BELMONT — Sister Joseph Marie Perez, a Sister of Mercy for 69 years, died Nov. 6, 2016, at Marian Center, Sacred Heart Convent in Belmont, after an extended illness.
The welcoming ceremony and prayer service will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016, in the Cardinal Gibbons Chapel at Sacred Heart Convent.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov.10, 2016, in the chapel, followed by interment at Belmont Abbey Cemetery in Belmont.
A native of Agana, Guam, Josefina Perez was born May 15, 1930, the third of nine children of Vicente Borja Perez and his wife Maria Pangelinan. Growing up during the Japanese occupation in World War II, she was profoundly affected by the experiences of suffering, hunger and uncertainty. However, she was grateful for the liberation of Guam and American efforts to rebuild. After the war, she attended public schools in Agana and Sinajana and George Washington High School in Mongmong and recalled the struggle to catch up academically with her peers.
When the Sisters of Mercy came to Guam in 1946, she was attracted to the sisters’ way of life. She entered the fledging community with the second group of postulants on Dec. 12, 1947. She received the habit and a new name, Sister Joseph Marie, on Dec. 6, 1948, and professed final vows at the cathedral in Agana on Aug.13, 1956.
Sister Joseph Marie’s mentor, Sister Inez Underwood, noticed her ability to learn languages and encouraged her to pursue Latin. She was sent to Mount Mercy College in Pittsburgh, Pa., where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Latin with minors in education and biology. She later earned a master’s degree in educational supervision and administration from the University of Guam.
Sister Joseph Marie ministered as a teacher at the Academy of Our Lady in Agana, St. Anthony School in Tamuning, and at Santa Barbara School in Dededo as a teacher and principal. She also did pastoral ministry at St. Joseph’s Parish in Inarajan and worked at the Richard F. Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center at the University of Guam and at Infant of Prague Nursery and Kindergarten in Mangilao.
Sister Joseph Marie was well known for her cooking and baking skills which fulfilled her desire to serve others. She also enjoyed writing poetry, painting, gardening and playing the piano.
She had lived at Marian Center in Belmont since March 2015.
Sister Joseph Marie’s life is summed up in her ring motto: “O Crux Dulcis, Adoro Te, Amo’ Te” or “O Sweet Cross of Jesus, I adore You, I love You!”
Sister Joseph Marie is survived by her brothers Ignacio and Eddie, her sisters-in-law, Sylvia and Remedio, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
— Catholic News Herald
HIGH POINT — Father Bernard A. Manley Jr., 94, died Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016, at his home at Pennybyrn at Maryfield in High Point.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016, at St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, with Bishop Peter J. Jugis as principal celebrant. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery.
A prayer vigil for the deceased will held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016, at Groce Funeral Home, located at 1401 Patton Ave. in Asheville, after which the family will receive friends until 8:30 p.m.
Father Manley was born in Columbia, S.C. on June 12, 1922. He was the son of the late Bernard A. Manley Sr. and Mary Fae Collins Manley, and grandson of John Henry and Emma Hall Manley and Oscar Charles and Minnie Hampton Collins.
He attended Orange Street and Claxton elementary schools and was a 1940 graduate of Lee H. Edwards High School.
In June 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served overseas with the 8th Air Force. He was discharged as a senior master sergeant in October 1945.
Following discharge, he attended the Columbia Institute of Technology in Washington, D.C., and came to work for the City of Asheville as assistant city engineer. In addition, he was appointed chief building inspector and the first traffic engineer of Asheville. In the mid 1950s he designed the first "one-way" street system in Asheville, most of which is still in effect.
He later joined the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and retired from there in 1983 as general manager.
He was very active in civic affairs. He was a founding board member of Mountain Area Hospice, Quality Forward and the Asheville-Buncombe Community Relations Council, as well as many other community boards.
He entered the Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Conn., in September 1983, and in 1987, at the age of 65, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Charlotte at St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville.
He served at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte; as pastor of St. William Church in Murphy, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hayesville and St. Francis of Assisi Church in Mocksville; and as priest in residence at St. Eugene Church in Asheville. He retired from priestly ministry in July 1996.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ellen Tull Manley in 1979, and by a daughter, Rachel Faye Smith, in 2014.
He is survived by a daughter, Geraldine (Jerry) Mulder of Portsmouth, Va.; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: St. Lawrence Basilica, 97 Haywood St., Asheville, N.C. 28801; CarePartners Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, N.C. 28813; St. Eugene Church, 72 Culvern St., Asheville, N.C. 28804; or Maryfield Resident Care Fund, 1315 Greensboro Road, High Point, N.C. 27260.
A register to offer notes of condolence can be found at www.grocefuneralhome.com.
Groce Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Asheville is in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald
CHARLOTTE — Richard A. Lucey, retired general counsel for the Diocese of Charlotte, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016.
The visitation and prayer service will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at McEwen Funeral Service-Pineville Chapel, 10500 Park Road in Charlotte.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Road in Charlotte. A reception will follow the Mass.
