DUBÉ, O.Carm., Marcel

The Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, Order of Carmelites, mourns the death of the Reverend Marcel Dubé, O.Carm., who died at the age of 95 on December 27, 2024, in Venice, Florida.

Visitation for the Rev. Marcel Dubé, O.Carm., will be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Osprey, Florida at 10:00 AM , January 16, 2025, with the Funeral Mass following at 10:30 AM.  The burial will be at a later date at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

Marcel was born to the late Joseph and Diane Marie (Fortin) Dubé in Detroit, Michigan on July 13, 1929.  His parents were immigrants to the United States from Quebec, Canada.  He was baptized Georges Henri Anaclet the day after his birth at St. Joachim Church, a French-speaking parish in Detroit.  He is predeceased by his sister, Marie Gabrielle Dubé, and is survived by his sister, Lucille Marie (Dubé) Nuber.

George Henry attended Van Dyke Public School, St. Charles Borromeo School, and Our Lady of Sorrows School in Detroit, Michigan.  After graduation from elementary school, in 1943, he entered the Carmelite preparatory seminary at Mount Carmel College, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.  He stated that his favorite sports were ice skating and hockey.

With the completion of high school in 1947, he entered the Carmelite Novitiate in New Baltimore, Pennsylvania.  He professed simple vows on August 15, 1948, taking the religious name of Marcel. After his novitiate, Marcel, studied philosophy at Mount Carmel College in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and then continued with theology studies at Whitefriars Hall in Washington, DC, from 1951-1954.  During that time, Marcel also pursued French studies at the Catholic University of America. 

Marcel later received a Bachelor’s degree in American Literature from St. Bonaventure University in Olean, New York, a Master’s degree in Religious Education from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois, and a Master’s degree in French from Laval University in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Marcel professed his solemn vows as a Carmelite on August 15, 1951. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 29, 1954, at St. Clara’s Church in Chicago, Illinois.

Father Marcel’s first assignment was on the faculty of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois, 1955-1964.  He then taught at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, Illinois, 1964-1972. He ministered as the Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Darien, Illinois from 1972-1975, and then served as Pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, from 1975 to 1984.

Following a clergy renewal program at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, Father Marcel served as the Associate Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Harper Woods, Michigan, 1985-1986, in order to be closer to his aging mother, prior to her death in June 1986.  From 1987 until 2000, Father Marcel was the Pastor of St. John of the Cross Carmelite Parish in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

After a sabbatical year at the School of Applied Theology in Berkeley, California, Fr. Marcel served as the Associate Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Grove City, Florida, from 2001-2012.  Fr. Marcel retired at the age of 83 to Carmel in Mission Valley in Nokomis, Florida, where he resided from 2012-2024.  In 2024  he entered Venice Memory Care at Venice Green Village, Venice Florida, where he remained until his death.  Fr. Marcel celebrated the 70^th anniversary of his priestly ordination in May 2024.

May he rest in peace.

Donations in honor of Rev. Marcel Dubé, O.Carm., may be may be made to:

The Society of Mount Carmel, 1317 North Frontage Road, Darien, Illinois, 60561.

For further information on Father Marcel, or the Order of Carmelites, please contact Carmelite Media at (630) 971-0724.