucyk was associate pastor from 1961-66, returned as co-pastor in 1972 and was named pastor in 1976 before retiring in 2007.
"He was a man of great vision who loved the priesthood and embraced life on a daily basis," said the Rev. Jim Bilot, current pastor of Divine Child. "Whether he was overseeing the temporal works of the parish or ministering to the spiritual needs of others, prayer was always the catalyst that guided him."
Born in Montreal, Wis., the fourth of seven children, Msgr. Kucyk was raised on Detroit's east side and graduated from St. Stanislaus High School prior to serving in the Navy in Panama during World War II.
In 1949, he entered Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. He spent four years at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake and attended St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth where he was ordained a priest in 1957.
In addition to Pierce, survivors include two other sisters and a brother.
Visitation is from 3-8 p.m. today and from 1-8 p.m. Tuesday, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, at Church of the Divine Child, 1055 N. Silvery Lane, Dearborn.
The funeral mass is 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church. A morning prayer will precede the mass at 8:30 a.m.
Burial will be in St. Hedwig Cemetery in Dearborn Heights.
Detroit Free Press (5/18/2009)
Herman Kucyk: Monsignor tended plants and a parish
Springtime is an especially lovely time of year around Divine Child parish in Dearborn, Michigan, which features a rainbow of colorful flowers, lush grass the shade of emerald green and an array of blossoms bursting forth from ornamental trees.
As pastor of the Dearborn parish, Msgr. Herman Kucyk tended to the outdoor beauty surrounding the church and school buildings along with his spiritual and administrative duties.
Msgr. Kucyk died Friday at the Divine Child rectory of complications from kidney failure and lung cancer. He was 83.
He was known by students and parishioners as Father K. And he was just as familiar a figure in his farmer's hat, blue jeans and worker's gloves as he was in his priestly garb.
"If he hadn't become a priest, my brother would have been a master gardener. He had an incredible eye for beauty and enjoyed sharing it with others," his sister Jan Pierce said. "During his time at the school, he was so happy. He loved the children and mentored many of the younger priests."
During his 40-year association with the parish, Msgr. Kucyk was associate pastor from 1961-66, returned as co-pastor in 1972 and was named pastor in 1976 before retiring in 2007.
"He was a man of great vision who loved the priesthood and embraced life on a daily basis," said the Rev. Jim Bilot, current pastor of Divine Child. "Whether he was overseeing the temporal works of the parish or ministering to the spiritual needs of others, prayer was always the catalyst that guided him."
Born in Montreal, Wis., the fourth of seven children, Msgr. Kucyk was raised on Detroit's east side and graduated from St. Stanislaus High School prior to serving in the Navy in Panama during World War II.
In 1949, he entered Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. He spent four years at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake and attended St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth where he was ordained a priest in 1957.
In addition to Pierce, survivors include two other sisters and a brother.
Visitation is from 3-8 p.m. today and from 1-8 p.m. Tuesday, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, at Church of the Divine Child, 1055 N. Silvery Lane, Dearborn.
The funeral mass is 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church. A morning prayer will precede the mass at 8:30 a.m.
Burial will be in St. Hedwig Cemetery in Dearborn Heights.
Inscription
Ordained 1957
Beloved Son Brother & Uncle
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
