Remembering the recently deceased in the Archdiocese of Seattle

Father Peter ChiricoBALTIMORE

Sulpician Father Peter Chirico, who taught for many years at St. Thomas Seminary in Kenmore, died May 6. He was 89.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, on May 26, 1956, and was admitted to the Society of St. Sulpice in 1958. He was educated at St. John’s University in New York, St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He was a professor of dogma and theology at St. Thomas Seminary in Kenmore (1960-1969, 1976-1978 and 1979-1982) and at seminaries in Kentucky and California. He also served as a lecturer at the University of San Francisco, Gonzaga University and the University of Iowa, and was an instructor in the graduate theology programs of Seattle University, according to the Archives of the Archdiocese of Seattle.

He served as theologian-in-residence for the Archdiocese of Seattle (1977-1986 and 1989-2003) and sat on the Moral Advisory Board of the Washington State Catholic Conference (1979-1982). He was incardinated in the Archdiocese of Seattle in 1996 and retired from teaching and pastoral work in 2003.

In an email announcing Father Chirico’s death, Vicar for Clergy Father Gary Zender wrote, “He was known for his brilliant and animated manner of presenting his material and he made a deep impact on many of our priests who were taught by him in the seminary as well as our lay ecclesial ministers and the people of God who were privileged to hear his lectures.”

A funeral Mass was celebrated May 18 at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel in Catonsville, Maryland.

Father Victor CloquetGIG HARBOR

Father Victor Cloquet, a priest of the Archdiocese of Seattle for 66 years, died May 9. He was 90.

A member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, he was born in Ryderwood and baptized at St. Joseph Church in Tacoma. At 13, he enrolled at St. Edward’s Seminary in Kenmore. He was ordained to the priesthood March 25, 1950, in St. James Cathedral by Bishop Thomas A. Connolly. He served as pastor of St. Patrick Mission in Dockton (1960-67), St. John Vianney Parish on Vashon (1968-69), Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Vancouver (1969-77), Sacred Heart Parish in Morton (1977-83) and St. Joseph Parish in Tacoma (1983-91). He also served at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Sedro-Woolley (1950-52), Sacred Heart Parish in Bellevue (1952-55), St. Therese Parish in Seattle (1955-60) and Christ the King Parish in Seattle (1967).

“He was known for his gentle and quiet nature and a faithful priest,” wrote Vicar for Clergy Father Gary Zender in an email announcing Father Cloquet’s death.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Joseph, Robert, Marion, Cecelia and Donald. He is survived by several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and -nephews.

A funeral Mass was celebrated May 16 at St. Joseph Church in Tacoma.

Sister Delores Shaw (M. Rose Delphine), SNJMSPOKANE 

Sister Delores Shaw, a member of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, died July 12. She was 82. 

She was born in Yakima, and her family moved to Seattle when she was 7. After her mother died when she was 14, her father sent her to Holy Names Academy. She then attended Seattle University and worked as a nurse’s aide at Providence Hospital.

In 1953 she travelled to Marylhurst, Oregon, to join the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary novitiate. She made final vows in 1960. She earned a degree in education at Marylhurst College in 1959 and a master’s in ministry from Seattle University in 1982.

She ministered in schools in Everett, Spokane, Tacoma, Seattle and Oregon for more than 50 years. Her last teaching position was at St. Edward School in 1997.

In 2011 she retired from teaching and joined her sisters at the Convent of the Holy Names in Spokane. Two years later she joined the Community at Brookdale South Regal. Despite her health challenges, she remained positive, peaceful and joyful, her community said.

A funeral Mass was celebrated July 18 at the Convent of the Holy Names in Spokane.