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Fr. Cekada was born in La Jolla, California, July 18, 1951, son of the late Frank and Eleanor (Nardi) Cekada. He was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and grew up during the revolutionary years of the 1960’s. Privileged to be of the last generation raised in the True Catholic Faith, he was educated by the Dominican Sisters and spiritually fed with daily High Mass and doctrine. This Faith formed him, inspired him and inevitably demanded of him many sacrifices which he willingly made for the Church and for souls.
Fourteen-year-old Anthony Cekada entered De Sales Prep or Minor Seminary in Milwaukee for High School, graduating in 1969. At the minor seminary he was able to pursue piano and then organ. He wanted to learn not only to play and accompany Mass, but to compose good music to counter the junk being produced by the Changes. He did more than that, however. At the age of fourteen he also began studies at the Milwaukee Conservatory of Music under the renowned musician and polymath Michael Hammond. This transformed him, in his own words "over two intense years, from being an untrained but eager musical ignoramus at fourteen to being the accomplished and technically adept orchestral composer of a major work at sixteen." Amazing, but to be listed among his many accomplishments in life….
Fr. Cekada rarely spoke of these things. He was too busy doing things. He was all the time teaching himself whatever discipline the moment, the needs of the Church and souls, required. In addition to organ and musical composition, Fr. Cekada was a seminary professor for over forty years, teaching music, chant, Sacred Liturgy, Psalms and Canon Law. Because there was no one else to do it, Fr. Cekada taught himself accounting as a newly ordained priest at St. Joseph’s House of Studies in Armada, Michigan. Techniques changed over the years, but he was still doing the church accounting last January, when the strokes began. Teaching was surely his great love. While he willingly assisted anyone who came to him for guidance or advice, his special devotion was to young people, for whom he would make any sacrifice. Until his last months he was daily answering emails not only on Church questions, but especially vocation inquiries from youth.
Fr. Cekada taught himself the complicated discipline of liturgical rubrics when Bishop Dolan was consecrated in 1993, and wrote detailed directions for all the pontifical ceremonies. During the long dispute with the Pius X Society, which wanted to force a reconciliation with Modernist Rome, Fr. Cekada taught himself a good deal of Civil Law. He also tried his hand at church design when the new St. Gertrude’s in West Chester, Ohio was built in an attractive traditional style in 2003. Since 2009, Fr. Cekada returned to his old love of church music, directing St. Gertrude’s music program, and playing the organ.
In addition to his teaching and care for souls (Fr. Cekada was founding pastor of St. Hugh of Lincoln Church in Milwaukee), he was also an avid and prolific writer, on topics ranging from theology and modern questions, to liturgy and traditionalist controversies. He produced an accurate translation of the Ottaviani Intervention, The Problem with the Prayers of the New Mass (well over 15,000 sold), and the practical and ever popular Welcome to the Traditional Latin Mass and The Problem of Authority. Fr. Cekada’s great life’s work is the definitive study of the New Mass, Work of Human Hands, with nearly 5,000 copies in print. His numerous YouTube videos delight, edify and educate, presenting the traditional Catholic position. One wonders how he found time for it all.
When Fr. Cekada completed his studies at De Sales Seminary with a bachelor’s of divinity, he entered the Cistercians and briefly did studies at the Monastery of Hautrive in Fribourg, Switzerland. Later he entered the Society of St. Pius X at Écône, Switzerland, where he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1977.
Fr. Cekada has served as assistant pastor of St. Gertrude the Great since 1989, after a number of years at St. Pius V Chapel in Oyster Bay, New York.
Fr. Cekada’s life, his forty-three years of priesthood, have yielded incredible results. But he was an extraordinary man. His self-discipline, devotion and drive were not only matched but excelled by his humility, and his trademark sense of humor. His great erudition caused his friends to esteem him and his foes at times to fear him, and all to respect him, but it was his gentle humor which won him admiration even from those who disagreed with him.
As we mourn him now, and mark an extraordinary life in these most difficult of days, we should remember him most of all, for his first love and enduring devotion for teaching the Catholic Faith, for our youth. Father said it best, "a testament to the lasting and profound change that one good teacher can make…." His rest is well earned, "his works follow him."
ANDRESKI, Edward John. August 26, 2018. Age 79. Beloved husband of Elaine for 59 cherished years.
Loving father of Jeff, Jim (Denise), Pam (Mike), & David.
