AURORA—Abbot David J. Cyr, OSB, a monk of Marmion Abbey, died July 21, 2018, at St. Patrick Residence in Naperville. He was 91 years of age. 

 

Abbot David was a native Auroran, born on July 26, 1926, to Edgar and Corinne (Quirin) Cyr. 

 

He was raised in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. He attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Grade School and was a freshman at Marmion Military Academy in 1940. 

 

Deciding early in life to enter religious life and to pursue the priesthood, he completed high school at St. Meinrad Minor Seminary in St. Meinrad, Ind., in 1944. 

 

He entered the Benedictine community of St. Meinrad in 1945 and professed his first vows in 1946, taking the religious name of Rene. In 1948 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree at St. Meinrad College. 

 

When Marmion Abbey was founded as an abbey in 1947, he was the youngest of the founding members who came from St. Meinrad Abbey. 

 

On Sept. 17, 1949, he professed solemn vows as a Benedictine monk of Marmion Abbey. He studied Theology at St. Procopius Major Seminary and was ordained a priest on May 19, 1951. 

 

From 1952 through 1971, Father Rene held a variety of responsibilities at Marmion Military Academy in Aurora, both at its Lake Street (1951–1958) and Butterfield Road (1959-1971) campuses. 

 

He taught English, Latin, religion and French. He also served as librarian, dormitory prefect, director of admissions, academic dean (1967-1969) and as headmaster in 1970. 

 

In 1970 he decided to again use his baptismal name of David. On Nov. 26, 1971, he was elected as the third abbot of Marmion Abbey. He was blessed as abbot on March 21, 1972. 

 

Abbot David served as abbot for 20 years, until his resignation in December 1991. During these years, he guided the abbey through many important decisions including the building of the music area and Battaglia Center at the Academy (1986), and overseeing the transition of Marmion’s Guatemala mission from the town of Solola to the city of Quetzaltenango in 1991. He also provided constant attention to the liturgy and monastic observance at the abbey. 

 

After retirement as abbot, he continued to serve the Church and his community.

 

From 1992 to 1998 he served as a director of development for the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome, and then as its secretary-treasurer from 1998-99. 

 

Returning to the abbey in 2000, he served the community as abbey librarian as well as in pastoral assistance at various Fox Valley Catholic parishes, especially at St. Patrick Parish in St. Charles.

 

In 2013 Abbot David’s health began to decline. Due to serious health concerns he lived at St. Patrick’s Residence in Naperville for the last five years of his life until his sudden death. 

 

Abbot David was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Donald, Raymond, Edgar and his sisters Paula and Lorette. He is survived by many nieces and nephews.

 

Visitation was Tuesday, July 24, at Marmion Abbey Church and continued on Wednesday, July 25 until the funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial was in the Marmion Abbey Cemetery.