OBITUARY Info:
Carmelite Bruce Taggart Dies
(February 5, 2023; Darien, IL) The Carmelites mourn the death of the Reverend Bruce Taggart, O. Carm., who died at the age of 83 on Sunday, February 5, 2023, at St Patrick’s Residence in Naperville, IL.
Visitation for Fr. Bruce will be held at 6PM on Monday, February 13, 2023, at The National Shrine of St. Thrérèse, 8433 Bailey Road, Darien, IL 60561, with Funeral Mass to follow at 7PM.
Bruce was born to (the late) Lyle Edward Taggart and (the late) Nellie (Dubbin) Taggart on November 20, 1939, in Zabellos, British Columbia, Canada.
Bruce entered the Carmelite pre-novitiate program at Whitefriars Hall in Washington, DC, in September 1990, while studying theology at Washington Theological Union. He entered the Carmelite novitiate in Middletown, New York, in June 1991, and professed first vows on June 14, 1992. He did a teaching internship at Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois, from September 1992 to June 1994. He continued his theological studies at Washington Theological Union from September 1994 to December 1996. On June 14, 1995, he made his solemn profession with the Carmelites at Whitefriars Hall in Washington DC. He was ordained a deacon on May 18, 1996 in North Hollywood, California, and ordained a Carmelite priest on May 24, 1997, in Darien, Illinois.
Father Bruce’s first assignment was as an assistant professor of philosophy at Washington Theological Union from January 1997 to May 2003 and editor of The Sword from September 2000 to September 2003. Afterwards, he was appointed pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Niagara Falls, Ontario, serving there from September 2003 to September 2007. He was then assigned as treasurer and part of the retreat staff at Mount Carmel Spiritual Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario, from September 2007 to March 2009. He then returned to Chicago, Illinois, as interim administrator at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish from April 2009 to January 2010.
Father Bruce retired in October 2010, first living at Carmel at Mission Valley in Nokomis, Florida; then at the Monastery of Mount Carmel in Niagara Falls, Ontario; then moved to Carmelite Carefree Village in Darien, Illinois; then to Titus Brandsma Priory in Darien, Illinois; and then to St. Patrick’s Residence in Naperville, Illinois, where he remained until his death.
May he rest in peace.
Donations in honor of the Reverend Bruce Taggart, O. Carm., may be made to: the Society of Mount Carmel, 1317 North Frontage Road, Darien, Illinois, 60561, USA.
For further information on the Reverend Bruce Taggart, O. Carm., or the Order of Carmelites, please contact Carmelite Media at (630) 971-0724 or visit the Carmelite website at www.carmelites.net.