Proud & adored grandfather of Christopher, Jeffrey (Alison), Mary, Kristine, Monica (Robert), Steven, Juliana, Matthew, James, Jennifer, Mark, & great grandfather of Catherine Therese.
Treasured brother of Joyce (the late Ren) Sagaert & Marie Murphy.
Visitation Wednesday 3-9pm with a 7:30pm Rosary Service at Wujek - Calcaterra & Sons Inc., 36900 Schoenherr Rd. at Metro Parkway (16 Mile).
Funeral Mass Thursday 11am at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church 16414 E. 14 Mile Road (W. of Utica Road).
Memorial contributions in Edward's honor are appreciated to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church.
Interment, Resurrection Cemetery. Please share memories with the family at their "On-Line Guestbook" at WujekCalcaterra.com
Edited from the official version.
Born on October 31, 1931 in Waseca, MN and passed away on August 6, 2021 in Edina, MN at the age of 89. A resident of Edina, MN and Bonita Springs, FL, Frank was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, uncle and friend. He had the gift of a quick wit and humor that only got better with age. He especially enjoyed the laughter which followed after repeating what he misheard. When the atmosphere was tense, he injected levity. He had many stories to tell about his experiences. After graduating from Sacred Heart School in Waseca, Frank served four years in the US Air Force and was stationed in Japan during the Korean War all the while wearing the brown scapular. He attended college on the GI Bill and became a teacher, including serving as a football, basketball, baseball coach and theater director. He married at a Catholic mass the love of his life, Susan, on July 20, 1963, a day of a total solar eclipse! In 1967 he completed his Master's Degree in Reading. He retired in 1992 after 35 years as an educator. Frank and Susan became Snowbirds in the year 2000, where they built a community of friends, played golf, and enjoyed the warmth and sunshine. He enjoyed watching the NFL, MLB, and many golf tournaments. Frank was a life-long Roman Catholic with a strong faith in God, baptized under the reign of Pope Pius XI (in good faith he went along with the changes of Vatican II). He was an honest and good man. Frank is survived by his loving wife Susan (Sinclair); his children: Erin (Steven) Tesch of Hopkins, MN; Meaghan Nermyr (Chris Berens) of Bloomington, MN; Kerry (Brad) Fiery of Harrison, NY; and Tim McShane of Otsego, MN. His grandchildren are: Cory Tesch, Lindsay Nermyr (Nick Feidt), Kaitlyn, Elle and David Fiery, and Michael (Courtney), Jack and Katie McShane, and one great grandchild, Tyler Feidt. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and friends (including former students). Frank was preceded in death by his parents John and Ellen (Devine); by his sisters Emily Matz, Kathleen Claffey, Veronica Miller, and infant, Dorothy; his brothers Ambrose, Gerard, Joseph, and infant Raymond; and by his grandson Tyler Nermyr. Private interment was at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Helen Anna Pfannenstiel Nugent was an early traditionalist in eastern Iowa. She was the organist and typed the bulletin for her parish in Grand Mound, Iowa, and with her priest did not like the Vatican II changes.
Her first husband, Bill McDonnell, was a test pilot for the Navy but died in a test flight crash over the Pacific, leaving Helen pregnant with their 10th child.
A few years later, Helen met and married Raymond Nugent, a widower with 4 children. Ray had lost his wife, Mavis Puck, to cancer shortly after the death at age 2 of their son William, who had Down Syndrome.
Helen and Ray had 4 more children together. Ray unfortunately remained in the Novus Ordo, but Helen became a staunch sedevacantist. They are the grandparents of Fr. Philip Eldracher.
Helen was predeceased by her husband, Ray, who died in 2006 after a brief bout with liver cancer. Helen lived 3 more years in a nursing home, developing dementia.
They are buried in Grand Mound, Iowa.
Helen was a well-known figure at St. Gertrude the Great for several years - always chatty, happy, and with a smile on her face. Her distinctive New York accent made her many colorful stories even more entertaining.
Helen never liked the changes, so years ago she used to hide out in the library at the Catholic University in northeastern Ohio. There was a priest whom she would often see come in to do research. Many years later, when she discovered the True Mass in Cincinnati, she was surprised to find that he was her new assistant pastor. "I know you!" she exclaimed to Fr. Anthony Cekada.
Helen's sudden death was quite a shock to all her friends at SGG.