He was born Oct. 28, 1941, in Springfield, Mass., the son of the late John F. and Margaret A. Lucey. Upon graduation from Fairfield University in Connecticut, he went on to earn a Juris Doctorate at Fordham University Law School in New York. Just after law school, he worked in New York City and in 1970 accepted a transfer to Charlotte, a place he and his family would call home.
After pursuing a private law practice, he was asked to serve as the general counsel for the Diocese of Charlotte beginning in 1992, a position he held until retiring in January. After his retirement, he continued to serve the diocese until June.
He also spent much of his time and service as a court-appointed attorney in juvenile court. In 2013, he was honored by the Mecklenburg County Bar with a Distinguished Service Award for his three decades of service to families in juvenile court: http://bit.ly/2cNpn2u
The Lucey family became active members of St. Vincent De Paul Church in 1970. He was also a cantor and dedicated member of the parish choir. His passions included golfing, gardening, the Red Sox, the Carolina Panthers and Notre Dame football.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister Peggy and sister-in-law Nancy.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary Jo; their six children, Kathy (Joe), Kevin (Amanda), Jim (Hayley), Danny, Margaret and Kelly (Alexis); grandchildren,
Christopher, Stephen, Brian, Laura, Davis, James, Mary Elizabeth, Sean and Amos; and his siblings Jack, Mary (Charlie), Bill (Norma) and brother-in-law Eamon.
At the request of the family, please send cards of condolence to the Diocese of Charlotte Office of the Chancery, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be sent to St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte, NC 28210.
Online condolences may be left at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com.
— Catholic News Herald
Related: Mecklenburg County Bar honors diocesan attorney
ELMIRA, N.Y. — Father Raymond B. Hourihan, 91, passed away Oct. 11, 2016, at the Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, N.Y.
A wake and vigil prayer service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, 2016, at St. Mary’s Church in Elmira. Visitation will continue until 7 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, at the church. Committal prayers and interment, with military honors, will follow at St. Peter & Paul’s Cemetery.
Father Hourihan was born in Elmira on June 15, 1925, a son to Patrick and Mary (Troy) Hourihan. He was the last surviving of his siblings.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the South Pacific during World War II. He worked in the insurance industry as a safety engineer, then later went to work at the Elmira Psychiatric Center, retiring as the chief safety officer.
Upon his retirement he took up his calling to priestly ministry. He entered Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Conn., and was ordained to the priesthood on June 20, 1987.
He served as parochial vicar at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte, parish administrator at Holy Infant Church in Reidsville, and as pastor of Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Albemarle and St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville.
For the past several years he spent his time between Elmira and Lakeland, Fla.
He was a long-time member and former chaplain of the Monsignor John J. Lee Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, where he served as president and in every other board position.
Officers and members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians will meet at St. Mary’s Church on Friday at 7 p.m. to conduct a service for their brother "Father Ray."
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Joseph and John Hourihan, and sisters, Agnes Hourihan, Mary Dillon, Jane Broschart, Theresa Hourihan and Helen Hourihan.
He is survived by his sister-in-law, Patricia Hourihan of Pine City; brother-in-law, Charles Broschart of Balston Spa, N.Y.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Those wishing may remember Father Hourihan with a donation either to St. Mary’s Church, 224 Franklin St., Elmira, N.Y. 14904, or the Monsignor John J. Lee Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, 701 Kinyon St., Elmira, N.Y. 14904.
— Tim Tobin, president, Monsignor John J. Lee Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians
SALISBURY — Kathryn “Katie” Christine Meseroll, 29, of Salisbury, died Sept. 8, 2016, at her home after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 12, 2016, at Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury with Father John Eckert, pastor, officiating. The family will greet visitors beginning at 9:30 a.m. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Born Dec. 5, 1986, in Salisbury, Meseroll was the daughter of Mark and Jackie Meseroll of Salisbury. She attended Sacred Heart School and graduated in 2005 from West Rowan High School. She attended Belmont Abbey College, where she received a degree in elementary education. She also completed a Masters in Education Administration at Gardner Webb University.
After college, she returned to Sacred Heart School as a teacher and later became athletic director and assistant principal. She most recently served as principal of St. Michael School in Gastonia.
She enjoyed spending free time with friends and family at Sunset Beach. She also volunteered with Carolina Boxer Rescue and German Short Haired Pointer rescue groups. She enjoyed doing Crossfit, cooking and baking.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by her brother Steven Meseroll, his wife Lauren and their children, Sarah and John Everett of Matthews; maternal grandfather, John Livingston of Boca Raton, Fla.; maternal aunt, Robin Rutter, and her husband Scott; paternal uncle, Jeff Meseroll and his wife Diane; paternal uncle, Scott Meseroll and his wife Mary Lou; and several cousins. Chosen family includes Doug and Nancy Foxworth, Steve and Sarah Bauk, Robby, Elizabeth and Liam Stephens, and Jon and Linda Robertson.
Memorial donations may be made to the Angel Tree Fund at Sacred Heart Catholic School, 385 Lumen Christi Lane, Salisbury, NC 28147; or to St. Michael Catholic School, 704 St. Michael's Lane, Gastonia, NC 28052.
Summersett Funeral Home of Salisbury is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.
— Catholic News Herald