Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Cusack, Rev. James C. February 20, 2002
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Ionia Sentinel Standard, 21 Feb 2002

The Rev. James C. Cusack, known for his Irish wit and staunch support of 
Catholic education, died peacefully at his Grand Rapids home on Wednesday, Feb. 
20, 2002 at the age of 72.

Rev. Cusack spent his 45 years of priestly duty working tirelessly to promote 
Catholic education while ministering to thousands of families as pastor of 
several west Michigan churches.  He was a mainstay at Our Lady of Consolation 
Parish in Rockford, which he oversaw in its early years as a mission until it 
was founded as a parish in 1972.  Rev. Cusack served as its first pastor.  

Born October 13, 1929 in the Ionia County community of Hubbardston, Rev. Cusack 
grew up on a 240-acre farm, where daily prayer was a way of life.  Rev. Cusack, 
the youngest of eight children, was inspired by his father, who emigrated from 
Ireland and had “a real old-fashioned Irish faith.”  He entered the seminary 
after graduation from high school in 1946 and was ordained June 2, 1956.

Rev. Cusack adopted five priorities for living out his priesthood.  The most 
important, he said, was “preaching and teaching the Word of God as perfectly as 
possible.”  Rev. Cusack specialized in religious education, teaching religious 
teachers in a 29 county region for 12 years.

He also served as coordinator of CCD religious education for Grand Rapids and 
was foundation president for Grand Rapids Catholic Secondary Schools.  Rev. 
Cusack himself never stopped learning.  In addition to ten years of seminary 
training, he continued studies at several locations, including the University 
of Notre Dame, Seton Hall University and a sabbatical in Rome.

His love of education was evidenced in his commitment to Aquinas College, where 
he served as a longtime member of the Board of Trustee.  He founded the Father 
James C. Cusack Endowment for Theological and Interfaith Studies at Aquinas and 
in 2000 was awarded the school’s distinguished service award.

Rev. Cusack also served as director of Diocesan Cemeteries, Diocesan Vicar for 
Religious Sisters and chaplain of West Michigan law Enforcement.  His interests 
outside the Catholic Church included Esperanca, an Arizona-based organization 
that provides free health care in Central and South America.

Rev. Cusack served on the board of directors and raised money for the group.  
His many parish assignments included St. Mary in Muskegon, St. Phillip Neri in 
Reed City, St. Paul Campus Parish at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, St. 
Jude in Grand Rapids, St. Henry in Rosebush, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin 
Mary in Belmont, Our Lady of Consolation in Rockford, St. Thomas the Apostle in 
Grand Rapids and Holy Family in Caledonia.  Rev. Cusack loved to travel, and 
has visited six of the seven continents “seven, if you consider Australia broke 
off from Antarctica,” he liked to note.

On one of his travels, he had the honor of meeting Pope John Paul II.  He was 
admired for his resiliency in the face of many medical problems, which included 
three cancer operations, five total left hip replacements and a torn rotator 
cuff suffered in an automobile accident.  He underwent open heart surgery, 
including a quadruple bypass operation.  Rev. Cusack said he drew his courage 
during those trials from the phrase: “God knows best.  He always has his 
reasons.”  He was serving as pastor at Holy Family parish in Caledonia when he 
had to retire for health reasons in May 1995.  In retirement, Rev. Cusack liked 
to refer to himself as a free agent.  He helped out at many area parishes, 
offering masses, and presiding over weddings and funerals.  In 1997, he 
launched a mentoring program for young men, a role he said was “a gift from the 
Holy Spirit,” and one of his most rewarding callings.  “Holy Spirit, guide,” 
was one of guiding phrases.

Rev. Cusack was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters, Donald Cusack, 
Manuel W. Cusack, Mrs. Angela Lipe, Charles Cusack, Mary Josephine Cusack and 
Ann Cecilia Cusack.

He is survived by his brother, Richard (Florence) Cusack, along with several 
nieces and nephews.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. at 
Holy Family Catholic Church, Caledonia with the Rev. Daniel C. Aerts presiding, 
and Monday morning at 11:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in 
Hubbardston with The Most Rev. Robert J. Rose, presiding.  The Rosary will be 
prayed Sunday evening at 8 p.m. at the church.  Burial in St. John the Baptist 
Catholic Cemetery.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Father James 
C. Cusack Endowment Fund for Theological and Inter-Faith Studies at Aquinas 
College.  Relatives and friends may celebrate Rev. Cusack’s life with his 
family from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. 
to 9 p.m. on Friday at Holy Family Catholic Church in Caledonia, and from 1 
p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in 
Hubbardston.  A wake service will be held Friday evening at 7 p.m. at Holy 
Family Catholic Church in Caledonia.


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