The Congregation of Holy Cross has lost a member. Holy Cross Brother Daniel Durig died on Jan. 10 of a stroke after undergoing heart surgery. He was 79.

Durig joined the brotherhood in 1951, and he graduated from St. Edward’s University in 1976 with a degree in history. While serving as a Holy Cross brother, Durig used his passion and talent for cooking in to give back to others.

“In Holy Cross, hospitality is one of our charisms,” Br. Richard Daly said. “He personified Holy Cross hospitality.”

Daly met Durig when Daly was a student at St. Edward’s. At that time, there were 120 brothers living in Vincent Hall, and for eight years, Durig cooked three meals a day for the Vincent Hall residents.

“It was during those sweltering days in the Vincent Hall kitchen that Daniel would dispense his distinctive lessons of the spiritual life and life in general, along with daily cooking instruction,” Br. Michael Brickman said in a eulogy he delivered in honor of Durig. “He felt it was his sworn duty to blend these two valuable spices to advance our formation.”

In the 1970s, Durig founded the Holy Cross Food Service Workshops, which ran at St. Edward’s in the summer. Through his program, Durig trained people, mostly brothers and sisters, to cook.

Daly said that Durig had the expertise to cook large quantities of food for a large number of people at a low price.

In 1983, Durig and four others established a ministry at St. Anthony Parish in Casper, Wyo.

After retiring, Durig continued to serve by making cookies and other baked goods to raise money for two Holy Cross missions that help homeless children in Brazil. He would sell the baked goods to students at Holy Cross High School in San Antonio during their lunch period.

Durig’s biggest contribution to the Holy Cross community was the example he set by living a life of simplicity and service, according to Br. Bill Zanardi.

Zanardi also said that those who knew Durig would remember him for his smile, humor and friendliness.

Brickman said Durig was happiest being a son, a brother, an uncle, Religious Superior, founder of the Holy Cross Food Service Workshops and always a Brother of Holy Cross.

“Some of the people are just flickers of light during a long life, while others are a consistent glow for years. Daniel was my consistent glow,” Brickman said. “Those who had the privilege to know him are better persons due to the warmth of Daniel[‘s] glow.”