Father
John P. Gutekunst dies
Father John P. Gutekunst, parochial vicar at St. Christopher Parish, Philadelphia,
died Monday, Dec. 24, 2007, at the parish. The service of the transfer
of the body was held at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, at St. Christopher Church,
followed by a viewing and then Parish Mass at 7 p.m. Cardinal Justin Rigali
celebrated a funeral Mass on Friday, Dec. 28, at the church. A full obituary
will appear in next week’s edition of The CS&T.
Deacon
Alberto Montañez Velázquez, 79, dies
By Lou Baldwin
Special to The CS&T
Deacon Alberto Montañez Velázquez, 79, a member of the Philadelphia
Archdiocese’s first class of ordained permanent deacons, died Dec.
16, 2007.
He was born in Puerto Rico in 1928 and moved with his family to Philadelphia,
where he worked for the Archdiocese for 22 years as a heavy equipment
operator at New Cathedral Cemetery. For most of his years in the Archdiocese,
he and his wife, Francisca Figueroa, were members of St. Veronica Parish,
where they raised their six children: Concepción, María,
Cándida, Rosa, José and Benita.
“He was an unbelievable man. His whole life was dedicated to serving
the Lord and serving the community,” said his son, José Montañez.
“He was the best of fathers and a good friend. Even in hard times,
he laughed.”
When the permanent diaconate program was introduced in Philadelphia, he
was invited to join, and was one of 16 men of Hispanic heritage to be
ordained by Cardinal John Krol on Oct. 31, 1981, at the Cathedral Basilica
of SS. Peter and Paul.
After his ordination, he took up ministry at St. Veronica. Deacon José
Lozada was also a member of that historic first class, and they stayed
in touch. He described Deacon Montañez Velázquez as a down-to-earth
man who was always happy and making jokes, but who was deeply serious
when it came to God’s work.
“He was a great, good man,” Deacon Lozada said.
When he retired in 1995, he returned to Puerto Rico, where he remained
active in ministry. He was instrumental in founding a chapel in Guayama,
a very poor community.
He and his wife returned to the mainland in 2005, where they lived first
in New Jersey and then, most recently, in St. Martin of Tours Parish,
where he was a daily communicant, said Father Augustus C. Puleo.
Deacon Montañez Velázquez’s funeral Mass was celebrated
by Auxiliary Bishop Daniel E. Thomas at St. Martin of Tours Church on
Dec. 21. Concelebrants included Msgr. Richard C. Powers, the former pastor
at St. Veronica; Fathers John Kelly, Robert Sinatra and James Olsen, and
Father Puleo, who was the homilist. Deacon Lozada was Deacon of the Word;
Deacon Felipe Cruz was Deacon of the Eucharist.
In addition to his wife and six children, Deacon Montañez Velázquez
is survived by 16 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.
Interment was at New Cathedral Cemetery.
Lou Baldwin is a member of St. Leo Parish and a freelance writer.
Obituaries
Compiled by Adam Dickerson
Sister
Charles Bernard Corbett
Sister Charles Bernard Corbett, S.S.J., formerly Elaine Corbett, died
on Sept. 6, 2007. She was 84. Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter
of Charles Corbett and Henrietta Garvey. She entered the Sisters of St.
Joseph on Sept. 14, 1943. She served in the archdioceses of Baltimore,
Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., and the Diocese of Raleigh, N.C. She
was preceded in death by her brothers, Eugene, Bernard, Robert and Charles,
and her sisters, Elaine and Gertrude. A funeral Mass was celebrated Sept.
10, 2007, at St. Joseph Villa. Burial was in the community cemetery. She
is survived by two sisters, Ethel Corbett and Sister Mary Corbett, S.S.J.;
nieces and nephews, and members of her community.
Sister Mary E. Scanlon
Sister Mary E. Scanlon, S.S.J., formerly Sister James Anthony, died on
Nov. 8, 2007. She was 87. Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of
James L. Scanlon and Helen Rogers. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph
on Sept. 9, 1940, and served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. A funeral
Mass was celebrated on Nov. 13, 2007, with burial in the community cemetery.
