Rev. Laurence Maddock, 83, Archdiocesan priest, born in Oak Park

Rev. Laurence F. Maddock, 83, an Oak Park native, died suddenly on Feb. 11, 2014 at Alden Estates in Skokie where he was recovering from a fall.  Father "Larry" was born in Oak Park on March 23, 1930 and attended elementary school at both St. Odilo in Berwyn and Ascension in Oak Park.  He graduated from Quigley Preparatory Seminary and The University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.  Ordained on May 1, 1956, his first assignment was at Queen of All Saints Parish in Chicago.

Rev. James Presta, a longtime friend, describes Rev. Maddock as "the priest that never really retired until the end."  Rev. Pawel Komperda, a fellow seminarian, remembers Rev. Maddock fondly and says, "he lived out the priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ authentically… He tried to be resigned to the will of the Lord and to fulfill it with his whole heart."  Rev. Msgr. John McNamara, another classmate, said "holiness comes in various shapes and forms…my own reaction is that Fr. Maddock was a very holy man."  Fr. Maddock is survived by his half-brother, James Ford; sister, Margaret Schorsch; and his many nieces and nephews.  Interment was at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside.