News - Last Rites, Funerals, & End-of-Life RSS Feed

Elizabeth (Liz) Barham, long-time parishioner of Sts. Peter and Paul, passed away on Nov. 17, 2023, at the age of 79. Liz used to lead our prayer card ministry at Sts. Peter and Paul and is remembered as a sharp-witted, lovely lady. Visitation will be Nov. 20 5-7pm with a prayer service at 7pm, and Funeral Mass will be Nov. 21 at 2pm, both at St. Jude Catholic Church, 930 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN 37415. May Liz, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

David L. Thomas, 61, of Chattanooga, passed away on November 7, 2023, at his home. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 am on November 18, 2023, at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. Please pray for the repose of David's soul. Click to read his obituary and express your sympathy.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Najah Dabit, age 90, of Chattanooga, who passed away at home surrounded by her loved ones on Nov. 2, 2023. Najah along with her husband, Milad established Giorgio Men’s Warehouse in 1973. Selfless, generous, and loving are just a few words to describe Najah. Her funeral will be at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul Wed., Nov. 8, at 2pm, Fr. Valentin officiating. Interment to follow at Greenwood Cemetery. A reception will follow in Varallo Parish Hall at 4pm. Click to read her obituary.

Traditional Lighting of Luminaries on All Souls Day Thurs. Nov. 2 at 6pm in the Basilica, with a Rosary in remembrance of our loved ones, To honor a deceased loved one at this service, please submit his/her name by Sun., Oct. 29. Click for details.

Sister Luke Hollerbach, O.P., a member of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville for 63 years, died September 22, 2023. Born in Chattanooga, she attended Notre Dame High School. After entering the Dominican Sisters she served as teacher or principal in Catholic schools from 1963-2006. The wake will be on Sept. 25 and the funeral will be Sept. 26, both at the Saint Cecilia Motherhouse in Nashville. Click for full obituary and details.

John Mahoney, the Basilica's maintenance supervisor for the past 34 years, passed away on August 27, 2023 at 7:13pm, while hospitalized with pneumonia and a pulmonary embolism. John was about to retire from his job within the week, having completed 34 years of service at Sts. Peter and Paul. His family was by his side, and Fr. Carter administered the full last rites to John. Please pray the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet for John Mahoney's soul. *** FUNERAL Mass at the Basilica Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023 at 1pm, followed by burial at Mount Olivet. VISITATION Friday, Sept. 1 from 6-8pm at Chattanooga Funeral Home - East Chapel, with a Rosary at 5:30pm.

Rose Joanne Mendola Carparelli, mother of Cathy Oliver, Basilica Parish Secretary, passed on 7/12/23, at the age of 97. Please pray for the repose of her soul, and for the consolation of her family. Click to read her obituary.

Robert Lee Martin, father of Basilica parishioner Robert C. Martin, passed away June 30, 2023 following a long illness. Services for Robert at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul will be Sat., July 8, 2023, with VISITATION at 10:30am and FUNERAL MASS at 11:30am. VISITATION also on Fri., July 7 4pm - 7pm at the Cleveland Chapel of Companion Funeral Home. Please pray for Robert's soul. May Robert Lee Martin, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. (Click to read his OBITUARY.)

Basilica parishioner Charlotte Latta passed away on June 22, 2023. She had been suffering from congestive heart failure. FUNERAL MASS of Christian Burial Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. Please pray for the repose of Charlotte's soul. Click for more information.

Michael Buendia, a young adult parishioner of the Basilica as well as St. Jude, has passed at the age of 43 after being hospitalized for several days with possible cancer. A large mass was found in his lower abdomen. Michael is survived by his wife Karmel Buendia, daughter of Basilica parishioner Bill Jochym, and their two small children. Please pray for Michael's soul and for his family.

Shirley Ann McCaleb Lautigar passed away on May 7, 2023. Shirley and her husband Ron had been active parishioners at the Basilica until retiring to Alexian Village in 2019. Shirley was the former head of our Altar Ministry, and a dedicated volunteer of our Facilities projects with her husband Ron, our Facilities Coordinator. Shirley died peacefully in her sleep, of complications from several illnesses. Click for details and to read her obituary.

+ Carole Steiner Tubbs passed from this world on 3/23/2023, after a post-stroke decline. Carole and the Steiner family had been long-time parishioners of Sts. Peter and Paul and she was a graduate of Notre Dame High School. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul Saturday, June 10, at 2:00 pm, with visitation at 1:30 pm before Mass. Click to read her obituary. May Carole Steiner Tubbs, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed away the morning of December 31, 2022, at the age of 95. Click to read Pope Benedict's own spiritual testament, his obituary, and several articles regarding his illness, death, and funeral. Please pray for the repose of the soul of +Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

Ann Fox Miller, who joined the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul when she moved to Alexian Village in 2013, passed away on December 5, 2022. Her funeral Mass was Monday, December 12, 2022, at 11am, at St. Augustine Catholic Church on Signal Mountain. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Ann Miller. Click to read a beautiful tribute to Ann in her obituary.

14-year-old Basilica parishioner, Lorelei Truett, daughter of Lance and Ashley Truett, passed away on Dec. 2, 2021, after a seven-month battle with leukemia that was diagnosed on April 27, 2021. Let us surround her family with our prayers. May Lorelei rest in peace. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Lorelei's Funeral Mass was celebrated at the Basilica Saturday, December 11. (Click to read much more about Lorelei, and for ways to support the Truett family.)

Robert Hall Kosky, Sr., passed away on Nov. 23, 2022 at the age of 90. He was a Basilica parishioner and alumnus of Notre Dame High School. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica on Monday, December 5, 2022 at 9:30am, followed by burial at National Cemetery at 11am. Read his obituary here. Please pray for the repose of Robert's soul.

Fr. Christopher Riehl passed away on the night of November 10, 2022, of complications from diabetes. Fr. Riehl was a priest in residence at the Basilica in 2018. He celebrated his 45th birthday on Monday, November 7. A Traditional Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at 10:30am at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, with receiving of friends at 9:30am. Fr. Riehl will be laid to rest at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Chattanooga, on Priests' Mound at 3pm on Nov. 16.

Mary Cecilia Brewer, who had been a parishioner of Sts. Peter and Paul and OLPH, has passed away at the age of 98. Please pray for the repose of her soul. A funeral Mass will be offered at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul Friday, October 14, at 9:30am. All are invited. Mary Cecilia Brewer worked in the offices of Sts. Peter and Paul and Notre Dame High School in the mid-20th century. Click to read Mary Brewer's obituary.

Basilica parishioner Luerena Fleming, 95, of Chattanooga, passed away Sunday, September 18, 2022, at her residence. Dcn. Gaspar DeGaetano will lead a Graveside Service at Chattanooga National Cemetery Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022 at 2pm. Among others, Luerena is survived by her daughter Rita Fleming Lyttle and her daughter-in-law Daisy Fleming. Click to read Luerena's obituary. Please pray for Luerena's soul and for her family.

The Basilica St. Mary Magdalene Bereavement Ministry is now hosting a grief support meeting twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday, from 6:15-7:15pm (please note the new, earlier time) - in the St. Dominic Religious Education Building. All who have lost a loved one are invited. Find out more about our ministry and explore bereavement resources on our web page.