Dead Priest's Alleged "Wife" Sues Estate

What a strange suit. Funny thing is I can actually see this really happening, a Catholic prmiest living another life on the side. Unfortunate what this woman has to deal with.

This is the stuff reality TV is made of.

What a con job that 'priest' did on her. I read the complaint. I am not an attorney. Irene Serwa Boohula and Edwin Bouhala placed the home she owned in joint tenancy, which is a matter of public record. If the County Real Estate Appraisal office doesn't have it, they should. Unless he lied to US Census officers, they should have a record as a census is conducted every 10 years. The "lawyer" who drew up the trust conveying his interest to the Dominican Sisters apparently was not aware that jointly owned properties cannot be placed in a trust without the approval of the co-owner. Interesting. They've all been conned. Chicago Now, please follow up on the outcome. My money is on Irene.

I'm not a lawyer either, but according to the cook county recorder, Irene signed a quitclaim deed and then put her property in a trust with the 'good' father. This will be messy and maybe impossible for her to come out of whole.

It's just like the old saying goes.....if he does it with you he'll do it to you. He was lying to his church, why should she have believed anything he said to her? She's getting just what she deserves for messing with a priest. She may win on legally but she is just as corrupt as he was.

This is one of the many problems the catholic church has. It's not the fourteenth century anymore. Let these people get married, in no way does it effect their ability to lead a church (see every other christian chuch) and it will save a lot of young boys from having their innocence stolen.

The Catholic Church is one kooky religion with lotsa kooky folks. Why do any sane people stay in this ridiculous cult?

This "lady" was the priest's caregiver, NOT his wife. She was paid to take care of him as a caregiver. Remember, "things are not always as they seem". This priest was a priest, through and through. Never doubt that!

Unlike California and a few other jurisdictions, Illinois does not recognize common law marriage. The claims of the purported "wife" should be dismissed. However, she may have other claims recognized under the common law based on equity.

Kenneth

Thank you Kenneth for stating no common law in Illinois. By the way, it is our understanding he owned over half the house because of all the bills, mortgages, and taxes he paid on it. In addition to remodeling it so he could live there in his senior years. And now she decides to drag his name through the mud?

One True church......PLEASE!?!?!?!? I agree w/ HRH about the Kool-aide addiction! "JUST SAY NO!" -Nancy Reagan

And truthis......Ha! Pretty funny man! Curious how you know the inner workngs of this situation? "Your unstanding?" Maybe you were this guy's accounts payable and HR dept. Part of the inner circle perhaps??? Cheers.....raises my glass of Kool-aide. Curious how this plays out!

You know, I happen to know both Irene Serwa and Rev. Edwin V. Bohula, (CAPT,CHC,USN-Ret), very well. The only thin wrong here is Father made one mistake. He trusted a woman that he shouldn't of. Irene new Father since she was a teenager. He helped her a allot through her life. She's collecting disability for mental reasons. Father was her sponsor and helped her to get it. Father was a one of a kind priest. From holding dying kids in Vietnam who didn't have their parents there with them, to saving a dying Church in Lemont Illinois. Father never stopped helping people. He use to preach that if someone was able to "walk up the hill" at St. James and ask for help, "they wouldn't be refused". He helped until the day he passed. After he died I seen allot of the ones he trusted and helped turn on him. Irene Serwa is one of them. I was visiting Father at Loyola Hospital a few years back and he told me that his half of the house was to go to the Sisters at Rosary Hill. Father was always trying to do good for everyone. Irene's house was in foreclosure, Father was up in age and not in good health. He used his money to bail Irene's house out, and he paid the mortgage and the bills. In return he had a home to stay at until he died. He trusted Irene, and that was his mistake. When I found out what that nut pulled I called her and told her how I felt. She responded with, "You don't understand, I'm boxed in a corner, I want the house for my kid". For nothing more than pure greed she is trying to ruin the name of one of the best Priest ever. She should be ashamed of herself!

I am Edwun Bohula's niece and I find this whole situation ludicrous. This woman has caused a tremendous amount of stress on our family and is attempting to soil the name of a dedicated and caring priest and uncle. My uncle has always been there for all of us in the family as well as anyone who came into contact with him and needed help. We spoke often as he helped me with my son who has autism. Many times we have spoken of this woman and I can guarentee he referred to her only as his caregiver. He was in very poor health. I am very saddened by this whole thing as I loved him dearly.

Be aware that this is the second priest this woman has sued and attempted monetary gain.

NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR YOU AIR YOUR LAUNDRY. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS BLOG IS ABOUT. PLEASE HAVE RESPECT FOR THE OTHERS ON HERE AND STOP!!!!!

I grew up as an alter server and usher at St.James, and now at age 20, I can look back at my past memories of St. James and Father Bohula and do nothing but smile and remember all of the good memories I had.. Because that is all I have left. I can't believe "sweet ole Irene" would ruin his name like this!! Father was the most loving and caring person, and for Irene to ruin his name like this is an outrage!!

This is all absurd! When Father moved into Irene's home, he paid for everything! Remodeling, mortgage, utilities and taxes. She agreed to half and half is what she should get. That is exactly what the agreement between them was when he helped her out. No one is forcing her to move out and sell. The will states that NO ONE can sell that house without her approval and that she can live there until she dies if she wants. Does that sound vindictive? That sounds reasonable, pure and simple. No one should be pushing Irene out of her home, no matter what. But she should not be saying things about Father that are not true just to gain something to leave to her son. He was a good man. He was an honorable man.

So I'm guessing the good father declined the vow of poverty...
Nevertheless, why is no one concerned with the evident wads of disposable cash he had?
How did he come into so much money that he could allegedly renovate this house and pay all the bills, remodeling, mortgage, utilities and taxes etc.?
Also, since when did the church stop taking care of its own?
Why did the good father need a place to stay in his old age?
The church has a huge, LOVELY home in the Vatican, I saw it myself; granted, it is generally used for clergy fleeing from litigation concerning accusations of child sexual abuse, but I'm sure they could have squeezed in another bed!
This whole story sounds fishy and SHAME on the Sisters if they take this house - the church has MORE than enough money to provide for them and pay for all the Pope's fancy hats, jewelry and shoes.
If the church had helped or if the money had come from parishioners it would be a different story.
But SERIOUSLY, how does a priest legitimately, and still abiding by the tenets of his faith, come into money like that?

He moved in because he had retired and made the agreement that she would take care of him since he was in such poor health and bedridden a lot of the time. By the way , in his condition, an intimate relationship would certainly be out of the question. His money is from many years in the military and he used to help others including me with a special needs child.