Brother Michael French, FSC

Brother Michael French, 77, died on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at Rush Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.  A De La Salle Christian Brother for 53 years, he was born on May 8, 1949, second youngest of nine children to Lorenzo A. French and Agnes A. French (Kouba) in Grafton Walsh, North Dakota.  He received the habit of the Brothers on September 23, 1973, and made his novitiate at Windsor, Ontario Canada 1973 – 1974, pronouncing his first vows in 1974, and perpetual vows at Lewis University in 1978. He received his BS from Moorhead State College (MSU) in Moorhead, MN, and his MAT from St. Mary's College in Winona, MN.  He attended Loyola University in Chicago, IL for his MPS, and CTU in Chicago, IL for his Doctor in Ministry. He taught at Montini High School in Lombard, Illinois, Chiquimula, Guatemala, and Mercy Boys Home in Chicago, Illinois. He taught at the International Center of Lasallian Studies in Rome, Italy and was on the faculty of the novitiate in Hyde Park, Illinois.  He was a frequent leader of retreats for the Brothers in various countries and was a translator at the Mother House in Rome, Italy.  His last community was at De La Salle – Benilde in Chicago, Illinois.

Survivors include his sisters Audrey Paesani of Rockford, IL, Elizabeth Zehringer of Elk River, MN, Deborah French of Santa Fe, NM and his brother Philip French of Ashby, MN, and the De La Salle Christian Brothers.

Visitation will be held at Saint Charles Borromeo Center at Lewis University on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 from 10:00am until Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am. Inurnment at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery Romeoville, Illinois at a later date.

Memorials may be made to the Christian Brothers of the Midwest Education Fund, 7650 S. County Line Rd., Burr Ridge, IL 60527. Arrangements under the care and direction of O'Neil Funeral Home, Lockport, Illinois.