Rev. Bernard S. Zeller, CSV, died Mar. 24, 1958 at St. Nicholas Church in Chicago after suffering from a heart condition. He was 49.
Fr. Zeller was born Sept. 23, 1908 in Chicago and studied at St. Ignatius High School in Chicago. He earned a Bachelor of Science in business education in 1943 from St. Ambrose College in Davenport, IA and a Master’s of Art in business administration in 1945, from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
At the age of 31, Fr. Zeller entered the Viatorian Community in 1939. He professed his first vows on Aug. 31, 1940 and his perpetual vows on Aug. 31, 1943.
He was ordained to the priesthood on May 20, 1945 at St. Andrew Church in Chicago, and after ordination, he fulfilled various teaching assignments. Terms included Springfield Junior College in Springfield, IL; DePaul University in Chicago; and Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, NY.
In 1951, Fr. Zeller was assigned to St. Thomas Vocational School in Savannah, GA where he cared for homeless boys until 1953 when he was assigned to teach at St. Philip High School in Chicago.
A new assignment took Fr. Zeller to serve as chaplain at Manteno State Hospital in 1957 and it was during his stay there that he became ill.
He continued to minister, however, and was sent to assist diocesan priests serving at St. Nicholas Parish, where soon after he died.
A solemn requiem Mass was offered March 28 at St. Viator Church in Chicago by the Rev. John F. Brown, CSV, provincial, with the Rev. John B. Cusack, CSV, preaching the sermon.
Fr. Zeller was buried in the Viatorian plot at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL.
Taken from newspaper obituary, source and date unknown and the 1959 Annuaire, a publication of the Viatorian General Direction, pp. 36-38