Matthew SIENKIEWICZ

21 SEP 1923 - 6 MAY 2014

• BIRTH: 21 SEP 1923, Cook County, Illinois
• BURIAL: MAY 2014, Resurrection Cemetery, Cook , IL
• DEATH: 6 MAY 2014, Three Oaks MI

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[N9393] Reverend Matt Sienkiewicz
Sept. 21, 1923 - May 6, 2014
THREE OAKS - On Tuesday, May 6, 2014, Reverend Matt Sienkiewicz left his life behind to join our Lord whom he served for most of his life. Father Matt was born on September 21, 1923 in Chicago, IL. After completing high school he joined the U. S. Army during WWII, where he served as an AA Machine Gun/Marksman. Father Matt served in Europe from 1943 through 1946 and participated in the Ardennes Rhineland Central Europe Campaigns earning three bronze stars. After his discharge from the Army, Father Matt entered SS Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, MI in 1955. He was ordained a Catholic Priest at the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne, IN. he served the Diocese of Fort Wayne from 1959 until his retirement in 1995. Even after his retirement, Father Matt continued to preside at Mass and serve his Lord in parishes whenever he was called upon to help. He frequently officiated at Holy Family Parish in Decatur, MI where his family lives. Farther Matt embraced people of all ethnicities, class and economic status. He was instrumental in bringing together the diverse population near St. Hedwig (South Bend, IN) in the 1960's. Because he saw Christ in all people and treated them as brothers, he was even made an honorary member of the Hell's Angels. Father Matt was a free spirit and a lover of nature. Upon his retirement he lived in his home in Three Oaks, MI with his dog; still doing God's work and tending to any and all creatures that came his way. He was preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Julia Sienkiewicz. He is survived by his brother, Dominic (Sophie) Sienkiewicz of Decatur, MI; nieces, Maryanne (Paul) Lamoreaux, Dolores (Richard) Overton, and Diane (Daniel) Rajzer all of Decatur, MI and Patricia (Philip) Hover of Paw Paw, MI. Visitation will be on Friday, May 9th in St. Hedwig Church, 331 S. Scott, South Bend from 5 to 7 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, May 10th, in St. Hedwig Church at 10:00 a.m. with Monsignor William Schooler officiating. Inurnment will take place in Resurrection Cemetery in Joliette, IL at a later date. Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th Street, Mishawaka has been entrusted with handling the final arrangements. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, MI 49085 or Food Bank of Northern Indiana, 702 Chapin St., South Bend, IN 46601. To leave the family an online condolence, please visit our website at www.hahnfuneralhomes.com.
Published in South Bend Tribune on May 8, 2014