Eternal Memory: +Very Rev. Fr. Tony Joseph

Friday, October 7, 2022

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that + Very Rev. Fr. Tony Joseph  reposed in the Lord on Wed, October 5, 2022.

Fr. Tony was born on July 20, 1938. He is survived by his son Tony R. Joseph, married to Mary (Lashly), Kitty Hawk; daughter Tricia L. Honeycutt married to Craig, Nags Head; granddaughter Vera Bay Honeycutt, who put the twinkle in his eyes; granddaughter Amber King, Tallahassee, Fl; sister Sandy Joseph married to Malcolm Vosburgh, Maryland; sister Jeannette Mortensen married to Fred, New Mexico; and dear friend Sarah Hajduk, Maryland. He is also survived by sisters- and brothers-in-law, cousins, nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tony and Eva Joseph of Windber, his sister Antionette Joseph, and his loving wife of 59 years, Patsy (Bartko) Joseph.

Fr. Tony was a 1956 graduate of Windber High School, where he served as class president and lettered in basketball and baseball. He was a student at the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown, before signing with the Detroit Tigers. For five years, he played in the minor leagues, until an injury ended his career in professional baseball. As a local coach and manager, his teams had 401 wins in 23-plus seasons, including appearances in AAABA Tournaments. In 2010 he was inducted into the AAABA Hall of Fame.

Fr. Tony was ordained into the priesthood in September of 2001 and served the parishioners of St. John's Church in Wilpen and St. Stephen's in Latrobe for more than 20 years. He showed his physical and spiritual strength by surviving strokes, open heart surgery, and other recent health problems. God blessed us with his larger-than-life presence, and he will be missed by many.

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

Thursday, October 6    Vesting of Fr. Tony at Meek's Funeral Home, Main Street, Windber, PA at noon

Friday, October 7     Viewing and Visitation at SS. Peter and Paul Church from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM 

Friday, October 7     Burial Service for a Priest  at 7 PM

Saturday, October 8      Funeral Service at 10 AM with Burial in SS. Peter and Paul Church Cemetery

"In Blessed Repose, grant eternal rest, O Lord, to your newly-departed Priest Servant  + Father Tony and render eternal his memory, vicnaja jemu pamjat!"