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Rev. Fred W. Tomzik, “Father Fred”

Fred Tomzik

Posted By Hitzeman Funeral Home On December 13, 2017 @ 5:32 pm In Obituary | 32 Comments

[1]Rev. Fred W. Tomzik, “Father Fred,” age 59, of Norridge. Beloved son of Beverly Louise Tomzik, nee Kocar and the late Frederick A. Tomzik; loving big brother of John Tomzik, Janice (Rick) Vercillo, Philip (Karin) Tomzik, Steven (Peggy) Tomzik, David (Kristi) Tomzik; dear uncle of Amy (Neil) Eckman, Thomas (Jenni Branstad) Vercillo, Emily Tomzik, Mark Tomzik, Luke Tomzik, Molly Tomzik; great uncle of Andy Eckman. “Padge” to many. Friend of many and loved by all. Fr. Fred left behind and touched many in his various capacities, including: Pastor of St. Louise de Marillac, LaGrange Park and St. Monica, Chicago; Priest at Nativity of our Lord, Chicago; Divine Infant, Westchester; St. Eugene, Chicago and Divine Savior, Norridge. Chaplain of the Norwood Park Fire Department; active member in both the Catholic Committee on Scouting and the Girl Scout Medals Committee. “Padge” influenced many teens and adults through Teen Clubs, Haunted Houses and Theater Lighting. Fred was the founder of S&G Lighting. Will Lie in State Monday, December 18, 2017 from 1 P.M. to 8 P.M. and Tuesday, December 19, 2017 from 9 A.M. to time of Mass 10 A.M. at Divine Savior, 7740 W. Montrose Avenue Norridge, IL 60706. Wake Vigil will be held at 7 P.M. on Monday evening. Interment Maryhill Cemetery, Niles. Memorials appreciated to St. Patrick High School [2], 5900 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60634 or Divine Savior Church [3]. Arrangements by Hitzeman Funeral Home, Ltd. 9445 W. 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513. Information 708-485-2000 or www.HitzemanFuneral.com [4]

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Condolences for the family of “Rev. Fred W. Tomzik, “Father Fred””

Condolence from Mark & Laurie Becker on December 13th, 2017 9:37 pm

Our prayers are with you all. Rest peacefully in the arms of Jesus, Fredju.

Condolence from Fr. Frank McNeil on December 13th, 2017 9:55 pm

My sincere condolences to Father Fred’s family, especially his mother. Father Fred was a good friend whom I met through the Federation of Fire Chaplains. We shall miss him each year at the conference and remember him by name each year at our memorial service. May he rest in peace.

Condolence from Deacon Jim & Leslie Grevenites on December 14th, 2017 6:29 am

Fr. Fred always ministered with a good spirit and love, especially to bring young people to God. He was fun to minister with at St. Louise. He was always in our prayers. May he now rest in the peaceful comfort and loving arms of Christ. Deacon Jim

Condolence from Nich , Ruth & Sean Stiso on December 14th, 2017 8:20 am

Father Fred go in peace into the arms of Jesus .Thank you for sharing your spiritual gift with us .

Condolence from John and Peggie Falduto on December 14th, 2017 8:46 am

Our condolences to “Father Fred’s” family, in 1989 he married two young kids who have never forgot the wisdom of this fine man.

Condolence from Joyce R. Pemberton on December 14th, 2017 9:45 am

My sincere condolences to the Tomzik family; I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I hope the fond memories you have of Fr. Fred will comfort you during this difficult time.

Father Fred was a beacon of light, a mentor, a treasure and a great friend to all; he was loved more than he will ever know. Father Fred, you will be greatly missed. God bless you, dear friend.

Condolence from Florence & Gary Marcucci on December 14th, 2017 10:04 am

A true priestly man who loved his teens and his parishioners and shepherded us all. He will be missed and remain in our hearts with love. Our time at SLM was short-lived but he was a great influence on our lives. May God continue to bless his family with the comfort and strength they need at this time. You are all in our prayers.

Condolence from Larry Steiner on December 14th, 2017 3:00 pm

I will miss you my friend, but never forget you. St. John Baptist de la Salle, pray for us. Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.

Condolence from Tony Pawlik on December 14th, 2017 3:39 pm

Father Fred was a true Pastor to all, also a true friend. He came to us at St. Louise de Marillac and revitalized the Parish community, bring it back to life with his outgoing personality and spirit. He was the driving force behind the Teen Club, Haunted House, St. Louise Players, got the Parish Center funded and built, just to mention a few. he also loved everything about trains. My prayers and condolences to the Tomzik family, we will all miss this Prince of the Church.

Condolence from Kathy Oprenchak (nee:Oswald) on December 14th, 2017 8:57 pm

On behalf of my family, please accept our sympathies on your loss. We at SLM were blessed to have him as our pastor. Personally, I had the pleasure of driving him and the altar servers one year to Great America. Also, our family was thankful for his concern during our mother Carol’s illness and that he came back in 2011 to celebrate her funeral mass. He truly touched the lives of everyone he met. God bless you and be with you all.

