Former Queen of Martyrs students, community members reunite after school's closure

EVERGREEN PARK, Ill. (WLS) -- Former students and community members gathered Sunday at Queen of Martyrs for a reunion and farewell, two months after the school permanently closed.

The event included a Sunday Mass followed by a reception celebrating the school's 74-year history. Alumni from multiple graduating classes returned to reconnect and reflect on the school's role in their lives and in the Evergreen Park community.

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"It's like a family reunion to see a bunch of my classmates I haven't seen in a while. It's nice," said Xavier Alvarez, a member of the Class of 2025.

The Archdiocese of Chicago said Queen of Martyrs was facing declining enrollment and was projected to have a deficit of more than $400,000.

Many attendees expressed sadness over the school's closure and the loss of a longtime community institution.

"I feel bad I had some good times here some bad times here, but it's a shame they let the school shutdown. We're running out of places for kids to go to school," said Bob Weber, a member of the Class of 1958.

Although many alumni have since moved to other cities and states, they said the school remained an important part of Evergreen Park and their personal histories.

"Just a part of your past is gone. It was sad when they changed the church then when I found out they're changing the school that just hurts. I loved it that's why it hurts, and I loved it because I was only two blocks away," said Sue Panozzo, a member of the Class of 1967.

For many who returned Sunday, the gathering offered an opportunity to reconnect with former classmates and celebrate the legacy of a school that served the community for more than seven decades.