Eugenio Pacelli Pujals y Muñiz

La Habana, Cuba
October 9, 1958 - November 18, 2023

Parents
Pedro Pablo Pujals y Hernández
Graziella María Muñiz vda. de Pujals

Pacelli is preceded in death by his father, Pedro Pablo Pujals; paternal grandparents, Enrique Pujals and Magdalena Hernández; maternal grandparents, Manuel Muñiz and María Cristina del Valle; and beloved members of the Pujals and Muñiz families.

Pacelli is survived in death by his wife of 26 years, Mary Therese Dahm Pujals, and daughter, MaryGraceFaustina Pujals; siblings: María del Rosario Pujals Vickery (Steven R. Vickery), María Cristina Pujals Fernández (Luis Fernández), Pedro Pablo Pujals (C.C. Pujals), and Javier Enrique Pujals (Kristin Pujals); much loved nephews and nieces: Jacob Vickery, Paul Vickery (Jamie), Sofía Vickery (Brian), Steven A. Vickery (Natalie), Ana María Fernández, Luis Enrique Fernández (Diem), Lourdes Fernández, Jaime Fernández (Laura), Cristina Fernández Greenlee (Alex), Francisco Fernández (Christina), Peter Pujals (Kara), JC Pujals, William Pujals, Enrique Pujals, Nikulaus Pujals, Lavran Pujals, Ariana Pujals, and Magdalena Pujals; great nephews and nieces: Carol, Lucas, Rafael, Emilia, Colette, Peter, Luciana, Vivían, Aviela, Luis Peter, Gabriel, Lucas, and Baby Fernández.

Eugenio Pacelli Pujals y Muñiz was born in La Habana, Cuba on the same day that Pope Pius XII passed into eternal life. His namesake's example in fighting for the lives and souls of millions despite the evil threats of the Nazi fascist and atheistic Communist regimes had a profound impact upon Pacelli's life to pursue the Truth of Jesus, courageously defend the Faith, and strive to live a life of selfless acts of charity for those in need.

Pacelli and his large extended family's beautiful, faith-filled, and joyful family life was tragically disrupted by the atheistic communist regime that entered Cuba. Pacelli's father was forced to flee to the United States, leaving his family behind, after being blacklisted by the Communists because he refused to comply. A few months later, two-year-old Pacelli, his mother and three siblings fled Cuba and flew to reunite with his father in the small Cajun town of Napoleonville, Louisiana. Pacelli and his family had begun their new life in exile.

Blessed to have wonderful families welcome them with generosity, Pacelli grew up loving his new baby food: delicious, homemade, Cajun gumbo along with his favorite Cuban black beans. By 6 years old, Pacelli and his family had moved to Thibodaux, Louisiana, a town southwest of New Orleans in bayou country.  Pacelli and his siblings attended Saint Joseph's Catholic elementary school and E. D. White Catholic High School. Pacelli always loved to play sports. During his elementary and high school years, he played baseball, basketball, and football. He was a standout track and field athlete and especially loved pole vaulting. He set a high school record in pole vault that stood for 20 years. Pacelli often told the story that in elementary school he was the second fastest runner in his class until one day someone suggested he might be faster if he took off the heavy leg braces he'd been using to fix a problem with his gait. He wouldn't come in second again for a long time. Always resourceful, while competing in pole vault in high school Pacelli didn't have the money for a pole so instead he made one out of bamboo. Eventually, he saved enough to purchase his own pole. Pacelli's love for sports continued throughout his life and as a young adult. He ran in numerous triathlons and marathons for fun, often without training. He particularly enjoyed the people he met and competed with along the way.

Pacelli loved the outdoors and exploring the wilderness. Although he finished his scouting experience one badge short Eagle Scout due to changes in badge requirements and deadlines, he was always most grateful for his scouting accomplishments, the survival skills, and the experience of overcoming adversity that he applied to his everyday life. Pacelli loved water sports and the annual summer beach trip his family would take to the beach near Destin, FL. Throughout his life he found time to swim and also developed a love for water skiing, sailing and whale watching.

