As Catholics and media professionals across the world flood the south suburbs to learn the man behind Robert Prevost, the cemeteries where Prevost’s close relatives reside remained peaceful locations of remembrance Friday afternoon.
The humble stones at Glenwood’s 193-acre Assumption Cemetery marking where Mildred and Louis Maurius Prevost were laid to rest in 1990 and 1997, respectively, stood out only in their tidiness. Grass was carefully swept away from the cross sat above each name, with small groupings of delicately crafted wooden roses topping each grave.
Equally well cared for about 20 miles away at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip, was a similarly modest grave for John Prevost, Robert Prevost’s grandfather who died in 1960.
The Prevost’s family legacy forever changed last week, when Robert, known as “Bob” to many close to him, took the name Pope Leo XIV.
The online obituaries on Mildred and Louis’ Find A Grave pages were quickly edited to tie them to their son, the new Catholic leader. Dozens of virtual flowers have been added since Thursday’s announcement of Prevost’s selection as pope.
While Assumption and Holy Sepulchre’s offices didn’t report large changes for in-person visits to the graves, a spokesperson for Catholic Cemetaries emphasized that taking photos or video of any graves is prohibited.
Those looking to pay respects to Pope Leo XIV’s family members in the south suburbs are asked not to disturb other mourners. Meanwhile, many aim to learn more about the Prevost family through archives and affiliations.
Louis Prevost was of French and Italian descent and Mildred of Spanish descent. The couple’s lives were grounded in religious faith, with Mildred being a librarian at schools such as St. Mary of the Assumption Grade School and Mendel High School. She also served as president of the Mendel Catholic High School Mothers Club.
The mother of three sons, Louis Martín, John Joseph and Robert, with two sisters who became nuns, Mildred Prevost obtained a graduate degree from DePaul University’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences in February 1947 and a master’s degree in education in 1949.
According to an obituary featured on Find A Grave, Mildred and Louis moved to Dolton in the late 1940s.
Louis Prevost, who is from Homewood, received a degree from Woodrow Wilson Junior College in June 1940, according to the Tribune archives, as well as a master of arts from DePaul University nine years later.
Prevost served in World War II between college stints and later become superintendent of Bloom Township Elementary District 169 and Glenwood Elementary District 167, whose quaint district office is only a mile from where he and his wife were laid to rest.
Louis Prevost’s Find A Grave information includes a news clipping with a photo of Prevost shaking hands with a former president of the now closed Burnside Construction company after he received a deed to 6 acres for Glenwood schools.
More recently posted were photos of him and his sons, pointing out the first American pope. Images of the actual gravestones were added in previous years.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
