Rev. Francis J. Moisant, CSV, a former Army chaplain during World War I and statewide American Legion chaplain, died on Sunday, June 6, 1954 at Blue Island Hospital in South suburban Chicago, following a heart attack. He was 73 years old.
Born on October 31, 1880 in Aurora, IL, Fr. Mosiant’s early education was in his home parish school. His academic years and college work were formed by the Viatorians at St. Viator College in Bourbonnais.
Fr. Moisant pronounced his first vow on July 4, 1901, and on May 21, 1910 he was ordained to the priesthood. His early ministry took him to accept short teaching positions at Columbus College in South Dakota and back to St. Viator College in Bourbonnais.
However, the bulk of his years were spent serving as a missionary for 20 years with the Viatorian Mission Band and as an Army chaplain during World War I.
Because of his military service, Fr. Moisant was a member of American Legion posts in Kankakee and Springfield. At one time he served as state chaplain of the legion’s “40 & 8” organization, for leaders of the Legion. The French-themed group was originally named, La Societe des Quarente Hommes et Huit Chevaux, or the Society of Forty Men and Eight Horses.
At the time of his death, Rev. Moisant served as chaplain of Our Lady of Sorrows Institute in Blue Island. He also had served as pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Springfield from 1931 to 1945, and as pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Goodrich, IL from 1946 to 1948.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 9, at St. Viator Church in Chicago. After the Requiem High Mass with members of the Viatorian Community in prayer came the eulogy by one who knew him, His Excellency Bishop Bernard J. Sheil, an alumnus of St. Viator College.
Taken from obituary published in the 1955 Annuaire published by the General Direction and an obit news clipping – source and date unknown