JOLIET – Ruby McDaniels remembers when the late Bishop Joseph Imesch would come to Sacred Heart Church to help feed the needy.

"He loved helping the poor," said McDaniels, a Joliet resident. "We would see him at Daybreak Shelter."

McDaniels was among hundreds of Catholic devotees, priests and bishops gathered Tuesday morning in the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus for a celebratory Mass.

Following the Mass, a funeral procession made its way to Resurrection Cemetery in Romeoville where Imesch was laid to rest.

Celebratory Mass

Imesch died last week after serving 27 years as the third bishop of the Diocese of Joliet. That time comprised 40 percent of the diocese's history. Imesch retired as bishop in 2006 at age 75, but served as bishop emeritus until he died.

People offered their respects to Imesch, who lay in an open casket, before the Mass started. They shared stories of their faith and personal experiences with Imesch.

After Imesch's casket was closed, more than 150 priests and clergy officials filed in as the Mass began.

Along with traditional Catholic rites, Green Bay Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Robert Morneau in his homily recounted Imesch's life and accomplishments as well as his unique qualities, including his sense of humor and kindness.

After Communion, Imesch's casket was incensed and brought outside the cathedral into a hearse from Fred C. Dames Funeral Homes, ready to be transported.

Mixed legacy

The Rev. Dennis Spies of St. Liborius Church in Steger and St. Mary Church in Park Forest was part of the priest processional Tuesday.

"[Imesch] and I had a very personal relationship," Spies said. "We could talk about anything."

Spies said when he was in high school, he gave Imesch a ticket to come to a function at the school, even when people told Spies that a bishop won't attend a small high school program. Imesch came through on the invitation.

"That's his willingness to go and love all kind of people," Spies said.

As the diocese's bishop from 1979 to 2006, Imesch helped create the Housing Foundation of Will County, Daybreak Center and the Joliet Diocesan Catholic Education Foundation.

Imesch had a positive impact on many people during his tenure as bishop. He was an advocate of women's and gay rights.

But he was also involved in the national child sex abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic Church the past two decades.

Imesch was criticized for his role in transferring priests in the diocese who were accused of sexually abusing children, and for withholding information from authorities about those priests.

David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said the organization's members were upset by the honor afforded to Imesch during the funeral.

"The real problem with it is that ignoring Imesch's widespread and clearly documented ... deceit will cause other church officials to act that way in the present and future," Clohessy said, adding that the organization didn't rally against the Tuesday funeral out of respect to Imesch's family.