Fr. Edmond DesForges, OFM Conv., entered eternal life on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the age of 76.
Father DesForges was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 5,1949, to Mr. Edmond George and Colette (née Morrison) DesForges, and has four sisters. Father DesForges attended Marist High School, where he began studying the French language and continued this study at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. He entered the Novitiate of the Conventual Franciscan Friars in Lake Forest, Illinois and professed final vows in the early 1970s. He completed his studies while attending the University of Saint Michael,Toronto, Canada and was ordained to the priesthood on April 30, 1977, at Saint Josaphat Basilica in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Father DesForges served as Postulant Director (Chicago, Illinois), as a Chaplain with the Felician Sisters (Chicago, Illinois), assisted couples through “Marriage Encounter”, and in secondary education taught religion and the French language. He served as an Associate Pastor at Saint Hedwig (Detroit, Michigan), as an educator at Saint Hedwig High School (Detroit, Michigan) and at Divine Child High School (Dearborn Heights, Michigan), as an Administrator and Bereavement Chaplain at Saint Hedwig Cemetery and Mausoleum (Dearborn Heights, Michigan) and occasionally assisted the friar-priests at Saint Linus Parish (Dearborn Heights, Michigan).
Visitation will be held on Monday, March 23, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with a Franciscan Wake Service at 7:00 PM, at Marytown (1600 West Park Avenue, Libertyville, Illinois 60048). His funeral Mass will be Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Marytown. He will be interred at Saint Adalbert Cemetery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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