Deacon Bernard M. Thomann, who had served St. John the Baptist Parish in Kenmore, died Oct. 30, 2022, at the age of 97. Born Feb. 8, 1925, in Buffalo. The son of Dennis and Mary Kathryn (Fournaise) Thomann, Deacon Thomann attended St. John the Baptist School in Kenmore and Kenmore High School before entering the […]
Sister Carmelette Komorowski, OSF, who served as a home care aide, died Oct. 29, 2022, at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston. She was 91. The daughter of the late Andrew and Frances (Dembsha) Komorowski, was born July 5, 1931, in Buffalo. She attended Mount St. Joseph Teacher’s College in Buffalo, earning a bachelor’s degree […]
Father Bernardine C. Kessing, OFM, age 89, a professed Franciscan Friar for 68 years, and a Catholic Priest for 62 years, died Oct. 15, 2022, at St. Catherine of Siena Nursing Home, Caldwell, New Jersey, after an extended illness. In retirement, Father Kessing had previously resided at St. Anthony Friary, Butler, New Jersey, and the […]
Sister Eileen Pinkel, a sister of St. Francis for 67 years, died in Autumn View Health Care Facility, Hamburg, on Oct. 16, 2022. She was 89. Sister Eileen was the youngest of Anne (Richardson) and Lawrence W. Pinkel’s seven children, born in Buffalo on March 23, 1933. From her earliest years, Eileen was surrounded by […]
Deacon Gordon J. Steinagle, who was known for his work in prison ministry, died Sept. 7, 2022, after a long battle with cancer and Alzheimers. Born March 19, 1934, in the Town of Tonawanda, to William and Marg Ann Gerst Steinagle, Deacon Steinagle was the youngest of 18 children. He attended Lincoln School in Tonawanda […]
Sister Mary Helen Buscarino, the founder and namesake of Lockport’s Sister Helen’s Food Pantry, died Aug. 30, 2022. She was 98 years old and had recently celebrated her 80th Jubilee of religious life. Sister Helen was the first child born to Carmelo and Alfonsa Buscarino in Racalmuto, Sicily on April 21, 1924. Her lifelong journey […]
Deacon Terrance Harter, who had been serving St. Andrew Parish in Kenmore since 2014, died Aug. 28, 2022. Born in Lackawanna and raised in Kenmore, Deacon Harter attended Blessed Sacrament Parish and Kenmore East High School. He worked as dispatcher for Earthwatch Waste Systems before joining the diaconate. He studied for the diaconate at Christ […]
Sister Carleen Marie Stengel, OSF, a lifelong teacher and Franciscan Sister of the Neumann Communities embraced death in the early hours of Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022. She was 83 years old and had been a Sister of St. Francis for almost 65 years. Born Anna Stengel June 30, 1938, in Buffalo, the youngest and only […]
Sister Therese Maria Van Bourgondien, a Franciscan Sister of Allegany who was known for her work as a nursing instructor and researcher, died Aug. 4, 2022, St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany. Born Dec. 12, 1929, in Hillegom, The Netherlands, the daughter of Pieter and Emilie Stehmann Van Bourgondien, attended elementary school in The Netherlands until […]
Rev. Dr. Robert J. Perelli, CJM, who dedicated his life to serving the underserved, died suddenly Aug. 2, 2022. He was 72. A graduate of St. John Vianney Seminary, and Christ the King Seminary formerly in East Aurora, Father Perelli was ordained in 1976 at OLV Basilica and said his first Mass at Our Lady […]
