AGOSTINO, O.Carm., Emil

CARMELITE PRIEST EMIL AGOSTINO DIES

(March 7, 2025, Darien, IL)  The Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, Order of Carmelites, mourns the death of the Reverend Emil Agostino, O.Carm., who died at the age of 87, on March 6, 2025, at St. Patrick’s Residence in Naperville, Illinois.

Visitation for Fr. Emil Agostino, O.Carm., will be at 6:00 PM Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the National Shrine of St. Therese, 8433 Bailey Road, Darien, Illinois, with the Funeral Mass following at 7:00 PM.  The Funeral Mass will also be livestreamed at https://carmelitemedia.tiny.us/fatheremil  for any unable to attend the services in person.  Interment will be at 10:00 AM, Thursday, March 13, 2025, at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 2755 West 111^th Street, Chicago, Illinois.

Fr. Emil was born to the late Emil Louis and Lottie Rita (Zieminski) Agostino on November 17, 1937, in Chicago Illinois. His baptismal name was Francis. He was pre-deceased by his brother, Ernest Agostino, and is survived by his brother, Emil Agostino of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Francis “Frank” attended Five Holy Martyrs Grade School in Chicago, 1943-1951, and then was a high school student at the Carmelite Junior Seminary in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, 1951-1955.  After a year of college studies at Mount Carmel College in Niagara Falls, Frank entered the Carmelite Novitiate in New Baltimore, Pennsylvania in 1956, taking the religious name of Emil.  He professed his simple vows as a Carmelite on August 22, 1957. 

From 1957-1960, Emil continued his college studies at Mount Carmel College in Niagara Falls, with additional studies at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, New York, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1961.  Emil was a theology student at Whitefriars Hall, Washington, DC from 1960-1964.

Emil professed his Solemn Vows as a Carmelite in Washington, DC, on August 22, 1960, and was ordained to the priesthood in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on February 8, 1964.

After ordination, Fr. Emil served in Carmelite high schools for the next 27 years.  Fr. Emil was on the faculties of DeSales High School, Louisville, Kentucky, from 1964-1969, of Mount Carmel High School, Chicago, Illinois, from 1969-1972, of Carmel Catholic High School, Mundelein, Illinois from 1972-1985, and served as Treasurer of Crespi Carmelite High School, Encino, California, from 1985-1991.

During this time Fr. Emil received an MBA Degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1968, with additional studies in Education at Bellarmine College and Catherine Spalding College in Louisville, Kentucky, and Northern Illiniois University in DeKalb, Illinois.

Fr. Emil transitioned to parish ministry in 1991, serving as the Parochial Vicar at St. Cecilia Parish, Englewood, New Jersey from 1991-1998.  He then served as Pastor of St. Boniface Parish, Scipio, Kansas, and St. Therese Parish, Richmond, Kansas, from 1998-2008.

Fr. Emil retired from active ministry in 2008, residing at Titus Brandsma Priory in Mundelein, Illinois, from 2008-2009, and then at Westwood Oaks Estates in Kanakee, Illinois from 2009-2021.  Fr. Emil entered St. Patrick’s Residence in Naperville, Illinois, in December 2021, where he resided until his death on March 6, 2025.

May he rest in peace.

Donations in honor of Rev. Emil Agostino, O.Carm., may be made to the Society of Mount Carmel, 1317 North Frontage Road, Darien, Illinois 60561.

For further information on Fr. Emil, or the Order of Carmelites, please contact Carmelite Media at 630-971-0724 or visit the Carmelite website at www.carmelites.net