The Rev. Venard (Alphonse) Kommer, OFM, 99, of Clarendon Hills passed away on March 2, 2020 in Hinsdale.
Alphonse Kommer was born in 1920 in Engelskirchen, Germany, to Joseph and Helen (Hoffstadt) Kommer. He entered the Franciscan Friars of the Sacred Heart Province on Aug. 13, 1940 and received the name Venard; he was ordained to the Priesthood on Dec. 20, 1946 in Teutopolis. Venard's first assignment after ordination was in pastoral ministry in Quincy, followed by pastoral work in Petoskey and Bayshore, Mich.
His next assignment brought Venard to Chicago, where he served in pastoral and educational work at Corpus Christi Parish, Corpus Christo High School, and Hales Franciscan High School. After serving as administrator of St. Joseph High School Seminary in Oak Brook and chaplain at Hinsdale Hospital, he returned to parish ministry as senior associate pastor at Notre Dame Parish of Clarendon Hills, where he served for 16 years. He continued to reside at the parish until ill health forced him into nursing care late last year.
Venard was preceded in death by his siblings, Ann Kommer Keane, Helen Kommer McDivitt and the Rev. Jason Kommer, OFM; his niece, Delores Latham, and nephew James Keane.
He is survived by his nieces Peggy Meyer and Ellen Keane; and his nephew Tom Keane.
Visitation is from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 6, at Sullivan Funeral Home, 60 S. Grant St., Hinsdale.
Visitation will continue at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 7, at Notre Dame Parish of Clarendon Hills, 64 Norfolk Ave.
A Mass of Christian burial will be said at the church at 11 a.m.
Interment will be private in the friar's plot at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Fr. Venard Memorial Fund at Notre Dame Parish, 64 Norfolk Ave., Clarendon Hills, IL 60514; or the Franciscan Retirement Fund, 3140 Meramec St., St. Louis, MO 63118.
