Deacon Greg Serangeli, Pere Marquette honoree, dies at 87

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 11 a.m. at St. Edward Church, Chillicothe for Deacon Greg Serangeli, who served as a deacon in the Diocese of Peoria for 42 years.
Deacon Greg, age 87, of Peoria, passed away on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 at Methodist Hospital in Peoria.
He was born on May 24, 1937 in Pekin to Gregorio and Argenite (Porcari) Serangeli, and married Sharon M. Bannon on Oct. 22, 1966 in LaGrange, IL.
He heard a voice saying, “I want you to be a deacon.” He called Deacon Bernard Filzen . . . and asked him, ‘What does a deacon do?’”
Following six years of service in U.S. Air Force in the 169th Tactical Fighters Squadron Intelligence Section, he worked at Caterpillar for 43 years.
CAME TO KNOW “PAPA GOD”
As was described in an article in the Catholic Post in 2008 on the occasion of his 25th anniversary of diaconal ordination, Deacon Serangeli came to know God the Father “as ‘Papa God’” at a Cursillo spiritual renewal weekend in 1978.
As the article goes on to recount, “Two years later, while driving to his job . . . at Caterpillar, he heard a voice saying, ‘I want you to be a deacon.’ He called Deacon Bernard Filzen to meet for lunch and asked him, ‘What does a deacon do?’”
Ordained as a permanent deacon in 1983, Deacon Greg would serve at St. Edward Parish in Chillicothe for 40 years. He became a leader in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement in the Diocese of Peoria and served as the director of the diocesan Office of Evangelization.
Among his many ministries, he felt a special calling to serve those in need of inner healing and spent 20 years healing and setting people free from crippling memories.
FAITHFUL, FRUITFUL SERVICE
For his faithful and fruitful service, Deacon Greg was presented with the Pere Marquette Award, the highest honor given by the Diocese of Peoria, as well as the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross for service to the Church.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon; his children, Gregory (Christine) Serangeli, Jr. of Washington, IL; Teresa (Darren Fuller) Serangeli and Michael (Joanna Asia Gumiega) Serangeli of Chicago; his grandchildren, Kathryn, Vincent, and Gregory Serangeli, Ethan and Isabella Fuller and Maksymilian Serangeli; his niece, Norma Jean (Steve) Mefford of Pekin; his nephew, Joseph Serangeli and his sister-in-law, Mary Jo (Michael) Pritchard.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Joe Serangeli and his sister Norma Rossi.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, Jan. 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. at St. Edward Church. Burial will follow the 11 a.m. funeral Mass Wednesday afternoon at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Pekin.
Memorials in Deacon Greg’s name may be made to St. Edward Church or school. Arrangements are under the care of Weber-Hurd Funeral Home in Chillicothe.