She is survived by her brothers, James and William; her sisters, Rita
Kennedy and Sister Helen Scanlon, M.S.B.T.; a niece, and her congregation.
Sister Christian Jones
Sister Christian Jones, S.H.C.J., formerly Mother Mary Sebastian, died
Dec. 4, 2007, in White Plains, N.Y. She was 87. Born in Pittsburgh, she
entered the Society of the Holy Child Jesus in 1945. She served in the
Philadelphia area for close to 20 years. She taught at Holy Spirit School,
Sharon Hill; St. James, St. Lucy, and St. Edward, all in Philadelphia;
and at the Rosemont School of the Holy Child, Rosemont. She also served
in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, California, Washington, D.C.,
and Mexico. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from West
Chester State University and a master’s degree in education from
Villanova University. She retired to the Holy Child Convent in Rye, N.Y.,
in 2001. A funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 8 at the Holy Child Convent
and burial followed at St. Mary Cemetery, Rye Brook, N.Y. She is survived
by several cousins and her religious community.
Sister Ethel Fitzpatrick
Sister Ethel Fitzpatrick, S.H.C.J., formerly known as Mother Mary Ethel,
died Dec. 5, 2007, at the Holy Child Center, Rosemont. She was 88. Born
in Philadelphia, she graduated from West Catholic High School for Girls
and earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Villanova
University. She held a master’s degree in religious education from
Fordham University. After entering the Society for the Holy Child Jesus
in 1938, she served in the Philadelphia area for more than 40 years. She
taught at St. Leonard Academy, Assumption, and St. Edward School. She
was principal at St. Lucy School. She taught and chaired the religion
department at West Catholic High School for Girls. She also served as
director of religious education and as a pastoral assistant at St. Rose
of Lima Parish, Philadelphia. Finally, she managed the health office for
the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus in Drexel Hill. Outside of Philadelphia,
she taught in New York City and Illinois. She was predeceased by one sister,
Elizabeth Sullivan, and one brother, James Fitzpatrick. A funeral Mass
was celebrated on Dec. 10 in New Sharon Chapel, Rosemont. Burial was at
Calvary Cemetery, Conshohocken. She is survived by two sisters, Margaret
McKenzie and Theresa Cornwell; several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews,
and her religious community.
Sister Mary Felicity McGowan
Sister Mary Felicity McGowan, S.H.C.J., formerly known as Mother Mary
Felicity, died Dec. 7, 2007, at the Holy Child Center, Rosemont. She was
88. Born in Philadelphia to James and Anne McGowan, she attended area
schools. She entered the Society for the Holy Child Jesus in 1940, and
taught in California, New York, Oregon, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.
In Philadelphia, she taught at St. Edward School and Holy Spirit School.
She held a bachelor’s degree in education from Villanova University.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 14 in the New Sharon Chapel, Rosemont.
Burial was at Calvary Cemetery, Conshohocken. She is survived by a sister,
Gertrude Pfaff; several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and
her religious community.
Sister Cecilia Agnes Schanta
Sister Cecilia Agnes Schanta, O.S.F., died Dec. 7 in Assisi house. She
was 98 and had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of
Philadelphia for 75 years. Born in Coplay, Pa., she earned a bachelor’s
degree in biological sciences from Villanova University and was awarded
several grants from the National Science Foundation. She ministered primarily
in education on both elementary and secondary levels, teaching science
and German. In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, she taught at St. Bonaventure
School, St. Elizabeth School, St. Ludwig School and Little Flower High
School. She also served in the dioceses of Allentown and Trenton. In 1997
she moved to Assisi House where she served in prayer ministry until her
death. A funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 12 in Assisi House and burial
was at Our Lady of Angels Cemetery, Aston. She is survived by nieces,
nephews and her Franciscan family.