Fr. James F. Fanale, CSV, passed away unexpectedly on Oct. 13, in St. Anne, Illinois. He was 77.
Fr. Fanale was born Nov. 19, 1942 in Springfield, Illinois, the son of Michael and Gertrude (Davis) Fanale. He is survived by his brothers Michael (Dorothy) Fanale of Southport, NC and Thomas (Tamara) Fanale of Springfield, IL, and his sister Trudi (Robert Bjorge) Fanale. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Marianne Fanale.
Fr. Fanale pronounced his first vows Sept. 8, 1961 and was ordained a priest on June 7, 1969, in Springfield.
Fr. Fanale graduated from Griffin High School in Springfield, before earning a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Catholic University of America in Washington DC, and a Ph.D. in Medieval English Literature from the University of Illinois.
From 1969 to 1979, he taught Religion and English at Bishop McNamara High School in Kankakee, before completing post-graduate studies from 1979 to 1986.
He spent the next four years serving as Campus Minister and English Professor at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Terre Haute, IN, until June 1990. From 1990 to 1996 he worked in the Viatorian Archives, while researching the history of the Viatorians in the Chicago Province. At the same time, he taught part time (1990-92) at DePaul University in Chicago.
His last assignment came in 1996, when he was assigned as pastor of St. Anne Church, in rural St. Anne, IL. Fr. Fanale served there until July, 2019, when he retired but continued to live in the community.
Visitation for Fr. Fanale took place Oct. 20, before a Mass of Christian burial, both at St Anne Catholic Church. Interment took place Oct. 22 at Calvary Cemetery, in his native Springfield.