FREEPORT—An important pro-life voice in the Rockford Diocese, Franklin “Frank” 

Joseph Munda, died on March 10.

 

Munda was a founding member and past president of Stephenson County Right to Life. He started the Pro-Life Corner (www.ProLifeCorner.com) for that organization in 1989. 

 

“For years Frank and his wife, Chris, literally dedicated their lives to getting the pro-life message out to Catholics and others on the Pro-Life Corner,” says Larry Plachno, the St. Mary Parish (Polo) Pro-Life Coordinator who contributed writings to the website.

 

“He had a daily e-mail with links to current pro-life items, videos of Father (Timothy) Barr’s homilies and also offered several other pro-life and Catholic items of interest,” Plachno says, adding, “He ran the most popular pro-life website in the Rockford Diocese and was an inspiration and a role model for the pro-life people as well as many Catholics.”

 

In accord with his pro-life beliefs, in recent years Munda volunteered at the Madonna Renewal Center as often as possible. He also was a Knight of Columbus.

 

“Unfortunately,” says Plachno, “it appears that the ProLifeCorner.com site will be shut down because no one is willing to donate many hours a day to run it.”

 

Plachno says he plans to move some of his writings to his own site at www.unselfish.org “to continue to make them available to those seeking pro-life and Catholic material.”

 

A Life of Faith, Family and Service

 

Munda was born in Freeport on Aug. 8, 1940, the third son of Nina (Harvey) and Frank R. Munda.

 

He began working at the age of 14 with his grandfather laying bricks. He attended Aquin Central Catholic High School and in his later teens spun pizza and yarns at Barces (Barcelona’s) Pizza. 

 

In 1962, Munda joined the U.S. Navy, operating as a Boatswain’s Mate 3 aboard the USS Galveston. While serving in Vietnam he was transferred to the admiral’s barge serving the admiral as a member of the transport team. He was honorably discharged in August 1966. 

 

A few months later, on Nov. 26, Frank married Chris (Crystal Brummer) at St. Mary Church in Freeport, the beginning of their 55-years of life together.

 

Munda worked in construction, then was a meat cutter and baker at Lee’s Market. In 1971, the couple moved their growing family to Canton to open a bakery. A devastating fire at the bakery saw that dream literally and figuratively go up in smoke. The Munda’s moved their family back to the Freeport area where he was employed by Kelly-Springfield Tire Company until his retirement in 2002.

 

He is survived by his wife Chris, four children, Andrea (Mark) Berning of San Marcos, Calif., Jill (Eric) Berning of Easley, SC, Michael (Ieasha) Munda of Freeport, and Patrick Munda of Greenville, SC., several grandchildren and one great-grandson. He is also survived by his brothers Roland (Shirlee) Munda of Freeport, Tim (Carol) Munda of Arlington, TX, and Daniel (Mary) Munda of Freeport, along with many loving nephews and niece. He was preceded in death by his parents.

 

His funeral Mass was held March 17 at St. Joseph Church, followed by a gravesite service in St. Joseph Cemetery in Freeport.

 

Another pro-life force in the area, Kevin Rilott of St. Bernadette Parish in Rockford, notes how “through the use of prolifecorner.com Frank was a tireless advocate for the Catholic faith, an end to abortion, and the promotion of a culture of charity and love.”

 

Rilott adds thoughts that will be echoed by many. Munda, he said, “is truly a great example of a Catholic man who loved his family, friends, Christ and His Church, and served those in need.  It was an honor to know him.”