Obituary of Casimir Zielinski

Father Dr. Casimir E. Zielinski, O.Carm. November 3, 1923-March 4, 2016 The Carmelites and his nieces, nephews and loved ones mourn the death of Fr. Cas who died at the age of 92 on March 4, 2016, the Feast of St. Casimir of Poland, in Sarasota, Florida. Casimir was born to (the late) Vincent Zielinski and (the late) Teofila (Lis) Zielinski on November 3, 1923, in Joliet, Illinois. He is preceded by his siblings, Vincent (Violet) Zielinski, Martha (Michael) Venardi, Wanda (Joseph) Papesh, Eleanor (John) Ksiazak and Bernard Zielinski. Casimir attended Holy Cross Grade School and Joliet Catholic High School, both in Joliet, Illinois. He then attended Mount Carmel College in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and after a novitate year in New Baltimore, Pennsylvania, professed first vows on August 15, 1947. He attended Canisius College in Buffalo, New York; St. Bonaventure University in Olean, New York (BA in Philosophy); Grenoble University in Grenoble, France; and the University of Chicago, in Chicago, Illinois (MA in Counseling). On August 15, 1950, he made his solemn profession with the Carmelites, and began theology studies at Whitefriars Hall in Washington DC. He was ordained a Carmelite priest on June 4, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois. He later studied Latin poetry at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and received a Doctor in Education from the University of Houston in Houston, Texas. Father Casimir's first assignment was in 1953 as a member of the faculty for a year at Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He then became vice principal at Joliet Catholic High School. From 1956 to 1958 he served as vice principal and teacher at DeSales High School in Louisville, Kentucky and then returned to Joliet Catholic High School to serve as teacher and Director of Guidance. During that time he was also high school vocation director. From 1963 to 1967, he served at the Carmelite Junior Seminary in Hamilton, Massachusetts, teaching Latin, and also serving as assistant director at the Carmel Retreat House. From 1967 to 1971 he taught at Mount Carmel High School in Houston, Texas. In 1973, after studying for two years for his doctorate in education, he served as counselor at Menard Correctional Center in Chester, Illinois, for a year where he learned a new vocabulary never taught in the seminary. From 1974 to 1979 he served as Lecturer and Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Counseling at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois. From 1979 to 1987 he was associate professor at the School of Education at Seattle University, after which he took a year sabbatical, during which he studied Latin poetry at Grenoble University in Grenoble, France. He then returned to teaching at Seattle University from 1988- to 1993. He also served as missionary in San Salvador, Central America. In 1995 he joined the then recent re-foundation of the Order in France, eventually becoming the General Delegate of the Order in France, a position he held until 1998. In 1998, Father Casimir retired, although still serving part time as librarian at Whitefriars Hall in Washington, DC until 2001. He then moved to Carmel at Mission Valley in Nokomis, Florida, until March 2015, while serving as chaplain on 32 cruise line tours worldwide on a volunteer basis. Then he moved to Inn At Lake Pointe Woods in Sarasota, Florida. He died at Tidewell Hospice in Sarasota, Florida. Father's Carmelite Motto: I am filled with a Jealous Zeal for God -("Zelo Zelatus Zielinski"). His Desired Life Style: Compassion over Competition; My Favorite Psalm: Ps. 50 (King David "converted" by the Prophet Nathan). Ever- present Challenge of Living in Community: Both the Greatest Blessing and Greatest Pain. Most recent "Revelation": God desires LOVE, not rituals. Proud moments: concelebrating Holy Mass with St. John-Paul II on two occasions in his private chapel with small group of Carmelites. Another: St. John of the Cross OCD: I SAW A RIVER OVER WIICH EVERY SOUL MUST PASS TO REACH THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. AND THE NAME OF THAT RIVER WAS S-U-F-F-E-R-I-N-G. AND I SAW THE BOAT WHICH CARRIES SOULS ACROSS THE RIVER. AND THE NAME OF THE BOAT WAS L-O-V-E. "Fr. Cas" as he was affectionately called, served as an educator, counselor and role model. He used his God given talents, (spoke 12 languages) to put joy in other's hearts. His kindness, compassion, wisdom and enthusiasm will always be remembered as we fondly recall that warm smile that was always present. Thanks a lot! May God and our Beloved Lady of Mount Carmel bless you and keep you and yours in their precious love. Cas possessed a youthful and loving heart ever ready to celebrate the simiplest of joys and still was able to touch someone in the depths of despair. It was his nature to be as at ease with the well established as he was with those living in more than dire circumstances. Proud of his Polish roots, prouder to be a Zielinski, lover of languages, story teller, welcoming to family, friend, and stranger, he had an open-arms way of including others. He was indeed a Man of God Full of Life. His humanness is what drew him to so many. His ability to respond with the fruits of his personality and faith is the thing that made him so very appealing and approachable. May God bless his soul. Donations in honor of the Reverend Casimir Zielinski, O. Carm., may be made to: the Tidewell Hospice, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238 (tidewellhospice.org). For further information on the Reverend Casimir Zielinski, O. Carm., or the Order of Carmelites, please contact Carmelite Media at (630) 971-0724 or visit the Carmelite website at www.carmelnet.org. Visitation for Fr. Casimir will be held Saturday, March 19, 2016 from 11:30 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 901 Elizabeth Street, Joliet where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 Noon. As it was Fr. Casimir's wish, Cremation Rites were accorded in Sarasota, FL Interment will take place at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery immediately following funeral services.