Our Obituaries

Fr. Anthony F. Moore, OFM, 85, a professed Franciscan friar for 64 years and a priest for 59 years, died on Tuesday, November 23, 2010, at Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, N.Y.



Fr. Moore was born on Sept. 3, 1925 in Flushing, N.Y. The child of Patrick and Blanche (nee Stab) Moore, he received the name William Gerard at his baptism. He attended the parish grammar school, St. Andrew Avellino in Flushing and St. Michael High School in New York City, (1939-1941). He then studied at St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., 1941 to 1945.



He was received into the Order of Friars Minor, Holy Name Province, on Aug. 13, 1945, at St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson, N.J., and professed first vows there on Aug. 14, 1946, before Fr. Bertrand Campbell, OFM. He pursued philosophical studies from 1946 to 1948 at St. Stephen Friary, Croghan, N.Y., and St. Anthony Friary, Butler, N.J., receiving a B.A. from St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, N.Y., in 1948, and then theology at Holy Name College in Washington, D.C., from 1948 to 1952. He professed final vows there on Sept. 17, 1949, before Fr. Thomas Plassmann, OFM. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1951, at Mount St. Sepulchre, the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, D.C., by Most Reverend John McNamara, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington.



Fr. Moore's first assignment was professor of sociology at Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., from 1952-1953 and 1961-1965. He then served in parochial ministry for most of his religious life as pastor of the following parishes: St. Francis Xavier, Tokyo, Japan, 1953-1961; St. Stephen's Croghan, N.Y., 1965-1973; St. Anthony of Padua, Yulan, N.Y., and Sacred Heart mission church, Pond Eddy, N.Y., 1973-1977 and 2002-2010; St. Mary's, Americas, Ga., 1977-1979; Holy Cross, Callicoon, N.Y.,1979-1987; St. Mary's, Obernburg, 1990-1992, St. Joseph, Winsted, Conn., 1992-2002. He also served as chaplain, from 1987 to 1990, at The Family School in Obernburg.



A Wake will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 28 and the Wake Service will be at 4 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 25 Beaverbrook Road in Yulan. A Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday, November 29 at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Yulan. Fr. Moore's brother, Fr. Donald J. Moore, S.J., will be principal celebrant. There will be a viewing from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 30 followed by the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Anthony Church, 65 Bartholdi Avenue, Butler, N.J. Provincial Vicar Dominic Monti, OFM, will be principal celebrant. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Butler.



Fr. Moore is survived by his sister, Sister Mary Felicia, R.G.S., a member of the Good Shepherd Sisters, who resides at 406 Hemingway Street, Marlborough MA 01752-6751 , and brother, Fr. Donald J. Moore, S.J., a member of the Jesuit community, who resides at Loyola Hall Residence, Fordham University, Bronx NY 10458-9993.



Fr. Moore is predeceased by two brothers, Patrick W. Moore and Fr. Robert A. Moore, and two sisters, Sr. Mary Kenneth, O.P. and Sr. Blanche Marie, O.S.U.



Memorial contributions can be made to: The Franciscans - St. Anthony's Guild, 4 Jersey Street, East Rutherford NJ 07073-1012.



May he rest in peace.



Arrangements ar eby the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. for information,directions or to send a condolence note tot he family visit knight-auchmoody.com