A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025 at St. Jude Catholic Church, 10811 Knoxville Ave., Peoria, for Deacon Thomas Ivan Rapach, who served at St. Jude for 40 years.

Deacon Rapach passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. He was 95.

Visitation will be from 3 – 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9, at St. Jude, with additional visitation from 1:30 – 2 p.m. on Monday, February 10, also at the church.

BURIAL AT ST. CLEMENT’S, DUNLAP

Father Patrick Henehan, pastor of St. Jude, will officiate at the 2 p.m. funeral Mass, which will be followed by a reception. Burial will be at St. Clements Cemetery, Dunlap, at 4:30 p.m.

Deacon Rapach was born on Oct. 4, 1929, in Aliquippa, PA.

After earning a degree in accounting from Robert Morris University, he served in the United States Air Force and was assigned administrative duties during the Korean Conflict.

While working for BGF Goodrich in New York City in 1959, he met his future wife, Irene.

MARRIED BY FATHER

They were married by his father, Rev. Michael B. Rapach – a Byzantine Catholic priest – at St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Pittston, PA, in 1960.

Transferred to Peoria IL, the young couple made a home and raised a family together.

With the grace of the Holy Spirit, Deacon Rapach was ordained by Bishop Edward O’Rourke as a bi-ritual deacon in the Roman and Byzantine rites in 1983.

His lifelong assignment was at St. Jude Catholic Church, where he faithfully served for 40 years.

In 2018, he was privileged to attend the Peoria Honor Flight to Washington D.C. as a veteran.

He was also involved in Cursillo, pastoral care, prison ministries, church renewal programs, the Knights of Columbus, and various other spiritual initiatives.

GRANTED SENIOR STATUS IN HIS 90s

Deacon Rapach was granted senior status well into his 90s in 2023.

He is survived by his loving wife Irene Rapach. Four siblings preceded him in death.

Other survivors include his brother John (Peg) Rapach of Cincinnati OH, and Tom and Irene’s children, Thomas John (Toni) Rapach of Chicago; Mark (Brennan) Rapach of Dunlap; and Stephanie (Robert) Rapach-Friese of Brooklyn, NY.

Surviving grandchildren are Nathaniel Rapach, Mitchell Rapach, and Tressa Rapach of Chicago; Luke Rapach and Adam Rapach of Dunlap; and Henry Rapach-Friese of Brooklyn, NY, as well as several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Catholic Church or St. Jude Catholic Grade School.

Friends and family may log on to www.wrightandsalmon.com to leave condolences and memories.