26 July 2024

Francis Xavier Dyer was born to Francis and Janann (Lonergan) Dyer on August 16, 1942, in Evergreen Park, Illinois. He had one younger brother, James. Fran attended grammar school at St. Clara in Chicago, Illinois, and St. Eulalia in Maywood, Illinois. He received his diploma from Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1960. He began undergraduate studies at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. After two years of coursework, Fran entered the Dominican Novitiate at St. Peter Martyr Priory in Winona, Minnesota. He received the habit on August 30, 1963, and received the religious name of Athanasius. On August 31, 1963, he professed first vows at St. Peter Martyr Priory in the hands of V. Rev. John Marr, OP. From 1963-1966, he completed his BA in Philosophy at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest, Illinois. On August 31, 1966, he professed solemn vows in the hands of V. Rev. Gilbert Graham, OP. From 1966-1968, he was assigned to St. Rose Priory in Dubuque to study theology and was ordained to the priesthood at St. Rose Priory on May 24, 1969, by Most Rev. Jerome J. Hastrich. Over the summers from 1966 to 1970, Fran also worked towards an MBA from Notre Dame University, South Bend, Indiana, which he completed in 1971.  

After ordination, Fr. Fran immediately put his business and administration skills to use. He served as the business manager for Aquinas Institute of Theology in Dubuque from 1969 until 1973. He was then appointed treasurer for the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in Oakland, California. Two years later in 1975, he returned to his mother province to serve as economic administrator (provincial syndic) until 1984. He was first appointed to the Order’s Economic Council in 1981 on which he served multiple terms. From 1982 to 1985, he also served as Prior of St. Vincent Ferrer in River Forest, Illinois.

After completing his term as economic administrator, Fr. Fran took a sabbatical before he began working for Catholic Computer Services in Richmond, Virginia, as their executive director. When they suspended operations in 1986, he moved to St. Pius Priory in Chicago and began working for Christian Brothers Services in their Medical Benefits department in Romeoville, Illinois. Fr. Fran worked for Christians Brothers in various management positions until 2016. He accumulated an astounding number of frequent flyer miles traveling for them, once taking over a dozen connecting flights on a single-day trip from Alaska down to the Southwest (a story he enjoyed telling over a bowl of soup at St. Pius).

Having lived independently since 1992, Fr. Fran began limited service in 2020 and moved into St. Pius V Priory in Chicago. He served as house syndic and valuable member of the Provincial Economic Council. Even as his health began declining from terminal cancer, Fran continued to pay the bills each day for his community. Fran was committed to maintaining the financial viability of province.  He led us to the benefits of Christian Brother Services and the health benefits we now enjoy. He passed away in hospice care at Bowman Center at RUSH University Medical Center on July 26, 2024.

Office of the Dead and Mass of Christian Burial were held at St. Pius V Parish on July 31, 2024. Very Rev. Louis Morrone, O.P., Prior Provincial, presided and Rev. Ed Ruane, O.P., preached. Fr. Dyer was laid to rest in All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinois.