Rev. Cornelius “Neil” Van Dyke II, 72, a resident of LaGrange Park and formerly of Riverside, died July 7, 2013 at LaGrange Memorial Hospital.
According to a 2009 interview in the Catholic New World, he grew up in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, attending St. Angela School and Austin High School, eventually becoming a plumber.
It was while a plumber’s apprentice with the Peace Corps in South America that he met his future wife, Mary Lee, a nurse. The two were married in Peru in 1963 and later moved to Riverside.
Father Neil came to the priesthood later in life, following the death of his wife of ALS in 1993 and his retirement from the post of director of public works for the village of Riverside.
While a layman, he served the as a permanent deacon for 11 years. After his retirement, Father Neil entered St. Mary of the Lake Seminary and was ordained in 1998 as a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago, serving for 12 years until his retirement in 2010.
During his time as a priest, Father Neil was pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Stickney, where he remained as pastor emeritus following his retirement from active priesthood.
He was father of Margot, Kathleen (David) Deitz, Cornelius “Trey” III (Jeanne) and Keith; the grandfather of Paige Deitz; and the brother of Donald (Mary) Van Dyke.
Father Neil will lie in state on Wednesday, July 10 from 3 to 8 p.m. at St. Mary Church, 126 Herrick Road in Riverside and on Thursday from 9 a.m. until an 11 a.m. funeral Mass. Burial is private.
Memorial donations are appreciated to University of Saint Mary of the Lake, 1000 E. Maple Ave, Mundelein, Ill. 60060.
Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, Riverside, handled arrangements.
