A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 am on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria for Father Ed Carney, who ministered at the parish level, and with the diocesan permanent diaconate program, as well as in private practice.

Bishop Louis Tylka will officiate, and Father Eric Bolek will be the homilist.

Father Carney, age 87, passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at his home in East Peoria. He was born in Kewanee on Nov. 10, 1937, the middle of three sons born to Dr. Thomas and Katherine (Brugge) Carney.

He began his formal educational path toward the priesthood at St. Bede Academy in Peru, followed by St. Paul (MN) Seminary.

FIRST ASSIGNMENT: BLESSED SACRAMENT

After ordination in 1963, Father Carney was assigned to Blessed Sacrament Parish in Morton, and then to St. Joseph Parish in Rock Island.

Post-graduate studies in social work led to a private counseling practice, as well as the role of psychology director for the Diocese of Peoria’s permanent diaconate program from 1975-1983.

In his 60th anniversary profile in The Catholic Post in 2023, he described his motivation in becoming a counselor: “It was for being able to walk with somebody. That’s a privilege,” he said.

“That’s exactly what Jesus does – he walks with the apostles.”

Father Carney is survived by a sister-in-law, Mary Jessica Carney. He was preceded in death by his parents and his two brothers, Joseph and Thomas Carney.

FAVORITE ASSIGNMENT: “THE” BLESSED SACRAMENT

Visitation will be two hours prior to Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria from 9-11 a.m., Tuesday. Entombment will follow Mass at St. Mary’s Cemetery in West Peoria.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of donor’s choice or masses in Father Carney’s name.

In his 2023 Catholic Post profile, Father Carney said: “The greatest joy I have is saying Mass . . . . I’m in another world – his world.”