Helen Mariam Laub (nee Herz), a devoted mother and grandmother, of Kettering, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly May 15, 2024 at the age of 66. She was born January 21, 1958, in New York, New York.
While pursuing her bachelor's degree in English at St. John's University in New York, Helen met the love of her life, Salah Ismail. After their courtship, the couple was married on May 26, 1979, at the campus chapel. Helen was a devoted mother and spent her time raising her children as well as working with her husband's businesses until his passing. After the passing of her husband, Helen moved to Ohio in 1992 to be close to her sister Catherine and to raise her four children. In addition to raising her children, Helen was a substitute teacher for many years in Hillsboro Ohio. After moving to Dayton Ohio, she achieved a Paralegal degree and worked as a Paralegal Assistant. While Helen did remarry, the later part of her life was devoted solely to her faith, and she spent her time supporting and participating in all aspects of her church and congregation. She will always be remembered as a woman who could (and would) talk to anyone, never shy to make a new connection and create new friendships. She was a kind, strong woman who loved to read and learn about everything around her. She took a deep pride and joy in being a mother and grandmother and loved to cook for her family and friends. Her spinach pie was must for every holiday and get-together.
Helen was preceded in death by: parents, J. Robert and Helen A. (nee Torbush) Herz; and husband, Salah Ismail.
Helen is survived by: children, Yasmine (Shawn) Daulton, Mounia (Adam) Rankin, Sherif (Cherene Spires) Ismail, and Terek Kelly; grandchildren, Kadin Daulton, Julian Daulton, Nora Rankin, Ella Rankin, Kate Rankin, Caroline Rankin, Jax Rankin, Lucas Ismail, and Isla Ismail; siblings, Catherine (Michael) Bach, Warren (Helen Pritsiolas) Herz, and Susan (Tom) Veale; and many loving family members and friends.
Visitation will be Tuesday, May 28, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM with the Rosary at 7:00 PM at Mueller Funeral Home, 6791 Tylersville Road, Mason, Ohio 45040.
Requiem Mass will be Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 11:25 AM at St. Gertrude the Great RC Church, 4900 Rialto Road, West Chester, Ohio 45069. Interment will immediately follow in Calvary Cemetery, 1625 Calvary Drive, Dayton, Ohio 45409.
Memorial donations may be directed to: Dayton Metro Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402 or to St. Gertrude the Great RC Church.
Mueller Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Irene Ulanowski was a longtime parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church in Fraser, MI, finding the traditional Mass after the death of her husband John and of her mother, Anna, for whom she was a primary caretaker. A tall, heavyset Polish woman with a walker and a distinctive twinkle in her eye, Irene was an outspoken champion for proper treatment of "we seniors" and beloved by all. She eventually suffered a stroke and spent the last nine months of her life in a nursing home.
She is buried beside her husband, John, in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Hamtramck, MI.
Jan Groen became friends with Irene Ulanowski when they were both in the same nursing home after Irene's stroke. Jan was discharged after rehab for a fall shortly before Irene's death. She wanted to be a good Catholic and was upset to hear of the changes in the Church, but wasn't really able to fully understand or act on them.
She passed away in late October of 2019 after a long battle with diabetes and many other health conditions. She was of a very anxious and depressed nature - please pray for her!
Her mother, Helen Groen, was also a devout Catholic (Jan had many of her statues and religious artwork in the spare room of her condo), but I have no idea as to her date of death.
Jean and her husband Kirby were born 5 days apart in the small town of Bloomer, WI. After their marriage, they had trouble applying for passports because their birth certificates had been issued on the same day and the passport office thought there had been a mistake!
They had an adventurous life together, moving to several different US states and even living abroad in Libya briefly due to Kirby's job with an oil company and later in sales.
They lived for many years near Georgetown, KY, but moved to West Chester, OH as they got up in years to be closer to Mass at St. Gertrude the Great in West Chester (Cincinnati), OH.
Both Jean and Kirby were pioneers in the traditional movement, hosting many priests and Masses in their various homes over the years. They were close friends with Charles Bellavia (also on this site) and his wife, Val.
Jean died suddenly but not unprovided on a Sunday afternoon, only minutes after receiving the Last Sacraments. She had made her last confession just two days earlier.
She is buried in Hamilton, IN, in the same cemetery as her toddler granddaughter, St. Monica Ann Bischel.
John Ulanowski was the husband of Irene Ulanowski. He worked at Chrysler and with his wife took care of her elderly mother, who was nearly blind, for many years. He passed away from congestive heart failure.
