Fr. William "Bill" E. Cardy, OFM

Inspired by a brochure his father brought home from Mayslake Retreat House, Bill entered St. Joseph’s Franciscan Seminary in Oakbrook, IL at age 14 to study to become a Franciscan Friar of the Sacred Heart Province. Novitiate year was spent in Teutopolis, IL followed by undergraduate studies at Our Lady of Angels Seminary in Quincy, IL, and graduate studies in theology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Fr. Bill’s Deacon assignment was at St. Anthony’s Church in Parma, Ohio. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 1972, at St Thomas the Apostle Church in Chicago. His Mass of Thanksgiving was on June 11th at St. Mary of the Woods Church. His first assignment after ordination was as assistant pastor at St. Joseph’s Parish in San Antonio, TX. After that Fr. Bill served as Director of Formation at Sacred Heart Friary in Indianapolis as well as assistant pastor of Sacred Heart Church. He was then assigned to pastor of St. Philips Catholic Church in Stone Lake, WI where he also served St. Francis Solanus Church on the Chippawa Indian Reservation in Reserve, WI.

One of Fr. Bill’s favorite assignments was from 1986-2002 in the Diocese of Fairbanks serving the Alaskan Villages of Kalskag, Nulato, Aniak, Kaltag and Holy Cross. He had a special fondness for the Yu’pik, Athabaskan and Eskimo people he served, and they had a special fondness for him, bestowing the title on him of White Eagle, a high honor. For the last 18 years Fr. Bill has been stationed at St Anthony Friary in St Louis, MO. He served as Chaplain of Mercy Hospital South (formerly St. Anthony Hospital). He loved saying daily Mass and serving the patients. With his outgoing personality, he seemed to know most of the doctors, nurses, and housekeeping staff by name.

Fr. Bill loved the outdoors, bird watching, both the Cubs and Cardinals, and his adopted city of St. Louis. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and dear friends Marla Canady, Millie and Lamar Egart, Maureen Mattingly and his St. Mary of the Woods Grade School classmates. Fr. Bill will be remembered for his love of people, optimistic attitude, and kind disposition.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Yvonne (Crowley) Cardy and his sister Mary T. Cardy. He is survived by his brother Don (Peggy) Cardy, sister Sally (Andrew) Mosko and sister Carol Cardy Cueno. He was very fond of his nieces and nephews Frank, DJ and Evangeline Cardy, Kristin Mosko, Benjamin (Suzanne) Mosko and Angela Cueno, as well as grandnieces and nephews, Ace, Violet, and James Mosko.

Visitation is at St. Anthony Church, 3140 Meramec St., St. Louis, MO from 9-11 am November 15, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am. Private burial service for immediate family November 20 at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Franciscan Charities, 3140 Meramec St., St Louis, MO 63118.