Bishop Francis Silas Chatard died in September of 1918 and was buried in the crypt of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. In 1976, perhaps in a move to bring more interest to the mausoleum at Calvary Cemetery, Bishop Chatard’s body was moved on June 8th. Bishop Joseph Chartrand was the only other bishop buried in the crypt and he too was moved to the mausoleum. Since then three other archbishops have been interred there. Archbishop Schulte, Biskup and O’Meara. As you read below, Bishop/Archbishop Joseph Ritter was buried in St. Louis. He died on June 10, 1967 in Saint Louis.
The Archdiocesan Directory gives a brief description of his Church life:
Born in New Albany, Indiana, July 20, 1892. Ordained priest at Saint Meinrad, May 30, 1917. Named rector of the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul,Indianapolis, in 1924. Appointed titular bishop of Hippo and auxiliary to the bishop of Indianapolis, February 3, 1933. Consecrated in the cathedral at Indianapolis, March 28, 1933, by Bishop Chartrand, assisted by Bishop Emmanuel Ledvina of Corpus Christi and Bishop Alphonse J. Smith of Nashville. Made vicar general of the Diocese of Indianapolis, February 5, 1933. Bishop of Indianapolis, March 24, 1934. Installed as first archbishop of Indianapolis, December 19, 1944, by Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, apostolic delegate to the United States. Transferred to St. Louis by virtue of apostolic letters dated July 20, 1946. Formally installed in the Cathedral of St. Louis, October 8, 1946. Proclaimed and created a cardinal by Pope John XXIII on January 16, 1961. Died at St. Louis, June 10, 1967. Buried in Calvary Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.
Here are two clippings from the Terre Haute Tribune, June 10, 1967:
