Joseph Ognibene Obituary

God bless Fr. Joe. You are a great Man. God bless our children.

Fr Ognibene baptized me in 1967 ... My family moved from Chicago when I was 2 years old - I never was able to meet this man, but was blessed to have him as my priest

Thank you for saving my mother´s life on December 1, 1958.
She was in room 207

Thank You Father Joe.

I knew a Father Sam Ognibene at a boy's home called the "Mission of Our Lady of Mercy" in Chicago at Jackson & Racine in the mid 1950's when I was there. If this Father Sam (who passed away in June 1999) is the brother of Father Joe Ognibene, I just want to express my sympathies to the Ognibene family.

In December 2000 I was involved in a serious auto accident requiring two operations.During this time I had a spiritual breakdown asking myself why did God do this to me.A call in tears to St. Colette Parish brought Fr. Joe to my nursing home.We prayed together and he restored my faith in God.Christmas in Heaven!What a birthday party!God bless you always.

I was really sad to hear of the passing of Fr. Ognibene. At the same time, I am very happy for him because he is one of the lucky ones who will be celebrating the birth of Our Lord with him in Heaven! How lucky is that?



I know my mom, Marianne M. Sullivan was also waiting for him to arrive at the gates of Heaven along with his many friends and family.



Fr. Joe was at St. Colette which is where my family had the blessing of getting to know him. I know he will be missed by all at St. Colette as well as the other churches he had the pleasure of serving at. I wish I had gotten the chance to know him better.



I have ornaments for my son and one for my mom and dad that says...."I love you all dearly, now don't shed a tear. I'm spending my Christmas with Jesus this year."



My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. I know he is with Jesus now.

My sympathies to the family. Father Joe and Father Sam were two great priests.

I can't imagine a more loyal friend than Joe. I met him at Our Lady Help of Christians and he gave me forty years of a true friendship that can't be compared. I will never forget how special he was. My deepest sympathy to his family which I knew he loved dearly. Joe, this friend will miss you.

My deepest condolences to the Ognibene's for the loss of Father Joe. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time. Father Joe was a wonderful soul whom my father, Joey De Jean loved, as we all do. I am confident Father Joe is smiling down from Heaven and sending his love to all of his family and treasured friends. God bless,

Our deepest sympathy.

What a special man. I lost a cousin in the OLA fire, and was the first class to graduate from the newly built school in 1969. Father Joe married my parents and baptized my brother and I. I would see him occasionally at the rec center and he would always have a smile and pinch my cheek. So many people owe their lives to this man. My father, Paul, and my cousin, Karen, will among many who will be waiting to greet him. Welcome home, Father Joe.

After 62 years of friendship it is very hard to lose Joe. We can just pray to God for his eternal happiness and say "hope to see you soon, Joe"

Mickie, we are so sorry to hear of the death of Father Joe, and of Don. Tom was such a good buddy of John Wolfe, and through him, Don.Our prayers are with you and your family.

Even though Fr, Joe was listed as "resident" for St. Colette Parish, he did so much more. Though we are saddened by his passing, we know that he is in a better place now. Our thoughts and prayers to his family.

Everyone who attended OLA at the time of the fire remembers Father Joe. I was one of a few members from the class of 1959 who had a chance to meet with Father Joe about a month prior to his death. It was an enlightening experience, as he told us about his life and how he welcomed his chance to be with God. He had no fears, and indicated that he got great comfort from some spiritual readings, especially those of Cardinal Bernadin. Even in his time of need, he made all of us feel somewhat comfortable with his spirituality.



We will miss you Father Joe. You will always be remembered.

My deepest and sincere condolences to the Ognibene family. Father Joe has received his well deserver eternal reward. I am certain he has been greeted and welcomed by the many people he has touched over his more than 50 years as a priest. If it were not for his heroic actions that day 45 years ago there is a strong possibility I might not be here today. Thank you again, Fr. Joe for giving me these past 45 years. You will never be forgotten and will have always have a special place in my heart. I look forward to seeing you again.



Vito Grimaldi OLA'59

God Bless you Father Joe....I would not be here if it wasn't for you....you saved me and many on Dec. 1st... room 209... you will always be my hero. I know all the children and the nuns that died that day will welcome you with open arms!!!!!

I only knew him for 6-8 months but it seemed like we bonded for a lifetime after the monument move that Joe asked us to do. He was quite a guy and I only wish that I had been able to know him longer.

From the members of St. Florian CFD Council #12911 of the Knights of Columbus; Our prayers and thoughts are with him as he returns to his Creators arms.

Dear Mary Kaye and family



So sorry to hear that your uncle passed away. Our prayers are with you and your family.

As a student of Notre Dame HS, Father Joe would frequent our religious education classes and on May 31. 1969, at St. Ferdinand Church, he officiated at my marriage. Father Joe, please pray for my husband's and children's health. What a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas...in Heaven!

Rest in Peace.

My brothers and I have many fond memories of Father Joe while growing up as parishoners of the Our Lady Mother of the Church. We would like to express our deepest condolences.

Nicole, Anthony & Michael Belcastro

Fr. Joe Ognibene saved my life on that Monday, December 1, 1958. I was one of the children in room 209 when he and Sam Tortorice took us from window and put us in another window to escape down the stairs of another part of the OLA grade school. He was our hero and I am sure he is with God now. Thanks to him I have lived a very happy life.

Your memory will be forever treasured.

Rest in peace, Father Ognibene.



Corinne Prihar(Bauer)

I would like to express my deepest sympthay to your family. I remember Father Joe while attending St. Beatrice church in Schiller Park. He also said mass at my grandmother's funeral last January, 2003. My thoughts are with you.

Peace.

I would like to express my deepest sympthay to our family. I remember Father Joe while attending St. Beatrice church in Schiller Park. He also said mass at my grandmother's funeral last January, 2003. My thoughts are with you.

Peace.

What a wonderful person and priest of God. We are sure the Lord will welcome and place him among the elect. All the family will be in our prayers.

I was a 7th grade student at Our Lady of Angels and was hospitalized for a month. Often in the middle of the night Father Joe would come and check on the children in the hospital. I have a very vivid memory of him standing in my doorway. I have never and will never forget him. Rest in peace, Father Joe.

Remembering all the support he provided me when my son died in the OLA School fire. I will treasure his memory always. He will always be in my thoughts and my prayers.