Brother James William Bagans, C.S.C.

Brother James William Bagans, C.S.C., age 85, died on August 7, 2022 in Venice, FL. He was born the youngest of two boys in Dearborn, MI, on March 30, 1937, to Emil J. and Gertrude (Nowak) Bagans. He attended St. Mary Magdalen Elementary School in Melvindale, MI. He went to Monroe Catholic Central High School, Monroe, MI, graduating in 1955, and entering the Congregation of Holy Cross in August 1955, taking final vows in 1962.  From 1958 through 1996, Brother James served in four Holy Cross ministries: as a counselor at St. Charles Boys Home in Milwaukee, WI, and at high schools in Ohio and Illinois, spending 28 years at St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio. In 1998, he was trained as a hospital chaplain at the Cleveland Clinic, and worked as a member of the spiritual care team at Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton, NY for twenty years, retiring in 2018 when he moved to Venice, FL where he died. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister-in-law Yvonne Bagans. Brother James is survived by his older brother Conrad and two nieces, Beth Witgen and family, and Brenda Garrick and family, and two nephews, Brian Bagans and family and Brad Bagans and family. He has four cousins: Raymond Roczniak, David Cieliczka, Sybil Taddia and Gwen Trimark.

Visitation will take place Wednesday, August 17, 2022, in St. Joseph Chapel, at Holy Cross College, at 10:00 AM, followed by a Mass of Resurrection at 11:00 AM and burial at St. Joseph Cemetery.

Memorial contributions, in honor of Brother James, to support the mission and ministries of the Brothers, may be sent to: Brothers of Holy Cross, Office of Development, P.O. Box 460, Notre Dame, IN 46556.

Kaniewski Funeral Home, South Bend, IN is handling arrangements. 

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