Father Michael S. Franz

Bishop Edward Malesic celebrated the funeral Mass for Father Michael S. Franz on May 8 at St. Stephen Church in Cleveland. Father Franz, 87, died on May 1. Bishop Clarence Issenmann ordained him to the priesthood for service to the Diocese of Cleveland on May 31, 1969, in St. Gregory the Great Church, South Euclid. Father Franz served as a parochial vicar at St. Basil the Great Parish, Brecksville; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wickliffe; St. Rose Parish, Cleveland; St. Thomas More Parish, Brooklyn; St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Akron; and St. Francis Parish, Cleveland. He also served as chaplain at Brentwood and Suburban Community hospitals. Father Franz was named pastor of St. Stephen Parish, Cleveland on Aug. 1, 1987, where he served until retiring on Sept. 1, 2013. Interment was at Holy Cross Cemetery, Brook Park.

Father James P. O’Donnell

Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost was the principal celebrant at Father James P. O’Donnell’s funeral Mass on May 11 in St. Malachi Church, Cleveland. Father O’Donnell, 96, died on May 5. Archbishop Edward Hoban ordained him to the priesthood for service to the Diocese of Cleveland on May 19, 1956, in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Father O’Donnell served as parochial vicar at St. Colman Parish, Cleveland; St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Avon; St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Parma; St. Augustine Parish, Cleveland; St. Malachi Parish, Cleveland; and at St. Joseph Parish (East 23rd Street and Woodland Avenue), Cleveland. He also served as director of the Holy Name Society, Lorain Deanery; as moderator of the Elyria Cursillo Center; as diocesan director of the Catholic Youth Organization; and as chaplain at Camp Isaac Jogues in Madison. He also provided assistance at Rose-Mary Home. From June 8, 1977, until his retirement on Feb. 23, 2018, Father O’Donnell ministered to the poor at the Central City Ministry with the Poor. Interment was at All Souls Cemetery, Chardon.

Deacon Kenneth A. DeLuca

Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost celebrated Deacon Kenneth A. DeLuca’s funeral Mass on June 2 in St. Julie Billiart Church. Deacon DeLuca, 79, died on May 23. He was ordained to the permanent diaconate for service to the Diocese of Cleveland on May 22, 2004, by Bishop Anthony Pilla in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. After ordination, Deacon DeLuca was assigned to serve at St. Julie Billiart Parish, where he ministered until his retirement on Oct. 1, 2019. Survivors include his wife Jan (Bahr) DeLuca, children and grandchildren. Interment was at St. Joseph Cemetery in Avon.

Bob Tayek

The funeral Mass for Bob Tayek, longtime director of communications/media relations for the Diocese of Cleveland, was celebrated on May 19 in Church of the Gesu, University Heights. Tayek, 75, died on May 12. He joined the diocesan Communications Office in February 1998 after holding leadership roles at several local radio and television news outlets. Tayek served under three bishops before retiring from the diocese in February 2018. He also was the longtime public address announcer for the Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Guardians before stepping away in April due to health challenges. Tayek announced 81 home games per year, playoff games, the World Series and the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star game. Last year, he was acknowledged as one of the best public address announcers in  Major League Baseball. A graduate of St. Peter Chanel High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Ohio University and a master’s degree from the University of Akron. He also was an adjunct professor of communications at Baldwin Wallace and John Carroll universities. Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Maria, two children and two grandchildren. Burial was at All Saints Cemetery in Northfield.