Date of death: 9/21/2022
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1980
Fr. Theodore R. Hochstatter, 73 of Africa formerly of Mendota passed away unexpectedly on September 21, 2022 in Dunlap, Illinois.
Fr. Ted was born August 7, 1949 in Mendota to Richard and Dorothy (Henkel) Hochstatter. Ted was educated through 8th grade at Sts. Peter and Paul Church and primary school.
He attended and graduated St. Joseph’s Franciscan Minor Seminary in 1967 and graduated Quincy University in 1972. He was a Child Care Worker in Parmadale, Ohio. Fr. Ted’s transitional diaconate ordination was in 1979. He then graduated from Saint Meinrad School of Theology in 1980 and was Ordained to the Priesthood on May 24, 1980. Fr. Ted celebrated his first Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul on May 25, 1980. In September of 1990 Fr. Ted was blessed with meeting Mother Teresa and thereafter began his work with the Missionaries of Charity, beginning in 1993 with a post in Albania. He Con-celebrated Mass with Pope John Paul II in his private chapel in November of 1995, then days later kneeled before Mother Teresa and took his 4th vow of lifelong service to the poor. Fr. Ted arrived in Africa July of 2001 and it was his home for the remainder of his ministry.
Fr. Hochstatter is survived by his 3 brothers Joe (Alicia) Hochstatter of Mendota, John (Barb) Hochstatter of Mendota and Ken Hochstatter of Montgomery, 2 sisters Susan (Rich) McLaughlin of Mendota and Cathy (Bill) Meyer of Huntley, 6 nieces and nephews, numerous great nieces and nephews, many cousins and his aunt Marian Hochstatter of Mendota. He was preceded in death by his parents.