Father Joseph Fifagrowicz, a retired priest who served the Diocese of Buffalo for almost 62 years, died Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
Father Fifagrowicz was born March 18, 1937, in Buffalo to George and Anna Fifagrowicz, and educated at Assumption School in Buffalo, the Minor Seminary in Buffalo, and St. Mary’s College, Orchard Lake, Michigan. He then entered Christ the King Seminary in Olean, followed by St. John Vianney Seminary in East Aurora.
Bishop Joseph Burke ordained Father Fifagrowicz on March 17, 1962, at St. Joseph’s New Cathedral in Buffalo.
His assignments include a year in the missionary apostolate serving at St. John of the Cross Parish in Whitesville. This was followed by assistant pastor positions at Transfiguration Parish, Buffalo; Infant of Prague Parish, Cheektowaga; and St. Agatha Parish, Buffalo. He served as chaplain at Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo from 1976-1991. He then returned to parish life as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Medina. In 1994, he took on the additional assignment of pastor of St. Joseph in Lyndonville.
After his retirement, Father Fifagrowicz continued to serve as a weekend assistant at St. Benedict Parish in Eggertsville.
Father Fifagrowicz was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus and a member of the Council of Priests from 1999-2004.
Family will receive friends at the Kolano Funeral Home, 396 Amherst St., on Tuesday, Feb. 20, from 2-7 p.m. Father Fifagrowicz will lie-in-repose Wednesday morning, Feb. 21, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Assumption Parish, 435 Amherst St., followed by a funeral Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael W. Fisher.