Father Frank Drzaic SVD, a missionary in Paraguay and Croatia, died on Dec. 17 at Techny, Ill., at the age of 90.
Born in Omaha, Neb., in 1934, Frank Drzaic was the third child of Barbara (nee Klaudsen) and Andrew Drzaic’s six children. He entered the high school seminary in 1949 and professed vows in 1954. He was ordained to the priesthood in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Techny in 1962.
For his first assignment, he was sent to Paraguay. During his time in South America, he was based in Hernandarias in Central Paraguay and in the city of Che'íro Kue (Cheiro-Cue), now known as Juan Emiliano O'Leary, which is located 250 km from the Paraguayan capital of Asunción. He provided pastoral care, built schools and chapels, and started a medical clinic.
After 12 years as a missionary in Paraguay, Father Drzaic face health issues and returned to the United States. He served in Texas and Mississippi for a decade.
Knowing that Father Drzaic was the son of Croatian parents and knew the language, his superiors then assigned him to the Austrian Province, where he worked in Croatia for three years. Following that appointment, he became a member of the Western Province and served St. Malachy parish in Los Angeles.
In 1996, he was transferred back to the Chicago Province, where he served as an associate pastor for three parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago: Holy Trinity (Croatian Roman Catholic Church), St. Bronislava and Our Lady of Charity. Coinciding with his pastoral assignments, he was a part-time chaplain at St. Margaret Mercy Health Care Center in Hammond, Ind.; at St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago, Ind.; and Oak Park Hospital in Oak Park, Ill.
Father Drzaic moved to Techny in 2013. Even in retirement, his curious nature led him to learn the Hebrew alphabet, delve deeper into Scripture and practice sacred music on the keyboard.
In addition to his seminary training, Father Drzaic held a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
A wake will be held in the Divine Word Residence Chapel at Techny on Friday, Dec. 20, beginning at 9 a.m., followed by a 10:30 a.m. funeral Mass and burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations for the care of elderly and infirmed missionaries may be sent to The Rector, Divine Word Residence, 1901 Waukegan Rd., P.O. Box 6000, Techny, IL 60082-6000.