Condolence from Richard and Sharon Helie on December 14th, 2017 10:19 pm

We offer our sincerest sympathy to the family of Father Fred Tomzik-he will be greatly missed. His sermons at mass were so very meaningful, but yet simple and to the point. God bless him!

Condolence from Dale B on December 15th, 2017 4:49 am

What a beautifully lived life! As a Southern Illinois cousin, I offer the rest of his family, my Aunt Beverly and her children and grandchildren, my cousins, condolences on their loss. And congratulations, on the joy they must have had to see their loved one living that very full and giving life. I am reading and rereading about him and am now sharing your joy and pride in his sharing his gifts through his vibrant ministry.

Condolence from Kathy Ruzic on December 15th, 2017 7:25 am

Father Fred was the best priest a church could have. His kindhearted words of wisdom, down to earth personality, and compassion is what brought me back to the Church. I was numb for a while when he chose to leave St. Louise but all I had to do was remember a few of those words and expressions and I knew it would be OK.
You will forever be in my heart and my prayers.
My condolences to his family.

Condolence from Kathy Houcek on December 15th, 2017 8:56 am

Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. He was a wonderful priest. He will be missed.

Condolence from JOAN C. LE VALLEY on December 15th, 2017 7:31 pm

To the Family of Father Fred –
What a wonderful Parish Pastor Fred had to have been. My knowing Fred is in a complete different way than his Parishioners – I have been privileged to have been his accountant for several years and we had so many discussions regarding the correct way to handle the finances and cash offerings, etc. Church Accounting. I am Protestant, but we had wonderful discussions and an understanding of Church Life, no matter the Church. I will miss him so much for his beautiful caring for every member of his Parish, no matter the age, and the humble love and caring for his Mother and entire family. Our Lord has called him Home, but it is our great loss!

Condolence from Ira Williams on December 16th, 2017 1:39 pm

My condolences to the family of Fr. Fred.

Niles College Class of ’81

Condolence from Frieda Grizzi-Zeidel on December 16th, 2017 2:39 pm

My family and myself with to extens our sincere condolences to Father Freds family who have been our neighbors for over a half of a century.
Continued prayers for all of his loved ones.
God bless.

Condolence from Michael Gorogianis on December 16th, 2017 3:22 pm

My deepest sympathy to the Tomzik Family. Prayers of comfort during this most difficult of times. Many fond memories growing up with the Tomzik’s in Norridge on Ozanam playing Kick the Can, American Eagle and other games daily in the streets. Remembering our Block Party every year and what a close knit group we were parents sitting nightly on neighbors front porches while the kids played. Fred was a kind and gentle man always caring about others. He will be missed by many.

Condolence from Ruth A. Miner on December 16th, 2017 6:30 pm

Fr. Fred was and always will be a very special perfect priest/pastor as well as closest friend to me. He did a magnificent job with all of the duties that was assigned to him & he indeed enjoyed every second of his beloved priesthood. He always made sure the masses he said at St. Monica were very spiritual & his homilies were both spiritual and funny too. Fr. Fred & I became great friends & we both were so happy that God has granted us with such a wonderful gift from Him. I will truly miss Fr. Fred & miss talking with him. I pray that God will re-unite Fr. Fred & I when I get Home to God & we can continue enjoying our friendship & Fr. Fred’s priesthood with one another once again. I love you, Fr. Fred & thank you so much for coming to St. Monica’s Parish to share your great talents of your priesthood with me & all of the rest of the parishioners. Fr. Fred has a great mother who took very good care of him & comfort him during this terrible cancer he unfortunately received. I know his mom will be blessed a hundred fold for taking such good care of her beloved son during all the days of his life on Earth. My deepest sympathy goes out to his mom & the rest of the family.

Condolence from Pamela Lato on December 16th, 2017 9:13 pm

My sincere condolences to Father Fred’s mother, family, his trillion friends, students, scouts, firefighters and fellow brethren. I am shocked tonight and grief stricken in learning of this loss of a great man and priest. God called him home, though our way would be to keep him. He is the reason I came back home to the church. He is the reason I was able to make it through, as he guided me and my brother for many years, through my brothers catastrophic explosion, his miraculous survival, spiritual needs and later his funeral service as he was called home. I feel like Father Fred was family and his love will be everlasting here on earth. Thank you heartily Father Fred, you’re missed already and the world is less without you. Your so deserving of Heavens glory. May you rest easy in the arms of Jesus.

