Cardinal Edward Egan, Oak Park Native, Dies of Cardiac Arrest

Cardinal Edward Egan, an Oak Park Native and former archbishop of New York, died Thursday of cardiac arrest, according to the Archdiocese of New York. He was 82.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Egan had retired as archbishop of New York in 2009, at age 77. He held offices of the Vatican while continuing the work of the Archdiocese. He died at NYU Langone Medical Center at 2:20 p.m., the Archdiocese reported.

“Thank God he had a peaceful death, passing away right after lunch today, with the prayers and sacraments of his loyal priest secretary, Father Douglas Crawford, in his residence at the Chapel of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary,” said Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan in a statement.

Egan was born April 2, 1932 in Oak Park. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago in Dec. 1957, and in 1985, he was consecrated a bishop, according to his biography.

He served as auxiliary bishop and vicar for education of the Archdiocese of New York until 1988, and in 2000, he was appointed archbishop of New York. He was made a cardinal in 2001.

“Join me, please, in thanking God for his life, especially his generous and faithful priesthood,” Dolan said. ”Pray as well that the powerful mercy of Jesus, in which our Cardinal had such trust, has ushered him into heaven.”

Image via the Archdiocese of New York.