Fr. Walter L Sochacki

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Sochacki, Fr. Walter L., age 81, of New Hope, died February 8, 2024 at St. Therese Care Center in New Hope.  He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, parishioners, and all those he served over the past fifty plus years.

Fr. Sochacki was born on March 20, 1942, the son of Walter J. (Red) and Helen Sochacki who are both deceased. His siblings include Joseph L. Sochacki (deceased) and his wife, Rose, Stacy Sochacki, Evanston IL, and Margaret (Bob) Clow, Lake Geneva, WI. His niece and nephews include Susan Sochacki (David Rudolph), St. Paul, MN, Joseph (Emily) Sochacki, Indianapolis, IN, Jonathan (Sabrina) Sochacki, Buffalo, NY and Erik (Jenni) Anderson, Antioch, IL. He also has several grand nieces and nephews.

Walt grew up in Sacred Heart parish in Robbinsdale, attended Sacred Heart School and spent his first year of high school at Benilde. The following year, he entered Nazareth Hall Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. Following his ordination, he served in several parishes in the Twin Cities area, Visitation, Minneapolis, St. Rose of Lima, Roseville, Immaculate Conception, Columbia Heights, St. Mary of Lake, Plymouth, St. John the Baptist, New Brighton, Holy Trinity, South St. Paul, Annunciation, Minneapolis and Good Shepherd, Golden Valley. Shortly after he retired, Fr. Sochacki began his recovery at Guest House in Rochester, MN and would have celebrated his 16th year of sobriety this May. After Guest House, he moved to the retirement community at St. Therese in New Hope where he provided liturgical support to the pastoral care teams at both St. Therese in New Hope and St. Therese Oxbow. He also spent a significant amount of time at the fitness center and in the garden on the patio at St. Therese doing two of the things he enjoyed most. For many years he wintered in Lake Havasu, AZ.

Fr. Sochacki was a great homilist, always focusing on the positive and keeping the message short but sweet. He had a gift for making guests welcome in his church, especially explaining everything that was going on in the liturgy. He was always involved with the communities he served and had a special place in his heart for the homeless.

Celebration of Fr. Sochacki’s life will begin with visitation on Monday, 2/12/24 at The Church of the Sacred Heart, 4087 W. Broadway, Robbinsdale, MN from 9-10 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial. The Mass will be live streamed on the Gearty Delmore website. Celebration luncheon will follow the Mass at Sacred Heart.  Private burial

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Sochacki Family Fund at the St. Therese Foundation.

The family would like to especially thank the staff of St. Therese, New Hope, and North Memorial Hospice for their kind, and loving care they provided to Fr. Walt and his family.