He is buried next to Irene in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Hamtramck, MI. He was traditional-minded but never found the Latin Mass. He and his wife often housed Fr. Thomas Stringowski, a cousin who had been in a concentration camp and who was treated poorly by the diocese of Detroit for resisting the changes.
Date of death is approximate - he was buried August 26th.
Juan Carlos was a gentle person, friendly and unobtrusive. He was well-balanced, humble, and incredibly informed about the faith. Active on social media, he wasn't combative, but always shared posts meant to increase God's glory.
He suffered a head injury from a falling limb while he was at work and later died from organ failure. He is missed by many traditional Catholics.
Margaret was the wife of Raymond Klabenes. They were founding members of the St. Theresa's parish in O'Neill, NE, and she is buried next to her husband in the on-site cemetery. Later in life, Margaret lost both legs to diabetes and had to use a wheelchair.
Father of 4, he was a teacher of Chemistry and Biology in
high school, later worked in distribution of newspaper. Growing up he did not know the true Faith, as
my grandfather was agnostic and my grandmother a mixture of Spiritualist/Santeria
and Catholicism. He knew the real Mass, when he was a child my grandmother used
to go the Church that was near the house, which lasted just thru his childhood
since they moved, and a chapel was not nearby. During is young adult years, he
was involved with Spiritualism, until my mother started having dreams with the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, which she did not know. My mother, realizing that was
God’s calling she went out to seek the Catholic Church. Sadly, in Puerto Rico,
the Novus ordo destroyed all vestiges of the Catholic Church. However, in this
process my dad found the faith (although distorted), and totally left the
syncretism that he had spoused earlier due to his upbringing. In spite the distorted
of the Faith by the Novus ordo, his aspiration was to be Catholic, since the
real Mass was very dear to his heart and he long for it, lamenting the “Church”
had change it. He was a traditional Novus ordo, his conversion happened at the
hand of elder Benedictine monks (they were ordained with pre-1969 rites) who
were very traditional leaning and did not see the changes as a good thing, but
they were compelled to follow due to their understanding of obedience. My dad
cared that we learn the faith, but his ways were such that all his children learn
to hate the Church and the Faith. By the good graces of God, I converted 8
years ago, and so my elder brother. I still have two more siblings that need conversion,
which with the help of God, I’m working through prayer to bring them to the Lord’s
vineyard. I’m not sure if he received the sacrament of extreme unction, but at
least I know that it was an elder priest who went out to visit him in his last
days (I was not there), which give me hope that he made it. My dad has so much
to atone for, I beg that in your kindness remember him in your prayers, I know
that being who he was, he will remember you.
Raymond and his wife, Margaret, purchased the current chapel at St. Theresa's in O'Neill, NE, for $650 when the Novus Ordo in Clearwater, 30 miles away, was selling it at auction. They were also able to acquire many of the furnishings, down to the altar boy cassocks and surplices.
With the help of many others, the church was then transported to the outskirts of O'Neill, where it now sits. Raymond built the small parish hall, now the kitchen, as a later addition. Bp. Mark Piverunas, CMRI, celebrated the first Mass there on Easter Sunday and vested outside as the sacristy was not attached yet.
Raymond is buried next to his wife and infant grandson, St. Stanley Klabenes, in the cemetery onsite.
Rosella Gayner, age 85 of Rochester Hills died July 26, 2013. She was born May 28, 1928 in Pennsylvania the daughter of William and Hazel (Green) Leckner. She was a kindergarten teacher at her church, a clerk in retail, and a devoted wife and mother. She married Peter Gayner and he survives her.
She is the mother of Ger Gayner, David (Maria) Gayner, Beverly (Rocky) Lowes, and Joe (Terri) Gayner; the grandmother of Joe, Jenny, Julie, Mitchell, Brad, Lauren, Robbie, Katie, Jessie, Jack, Nick, Abbie, Beckie, and Holly; She is the great grandmother of 4; the aunt of several nieces and nephews; and she was preceded by 3 brothers.
The Requiem Mass will be Tuesday at 10:00 am at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, 16414 E. 14 Mile, Fraser. Visitation Monday 2-8 pm at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 32000 Schoenherr at Masonic (13 1/2 mile) Warren. Rosary 7:00 pm. Memorials may be made to the parish at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs if you would like to. Burial at Resurrection Cemetery.