Deacon Thomas J. WAKEN, Age 66. Beloved husband of Jeannine (nee Ostrowski). Dearest father of Katherine Swigonski (Daniel), Renee Paul (Jason), Sarah Wiersma, Danielle Rinaldi (Jerald), and FCPO Victor (Heather). Loving grandfather of 14. Dear brother of Richard, Donald, Joseph, and the late Elizabeth Beckstrom. Dear uncle and friend to many.
PLEASE MEET THE FAMILY AT CHURCH for the Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, June 14, 11:00 AM at St. Leo the Great Church. Interment: Holy Cross Cemetery. Visitation: Wednesday 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:30 PM at The Zabor Funeral Home, 5680 Pearl Rd. Parma (betw. Snow and Ridge).
In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Meinrad’s Archabbey, www.saintmeinrad.edu. To offer online condolences please visit www.ZaborFH.com
Messages of Condolence
So completely in shock……He was a wonderful human being , I am blessed to have had the opportunity to have him in my life while at St. Leo’s……he was responsible for enlighting my faith in the Lord. Obviously he is needed for better things. My prayers go out to his wonderful family as well……stay strong !! Love always Kelli
Jeannine & family:
Please accept our heartfelt prayers and condolences on your loss. Dc. Tom’s life has touched so many people, and he will be missed! We thank God that he had been part of ours, and we look forward in hope to the day we will see him again.
Peace and Blessings,
The Coriale family
Jeannie and family,
I am so sorry to hear of Tom’s death. My prayers are with you and your family during this most difficult time. May God give you the strength and courage you need..
Pece,
Sr. Eileen Golby
I am so sorry for your loss. I remember meeting Katie’s dad at her and Dan’s wedding. He was so welcoming and quite frankly seemed like such a wonderful man.
Jeannine & family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of loss.
We have been blessed in meeting you and Tom and spending time with both of you. We will sorely miss him and look foward to the day when we’ll meet againl
Frank and Natoma
Jeannine, I was sorry to hear about Tom’s recent death. Know that you and your family are remembered in my thoughts and prayers. I remember meeting you at the NACC Conference the year Tom was in Evansville, Indiana.
Jeannine & family:
Please accept our prayers and condolences on Dc. Tom’s passing. Dc. Tom’s life was an inspiration for all servants of Christ. His years in pastoral care touched many and taught many how to care and to serve others. We miss him now but look forward to seeing him again.
Peace and Blessings,
Dc. Mark , Linda, Matthew, and Andrew Woelfel
Jeannine and family,
What a shock…I am so sad to hear of Tom’s passing. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers and that you have many friends here at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton who have been blessed by his presence.
We spoke at staff today about one of Tom’s great gifts. He could always get your attention in his homilies and had a great ability to connect the Gospel to our everyday lives.
God bless you and yours,
Jayne Morris
So sorry to hear of Dc Tom’s death. Please know that we at SEAS are praying for the repose of his soul and for comfort for family and friends. God bless.
Jeannine and family,
We are so sorry to hear about the loss of Tom. We so loved his wonderful sense of humor. Please accept our sincere condolences and know you are in our prayers.
Peace,
Dc. Larry and Ellie Durbin
peace beyond all understanding at this sacred time for your family. we send you all love.
Dear Jeannine:
So sorry to hear about Deacon Tom’s passing. You are in my thoughts and prayers during this time of loss.
Hugs from Lexington! My thoughts are drifting back to when I told you I used to notice his glances to you during his homilies – such a sweet reminder of your love for each other. Keep him always in your heart.
In blessed repose, grant O Lord , eternal rest to your servant, the Deacon Thomas, and remember him forever.
Our sincere prayers to Jeannine and the Waken family.
May God grant to you his peace during this time of your loss.
Dear Jeannine and Family,
We join your St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish family in sending our deepest sympathy and condolences. We are shocked and sorry to hear of Tom’s death and will keep him and your family in our prayers.
