Rev. James R. Trepanier, C.S.C.
May 28, 1929-November 3, 2021
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Rev. James Roy Trepanier, C.S.C., 92, died on November 3, 2021 at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind.
He was born on May 28, 1929, to Roy and Angeline (Dutch) Trepanier in Ludington, Mich. He attended St. Simon High School in Ludington and entered Holy Cross Seminary as a candidate for Holy Cross in August 1946.
After his novitiate year, he made First Vows on August 16, 1948, and returned to the University of Notre Dame and Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, Ind. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame in the spring of 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, he professed Final Vows on August 16, 1951, and entered Holy Cross College in Washington, D.C., for theological studies. Fr. Trepanier was ordained on June 8, 1955. After a year as prefect at the University of Notre Dame and one as instructor at Notre Dame High School, Niles, Ill., Fr. Trepanier spent time working in the (then) Indiana Province Vocations Office. For the next four years (1963-1967), he served as chaplain and prefect of religion at the University of Portland, Portland, Ore. In 1967, he was assigned to serve as assistant superior at the Foreign Mission Seminary, Washington, D.C., and also studied at Catholic University in 1967. He received a master’s degree in Religious Education in 1968 and moved to the Holy Cross Mission House, Notre Dame, Ind. After a sabbatical year of study (1980-1981), he served as pastor at Holy Cross Parish, South Bend, Ind., and then as associate pastor at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Granger, Ind. He then became chaplain to the Sisters of the Holy Cross at St. Mary’s Convent, Notre Dame, Ind., from 1994 to 2002. After a brief return to the Holy Cross Mission House, Notre Dame, Ind., in 2002, Fr. Trepanier entered Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind.
Fr. Trepanier is preceded in death by his parents Roy and Angeline Trepanier.
The Funeral Mass will be on Monday, November 8, 2021, at 3:30 p.m. in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, Ind.Burial will be in the community cemetery at Notre Dame. Kaniewski Funeral Home, South Bend, is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross can be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Mission Advancement, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0765 or online at donate.holycrossusa.org.
