Dr. James H. Eberenz Sr., a professor and former Philosophy Department chairman at Spalding University, died yesterday at Audubon Regional Medical Center of congestive heart failure. He was 73. Eberenz, who taught philosophy and moral theology, joined the university in 1962 as an instructor. He was chairman of the Philosophy Department from 1967 to 1970. In 1974 he became a full professor and initiated the first college course in Kentuckiana on thanatology — the study of death. He retired in 1986 and continued to teach part time. Before joining Spalding, Eberenz taught at Bellarmine College, the University of Louisville, Trinity High School and the former Catholic Country Day School, which later became Kentucky Country Day School. From 1951 to 1961, Eberenz served as Louisville and Southern Indiana coordinator of the Great Books adult program, which formed literary discussion groups. From 1966 to 1974, Eberenz was the moderator of "Campus View-point," a weekly public-affairs program broadcast on WHAS radio. He was past president of the Kentucky Philosophical Association and a member of the American Catholic Philosophical Association, American Society of Christian Philosophers, American Phenomenological Society and Association of American Colleges. Survivors include his wife, the former Catherine Wise; two daughters, Regina M. Eberenz and Ma-donna Eberenz-Wilson; two sons, James H. Jr. and Paul Douglas Eberenz; a sister, Cecilia Rose Roberson; four brothers, Robert Sr., Joseph Jr., Richard and Edward Eberenz; and four grandchildren. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Helen Catholic Church, 4005 Dixie Highway, with burial in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation at Ratterman’s, Bardstown Road, 3800 Bardstown Road, is from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today and tomorrow. The family suggests that memorial gifts go to a trust fund for Paul D. Eberenz, in care of the funeral home.