On the morning of Friday, September 11, 2020, the traditional movement lost one of it’s greatest minds. After a long decline involving many strokes, Fr. Cekada passed away peacefully, fortified by the Last Rites of the Church.
His Solemn Pontifical funeral was the following Thursday at St. Gertrude the Great Church in West Chester, Ohio, with Bishop Dolan officiating and Fathers McGuire, Lehtoranta, and McKenna assisting. Bishops Donald Sanborn and Joseph Selway of Most Holy Trinity Seminary in Brooksville, Florida, attended, along with at least fourteen priests from around the country, and of course many laypeople. Father was laid to rest in St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Hamilton, Ohio, close to the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto.
Fr. Cekada was one of the most energetic promoters of the YAG revival here at SGG over the last four years, posting funny tweets, broadcasting the dates far and wide, and encouraging the reluctant to give it a try. Despite his busy schedule, he would always put in an appearance for at least one of the dinners, either on Friday or on Saturday. Even at the 2020 YAG, during his last illness, he came down with his walker to visit with the young people from out of town, and cracked jokes like his old self.
His humor, charm, wit, and encyclopedic knowledge will be sorely missed. May he rest in peace!
