Retired Bishop Niedergeses of Nashville dies at age 90

Published: 2007-11-19

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CNS) -- Retired Bishop James D. Niedergeses, the ninth bishop of Nashville who also was a pastor and teacher, a prison and hospital chaplain, and friend and mentor to many, died Nov. 16 at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville. He was 90. Bishop Niedergeses suffered from various illnesses in recent years and had been hospitalized several times. He was admitted to St. Thomas Nov. 14 for treatment of a blood clot in his leg when his condition worsened and he began bleeding internally. A funeral Mass was to be celebrated Nov. 20 at Nashville's Cathedral of the Incarnation, with Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., as the main celebrant, followed by interment at Calvary Cemetery in Lawrenceburg. "We give thanks for Bishop Niedergeses' many years of faithful, dedicated service to God's people in the Diocese of Nashville," said Bishop David R. Choby, current head of the diocese. "In his kindness, faithfulness, dedication and energetic service, he was an inspiration to me personally as well as the other priests of the diocese."

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