Peace and blessings,
Bob and Diana
Dear Jeannine and family,
Truly took my breath away when I heard the news. What huge loss for you and all of us. My heart is very sad today as I greieve along with you. Tom was such a great person, so loving and a great Servant in the Church. He loved you and his family so much. His ministry at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was such a great gift, I so enjoyed the years of working with him. He was a great preacher, and had a great sense of humor. He was so good as a Chaplin in his Miinstry at St. Joe Hospital… the Lord touched many lives through him. When Jesus said You are the salt of the earth and the Light of the World..Dc. Tom was! He will be greatly missed. May the Lord welcome him into the banquet he has prepared for him in our Father’s house.
May the Lord embrace him in his light and peace and may He send that same embrace upon you and hold you in your grief.
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. John Moriarty
Dear Jeannine and family,
My deepest sympathy and prayers to all of you. May God comfort you and give you peace. Dcn. Tom will be greatly missed. May he rest in eternal peace with all the faithful departed who have gone before him.
Peace and blessings,
Dcn. Bob and Connie Kotzbauer
Jeannine, we are shocked and saddened to hear of Tom’s death. You both were there for us at a crucial time in our lives. God knew what he was doing in providing you as mentors. Thank you for your love and prayers and know that we give thanks to God for your lives. –zig and Georgia
My heart is heavy for all of you. I was so surprised and so sad to hear the news. I know he was an important part of the foundation for your family and it just seems like it was too, too soon for him to go.
All of you are in my heart and my thoughts are with you as you move through this time.
love to each of you, Kim
Jeannine, like everyone else, we too are shocked to hear of Tom’s death. “Sorry” doesn’t even come close, but we are nonetheless. Please know that you and the family are in our prayers and take consolation that Jesus promised comfort to those who mourn.
Peace.
Dc. Skip & Cindy Olson
My prayers are with your family. Dn. Tom was the head of chaplains when I did my CPE at St. Joe’s.
I remember him fondly, even the arguments!!
Dear Jeannine,
My prayers and thoughts are with you and with Tom. We wrere graced with your service here in Lexington.
Father Dan Noll
Dear Jeannine, our most sincere condolances; we are privileged to have know Tom. Both of you brought your talents and energies to our diocese making a lasting impact by your witness, failth, and service. I offer my morning office for this week for Tom’s repose and for the grace of comfort for you. Blessings, Deacon Bill & Cheryl Wakefield
I come with mixed emotions,
1. having a glad feeling, to have known and worked with such a wonderful and generous person as Reverend Thomas Waken
And
2. feelings of saddness for the family and friends of Reverend Thomas Waken, we offer our condulences and prayers
Our sincere sympathy to Jeannine, Renee and the family. We will remember Tom in our prayers at Mass tomorrow. May he rest in peace.
Tom and Alice Kulwicki
JEANNINE AND FAMILY -I WAS SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT TOM’S PASSING AND IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN I WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE FOR THE MASS AND THE FUNERAL HOME – HE WAS ONE OF THE FEW RELIGIOUS THAT I COULD REALLY TALK TO. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS VI
Dear Jeannine and family,
I just heard yesterday of Tom’s passing. I am so sorry to hear of his passing. I will always have fond memories of my time working with him. His warm laugh, his jolly attitude, …just a joy all the way around. We shared many times together talking about our families, our children, our spouses. He was so proud of each of you. Please know that my thoughts and prayers go out to each of you. Sincerely, Jeanie Lawson, (outreach at Saint Joseph Hospital)
Dear Jeannine,
I was quite surprised to hear about Tom. I was recently asked about how my journey into chaplaincy started and thought of my first visit with Tom at Saint Joe’s. His encouragement and support at the hospital meant a lot to me. My prayers are with you and your family. God’s grace and strength! -Flora Washburn
To the family, I just ran across this untimely death of cousin Thomas J. Waken, I was shocked that he had passed away.
I will say a prayer for cousin Deacon Thomas J. Waken, at Mass Saturday evening. I am very sorry that we never got to meet. I was suppose to meet Tom in Enid, but didn’t know exactly the time and date. I called Bill and George to let me know if he got there, but never heard from them. Please accept my condolences. cousin, Tom Waken
i love you papa. :):):);)
Prayers being sent yer way! I am sorry Danielle. Miss you and hope you are well !