A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. May 5 in Epiphany Church, Normal, Ill., for Richard Swantek, who died April 26. He was 87.
Mr. Swantek was the father of Father Zachary Swantek, priest of the Diocese of Trenton and chaplain for Princeton University. Father Swantek will celebrate the Mass; burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Normal. Father Swantek will plan a memorial service for his father in St. Helen Church, Westfield, at a later date.
A resident of Normal, Ill., Mr. Swantek was born in June 1937 in Newark. He graduated from Seton Hall Preparatory School, West Orange, and attended Seton Hall University before entering St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore. He ultimately decided to withdraw from seminary and joined the Peace Corps, serving in Columbia and building bridges across cultures and communities.
Upon returning to New Jersey, Richard worked for the Union County Welfare Board, dedicating his career to helping Spanish-speaking immigrants and refugees. It was there that he met his future wife, Linda. The two married in October 1974 in St. Helen Church, where Mr. Swantek was an active member and daily communicant. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2024.
Mr. Swantek was pre-deceased by his parents, Henry and Patricia; and his brother, Donald. In addition to his priest son, he is survived by his wife, Linda; son, Luke (Trulie); and five grandchildren, Linus, Chiara, Monica, Zelie and Anastasia.
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