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Rev. Ernest Robert Norbeck

Deceased: 2018-03-07

Diocese: JOLIET IN ILLINOIS

ICTE Fall: 2001

Rev. Ernest R. Norbeck

In your prayers, please remember Father Ernest Norbeck who entered Eternal Life on March 7, 2018.

Ernest R. Norbeck was born on March 9, 1944 in Philadelphia to Melvin Philip Norbeck and Frances Leva Norbeck, and was baptized at the Church of the Ascension. He attended Roman Catholic High School and LaSalle College, both in Philadelphia, and later, Joliet Junior College. From December 1967 to July 1976, he served in submarine service for the United States Navy. Answering a call to priestly ministry, Ernest entered Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, where he completed his studies for the priesthood. 

Following ordination to the priesthood on June 2, 1984 by Bishop Joseph L. Imesch at the Cathedral of St. Raymond, Father Norbeck was assigned to St. Dominic Parish in Bolingbrook. Subsequent assignments were at Visitation Parish in Elmhurst (1984); the Cathedral of St. Raymond (1989) and St. Joseph Parish in Bradley (1994).

In June of 1995, Father Norbeck was named pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Naperville and in June of 2006, he became pastor of St. Mary of Gostyn in Downers Grove. Because of illness, Father Norbeck retired on June 24, 2015.

In addition to his pastoral assignments, Father Norbeck served on the Priests’ Retirement Board, and on the Presbyteral Council as secretary and later as chair.

Father Norbeck is survived by his sisters, Jackie (Leland) Benner and Loretta Sepelvada, his brother Frank (Marie) Norbeck, his friend and colleague Rev. William Cullen, and he is preceded in death by his brother Carl Norbeck.

The body of Father Norbeck will lie in state at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 2220 Lisson Road, Naperville, IL on Monday, March 12th 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday, March 13th 9:00 a.m. until 10:50 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Elizabeth Seton Church at 11:00 a.m. Following the Mass, his body will be buried at Resurrection Cemetery in Romeoville. Arrangements by Adams-Winterfield & Sullivan Funeral Home, Downers Grove, Illinois. 630-968-1000 or www.adamswinterfieldsullivan.com