Father Charles Chesebrough was dean of Bloomington Deanery

By Mary Ann Wyand

Father Charles S. Chesebrough, dean of the Bloomington Deanery, died unexpectedly on May 28 at his residence in Bloomington.

He was 70.

He had suffered from emphysema, which required him to carry an oxygen pack to aid his breathing, and was granted early retirement for health reasons on Jan. 10, 2007, while continuing his ministry as dean.

From 1995 until 2007, Father Chesebrough served as pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bloomington.

On April 27, Father Chesebrough was honored by Mary, Queen of Peace parishioners in Danville with a limestone Celtic cross dedicated in his name to commemorate his 12 years of service as pastor there from 1983 until 1995.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein at 10 a.m. on June 2 at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Bloomington. Burial followed at the Priests’ Circle at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery in Indianapolis.

Father Patrick O’Laughlin, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Wentzville, Mo., and a longtime friend, was the homilist during the funeral Mass.

During a May 29 phone interview, Father O’Laughlin remembered his friend from Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis as “a person of great joy,” who “poured his heart and soul into every place where he was assigned.”

After meeting at the seminary in 1963, Father O’Laughlin said, they continued their friendship long distance.

“He was a happy man,” Father O’Laughlin said. “He was fun to be with, and he always lighted up a room. Everybody wanted to be around him to share in the joy that was so evident in his priesthood and in his life.”

During Father Chesebrough’s battle with emphysema, Father O’Laughlin said, “he really bore up under the crosses that the Lord asked him to carry.”

Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel, vicar general, said Father Chesebrough was “a priest’s priest,” who “had quite an outgoing, friendly personality.”

Father Chesebrough had “a great sense of humor,” Msgr. Schaedel said. “The people loved him, and he loved the people. He was very loyal to the archbishop, and often referred to him as ‘the Boss.’ ”

When priests needed help or encouragement, Msgr. Schaedel said, Father Chesebrough would call them or send a note.

“Because of his relationship with the priests, he was a perfect candidate for dean,” Msgr. Schaedel said. “He could relate well to all the priests in the Bloomington Deanery, and if there was a special need in a parish he would be willing to reach out to the pastor and the parish to provide for that.”

Father Bernard Cox later succeeded Father Chesebrough as pastor of Mary, Queen of Peace Parish in Danville. He remembered his longtime mentor and friend since 1990 as an insightful man who loved and served the people with great devotion and dedication.

“I think I feel as much emotion as when I lost my own father because he just meant that much to me,” Father Cox said. “His ministry all came down to ‘What would Jesus do?’ That’s what Father Charlie would do, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do in my priesthood.”

During his April 27 homily at Mary, Queen of Peace Church, Father Chesebrough told the parishioners that he had named his oxygen pack “St. Elmo” because he had to carry it everywhere.

“It’s beyond words trying to explain how I feel at this moment, after 13 years, coming back home,” Father Chesebrough said. “Thank you for 12 wonderful years. … Thank God we laughed more than we cried.”

Charles Lawrence Chesebrough was born on May 1, 1938, to Ormel C. and Bernadette (Mooney) Chesebrough, who were members of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Indianapolis. As an adult, he changed his middle name to Sean.

He attended St. Joan of Arc School and graduated from Cathedral High School in Indianapolis before continuing his studies at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Butler University in Indianapolis, St. Mary Seminary in Cincinnati and Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis.

On March 11, 1967, he was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter, Archbishop of St. Louis, at the cathedral in St. Louis. He celebrated his first Mass on March 19, 1967, at St. Pius X Church in Indianapolis.

Father Chesebrough’s first assignment was as associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Bedford, where he served from April 1, 1967, until he was named associate pastor of St. Simon the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis on June 29, 1972.

He was appointed pastor of St. Ann Parish in Indianapolis on Jan. 22, 1975, and served briefly as co-pastor of St. Jude Parish in Indianapolis from July 6, 1983, until he was appointed pastor of Mary, Queen of Peace Parish in Danville on Nov. 30, 1983.

On Feb. 15, 1995, he was named pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bloomington, and on May 13, 1995, he was appointed dean of the Bloomington Deanery.

From September 1995 until Feb. 21, 1996, he served as administrator of St. John the Apostle Parish in Bloomington while continuing as pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish.

On Oct. 27, 2003, he was appointed priest moderator of Our Lady of the Springs Parish in French Lick and Our Lord Jesus Christ Parish in Paoli while continuing his pastorate in Bloomington until his early retirement.

Surviving are two brothers, Michael and Patrick Chesebrough, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Memorial gifts may be sent to the Education Fund at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, 2222 E. Third St., Bloomington, IN 47401. †