We remember and pray for our Brother Michael French, FSC, age 77. Brother Michael died Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. A De La Salle Christian Brother for 53 years, he was born Michael Gregory French on May 8, 1949, in Grafton, North Dakota.
He received the Religious Habit in September 1973, in Windsor, Ontario and pronounced his Perpetual Vows - 1978 in Romeoville, Illinois (Lewis University).
Survivors include his brother Philip French, sisters, Audrey Paesani, Elizabeth Zehringer, and Deborah French, and the Christian Brothers of the Midwest.
Memorials in his name may be made to the Christian Brothers of the Midwest Education Fund, 7650 South County Line Road, Burr Ridge, IL 60527.
Mass of Christian Burial
Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Time: 11:00 am
Place: Saint Charles Borromeo Center Chapel Lewis University- Romeoville, IL
LiveStream
https://youtube.com/live/2U-dv7Ar-KA?feature=share
Luncheon
Following Mass at 12:00 Noon Saint Charles Borromeo Center
Assignments
Montini High School, Lombard, IL, 1972-1973
Novitiate, Windsor, Ontario Canada, 1973-1974
Montini High School, Lombard, IL, 1974-1980
Liceo La Salle, Chiquimula, Guatemala, 1980-1983
Mercy Boys Home, Chicago, IL, 1983-1985
Residencia Universitaria LaSalle, San Cristobal, Guatemala, 1985-1990
SIEL, Rome, Italy, 1990-1997
De La Salle Community, Chicago, IL, 1997-2001
Tolton Educational Center, Chicago, IL, 2000-2001
CIL, Rome, Italy, 2001-2010
De La Salle Community, Chicago, IL, 2010-2017
De La Salle - Benilde Community, Chicago, IL, 2017-2022
Novitiate, Chicago, IL, 2022-2023
De La Salle - Benilde Community, Chicago, IL, 2023-2026
Life
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.
