Miron Lasic Obituary

Fr. Miron (Pasko) Lasic, OFM (89) Fr. Miron Lasic, OFM, a Croatian born Franciscan priest, died Saturday, October 8, 2005 at Mercy Hospital in Chicago at the age of 89. A native of Uzarici-Siroki Brijeg, he studied at Siroki Brijeg, Mostar, and Rome where he earned a Doctorate in Moral Theology in 1944. After World War II, he was not able to go back to Croatia and commenced his teaching career because of the Communists who murdered, in just several months, 66 members of his Franciscan Province there. Instead, Fr. Miron came to the USA in 1946 to serve in the Chicago based Croatian Franciscan Custody of the Holy Family. As associate pastor, Fr. Miron served in several parishes in Pennsylvania, including Mt. Carmel, Lancaster, and Rankin, then in New York, and Chicago. In 1958, he became pastor at Sacred Heart Croatian Parish in Chicago and during his service of ten years, he build a beautiful church and school. The most time of his service as pastor, he spent in Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish in Rankin, PA (1968-1994). He then retired to St. Anthony Friary in Chicago. Exhausted from Parkinson's disease, he spent his last days at Mercy Hospital, where he died peacefully. He is survived by his colleague Franciscan friars, nieces and nephews in Croatia. Visitation of the body will take place at Sacred Heart Parish on Monday, October 10, from 6:00 through 9:00 p.m., and vigil service at 7:00 p.m. The funeral Mass will be on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., at the same Church, 2864 E. 96th St., Chicago (773-768-1423). Interment in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, IL. In lieu of flowers, make your contributions to Croatian Franciscan Charities. Funeral service entrusted to the Ruzich Funeral Directors, 312-791-9700 or 773-723-0877.