Pacelli's curiosity was boundless - he wanted to learn everything there was to know about life and wanted to understand its meaning. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Louisiana Tech along with three separate Master's degrees, including an Executive MBA, in IT and telecommunications.  Pacelli credited the engineering degree as foundational in teaching him to think, problem-solve, and reason through life's many and varied problems. For Pacelli, life was an ongoing opportunity to learn, explore, and pursue adventure. He cherished learning about history and culture through his three around-the-world trips, including on his honeymoon.

Throughout his life, Pacelli savored home-cooked meals with family and appreciated the wonderful love behind the preparation of a family meal, often remarking "This is the best meal I ever had" after finishing a meal served with fine crystal, china, or silver. To Pacelli, these elegant settings exemplified the treasure and beauty that is the family meal. He loved to stay for long hours of conversation at the table, known as "Sobre Mesa." He was known as an authentic and kind-hearted friend who generously gave of himself to those he met. He saw the value of every person with their own unique gifts and talents while giving each person encouragement to pursue their goals. Pacelli cherished each friendship and was known to reach out to friends and family wherever he happened to be traveling.

Faith and family were paramount to Pacelli. Pacelli's commitment to the whole family was without equal. He worked tirelessly to establish and host family reunions, picnic outings, sporting events, holidays, and countless other gatherings for family, to strengthen family bonds, help to pass down family history and culture, foster deep, rooted connections, and continue the legacy of faith and culture in the Pujals-Muñiz family. He was truly a loving, and selfless, life-giving husband, and a tremendous, loving father, who was constantly sacrificial, edifying his own immediate family with the strong foundation of the Catholic faith, morals, and values. His amazing stories of adventure, surprise, and wild and creative ideas instilled confidence, cemented the faith of, and elevated the life skills of anyone who heard him tell them. Pacelli loved his faith. He constantly wanted to go deeper through the study of Scripture, discussing topics of philosophy and theology, including Theology of the Body and understanding God's creation and true purpose for each person. Pacelli constantly sought ways of living his life through better faith and reason and to be a light of Christ in the darkness of modern culture.

Pacelli, inspired by the Holy Spirit and with his father, began a nightly family rosary conference call 15 years ago in October, the month of the Holy Rosary in order to pray for the upcoming 2008 elections. This rosary has continued as a beautiful way to unite family and friends to Jesus' Blessed Mother and intercede in prayer for those in need. It was a tremendous blessing for Pacelli to hear numerous family members and loved ones pray for him each night during his journey of cancer, and now continuing to pray for his soul to find rest with Jesus in heaven. Even as he suffered the cancer that plagued his mind and body, Pacelli persevered in courage, with faith in God, and love for those around him. His final, selfless gift was truly redemptive suffering and sacrificial love for the salvation of souls and the continued conversion of the Pujals-Muniz family to Christ. God gave him a beautiful life.  We are all blessed by Pacelli's loving presence in our lives.

Family and friends will meet Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 1327 North Noble Street, Chicago, Illinois 60642 for a Wake from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Divine Mercy Chaplet will be prayed at 3:00 p.m. and Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. then followed by Mass at 7:00 p.m.

Family and friends will meet Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at St. John Cantius Church, 825 North Carpenter Street, Chicago, Illinois 60642 for a 9:00 a.m. Funeral Mass. A Rosary Procession at 8:00 a.m. in front of the church will take place, all are invited to join in prayer. Interment All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinois after the Funeral Mass.

In lieu of flowers, please offer Masses for his soul, especially Gregorian Masses, if possible. Local Chicago-area Masses may be offered at his parish of St. Stanislaus Kostka in Chicago, St. John Cantius, or St. Mary of the Angels.

For those who would like to offer monetary gifts, please make donations to the needy parish of St. Stanislaus Kostka - the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy and offering 24 hour Eucharistic Adoration - mailing address: 1351 W. Evergreen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60642. Or donations may be made to the Women's Center - a crisis pregnancy center that works to help the entire family - mailing address: 5116 N Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60630.

Recordings of the Wake and Funeral Masses are available at the following links:

• Wake: https://www.youtube.com/live/7yZtki7pfF0?si=O9jWOfKBS3uBQb3Q
• Funeral Mass: https://www.youtube.com/live/dlZZMwhJDwQ?si=YBAZ-Qn0_8_lG5oF

For further information please call 312-421-0936.