Condolence from Bridget Brennan on December 17th, 2017 2:15 pm

Padge is why so many of us got through high school with great memories and life long friends. He took the time to give us a safe, spiritual and fun option on Friday nights and doing extra things like starting to build a haunted house in August, going to st eugenes to do lighting for the plays that eventually came to slm and the countless lockins, 30 hour famines and ski trips to
Wilmot. A core group of us participated in the Venture crew also which tied us to the parish more. I live in Kansas and many others have spread out throughout the country but the day after thanksgiving we just played our 18th annual Yena bowl. High school can be rough but I attribute this friendship to padge’s ability to help keep us together during those years. My brother and I both werr able to grow a strong bond through this time also as we did most of these activities together.
I am sorry that my flight home for the holidays comes a day late to pay my respect but my condolences to the family, especially Dave, Kristi and Phil who helped chaperone and support Padge in teen club activities and Amy who got to join in on the fun with us!

I think the frank Sinatra song – send in the clowns will always remind me of Padge. The first year of haunted house people came into a dark room and the song played and when it said “send in the clowns” we all came out from our hiding places. dressed as clowns.

Padge, you changed our lives. Thank you

Condolence from Judy Heinzinger on December 17th, 2017 4:41 pm

Words cannot express the sorrow felt over the loss of Father Fred. He was an important part of our family. I saw Fr. Fred as a loving, devoted, and caring Son. His parents were truly blessed to have Him in their life. He will always live on in the hearts of those who loved him. I am ever grateful to have known Father Fred.

Condolence from Arlean Vauthier on December 17th, 2017 8:59 pm

Father Fred was a wonderful priest and mentor. He should be in the arms of Jesus and have peace and love forever.

Condolence from Joan on December 18th, 2017 6:52 am

My condolences to the family for the loss of your loved one, and may Almighty God give you comfort through His written word, the Bible,, about a future time when He’ll undo all causes of mankind’s pain, suffering and sorrow, please read Acts 24:15, Revelation 21:4,5.

Condolence from Rev. Kenneth Fleck on December 18th, 2017 3:38 pm

My condolences and prayers are with you. I will remember Fred in my morning prayers and Mass tomorrow.

Condolence from Darice on December 18th, 2017 4:20 pm

Friend for almost 20 years. Through the St Louise HSA while my so was an altar boy and student at SLM, to the many friendships firged through the St Louise and St Eugene Players and the special memories of pre production prayers and Mass- you touched many lives. Rest In Peace In our Saviors arms as your blessings flowed to others and your hard work and compassion and battle well fought stand as a role model for many. Thank you and condolences to the Tomzik family.

Condolence from Barbara Bieber on December 18th, 2017 9:18 pm

Deeply saddened as I came upon the notice this morning of Fr. Fred. My husband and I first met him at Divine Infant in Westchester years ago about planning our marriage. I had just become a parishioner there and my then fiancé was not Catholic but he welcomed us. Now 25 years later, my husband still remembers that first office meeting and him saying: “if you can open this box, you can get married”. Not a bad start for what would be an introduction to the Church for my husband—a funny, down to earth Priest. We did not have the pleasure to know him as well as others, as he left Divine Infant shortly after, but from reading the loving condolences here, we certainly missed a giving, devoted, fun, and Holy Priest. Amazing how a comparatively brief moment in time can still leave an impression on one’s heart. My condolences to the Tomzik family, his many friends and parishioners and all those lives he’s touched through the years.

Condolence from Mary Rowell on December 19th, 2017 11:10 am

Father Fred, Thank you so much for being so kind to me and being open hearted. You meant so much to me. Thanks for taking us to the wolves games and thanks for always coming in to our ccd class and talking about your job and showing us some cool things that you get to use for your job. You will be greatly missed by so many. You touched so many peoples lives. May you go be our heavenly father and savior Jesus Christ. You were always smiling even when you were in pain. You always made me laugh when you did your homilies. You are now at peace and you don’t have to suffer anymore. R.I.P to a great Pastor. We love you so much.

Condolence from Gary Kirkilas on December 19th, 2017 6:09 pm

Fr.Fred was a wonderful parish priest. I’ll forever have fond memories of him while at Divine Infant.

RIP Fr. Fred

Condolence from Sheila Young on December 20th, 2017 4:44 pm

Father Fred was a wonderful pastor. My prayers are with him and his family. May he rest in the arms of Jesus in heaven.

Condolence from Rosa G on December 22nd, 2017 10:56 am

My sincerest condolences for your loss. God’s Word the Bible tells us of the many future promises of God’s kingdom that give us real comfort now. Jesus will resurrect those asleep in death. John 5:28,29 Almighty God will then overcome the enemy death. 1 Corinthians 15:26

Condolence from Cassandra Pierce on November 13th, 2022 9:55 am

I’m a little late, but I didn’t know until just now. I was a student at Divine Infant in the 90s and will never forget your teachings and kindness. I’ll always remember the annual haunted house and you teaching me how to be an altar server. You were also there for us during the very long year of preparing for confirmation. Rest in peace father Fred. May the four winds blow you safely home.

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