Thomas Joseph Pillisch
d. 2009
On Monday, December 14th, 2009, Deacon Thomas Joseph Pillisch died peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer at the Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket, ON.
Tom Pillisch was a chaplain for 17 years at the Toronto West Detention Centre of Rexdale, Etobicoke, northwest of Toronto, ON. With a designed capacity for 631 prisoners, the Toronto West Detention Centre houses adult males who have been remanded into custody while awaiting trial or sentencing, are serving short sentences, or are awaiting transfer to federal or provincial correctional facilities. Deacon Tom’s ministry was welcomed and important to this setting.
Tom was ordained to the Permanent Deaconate within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto on May 27, 1978 and was active in this ministry until the time of his death. He served in St. Benedict's Church and St. Andrew's Church, Etobicoke, ON. He was a proud sponsor of 8 children and found sponsors for over 3,200 other children with Chalice, a ministry within the Catholic community that describes its mission being “to create and nurture caring relationships of life and love wherever we serve” around the world as well as in local cities and communities of Canada.
Thomas Joseph Pillisch was the beloved husband of Elizabeth. Together they were in their 50th year of marriage at the time of Thomas’ death. Their children are Brigitte (and her husband Mark Blair), Tom (and his wife Mary), and Paul (and his wife Paula). Tom was a loving “papa” of Ashlyn, Kaylee, Mitchell, Cameron and Lauren.
Information sources: Rev. Jan Kraus, Manager Spiritual Care, Bridgepoint Health, Toronto, ON and www.newediukfuneralhome.com
|
