WEST BRANDYWINE, Pa. — Father Andrew J. Latsko, 89, of Honey Brook, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, at Hickory House Nursing Home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at noon on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, at St. Peter Church, located at 2835 Manor Road, West Brandywine Township, Pa. Family and friends will be received from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Interment will be at Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Springfield, Pa.
Born in Beaverdale, Pa., he was the son of the late John and Margaret D. Voytko Latsko. When he was 5, Andrew and his parents moved to Conemaugh, Pa., where he attended Catholic school. He mainly spoke Slovak, having spent much time with his grandparents. After he finished the fourth grade, he moved with them to Eddystone, Pa., where he was enrolled at St. Michael’s School. While there, he and his mother attended Mass every morning at 6 a.m., and he served as an altar boy. In sixth grade, he attended St. Rose of Lima Parish. He received the sacrament of confirmation in seventh grade at St. James Parish in Chester, Pa., and continued worshiping there until he was in the ninth grade.
While living in Chester he worked at the “Eddy” movie house, where he developed a love for movies. During his years at St. James High School for Boys, he participated in school theater productions. He was cast as the lead role during his junior and senior years, including “Music Man.” He would walk to high school, saving his money instead to buy candy, ice cream and cigarettes.
After graduating from high school, he worked at Westinghouse Corp. in Chester until that facility closed and he was transferred to Charlotte, N.C. During three decades of employment with Westinghouse, he advanced through the ranks from production clerk to photographer, production coordinator and computer coordinator. In 1986, he retired from Westinghouse and remained in Charlotte.
He then met the late Jesuit Father Gene McCreesh, who inspired him to consider the priesthood. His Catholic faith had always remained important to him – from the days when he was an altar server for daily Mass to when he was a young adult attending Charismatic Prayer Meetings, held at Our Lady of Peace Church in Milmont Park, Pa., from 1975 to 1984.
He applied with the Diocese of Charlotte and was accepted, and he entered Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology in Wisconsin. He was ordained on May 30, 1992, in Charlotte, N.C. He served for more than 20 years, first as an associate pastor at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte and then pastor of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Swannanoa. In 2003, he retired from the Charlotte diocese and returned to Pennsylvania, where he served as pastor from 2008 until 2019.
In his spare time, he enjoyed bowling and photography.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Father Latsko’s name to: St. Margaret Mary Church, 102 Andrew Pl., Swannanoa, N.C. 28778-2506, or to St. Peter Church, 2835 Manor Road, West Brandywine, Pa. 19320.
James J. Terry Funeral Home Inc. is in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald