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Father James P. Flynn
Father James Patrick Flynn, 89, of Batavia, died Dec. 1, 2001, in Hospice Buffalo, Cheektowaga.
Father Flynn was born in Buffalo to the late John and Sarah Flynn. He attended the seminary of St. Joseph the Little Flower in Buffalo and the College of the Propagation of the Faith in Rome. He was ordained in Rome by Cardinal Francis Marchetti, vicar of Rome.
He served as assistant pastor of Holy Cross, St. Agatha's, St. Lucy's, Holy Spirit and Annunciation parishes in Buffalo; and Our Lady of Victory Basilica, Lackawanna. Later he was administrator of St. Joseph's Parish, LeRoy; and pastor of Visitation and Nativity parishes of Buffalo and Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Elma. He served as chaplain of St. Jerome's Hospital, Batavia, until his retirement in 1981.
A funeral Mass was celebrated by Bishop Henry J. Mansell in St. Joseph's Church, Batavia. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna.
Sister Frances Klar, SSJ
Sister Frances Klar, 77, died Nov. 27, 2001, in the Clarence residence of the Sisters of St. Joseph after a lengthy illness.
The former Sister Francis Joseph was born in Colden, grew up in East Aurora, and entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1945. She earned a master's degree in education from Medaille College and a master's degree in religious studies from Canisius College, both in Buffalo.
Sister Frances taught at Nativity School, Buffalo; St. Mary's School, Dunkirk; St. Mary's School, Medina, and Sacred Heart School, Niagara Falls. She also served as coordinator of religious education in several parishes.
Sister Frances is survived by two brothers, Martin of East Aurora, John of Somerville, N.J., and two sisters, Mary Butler of Stanley and Ann Feldman of Elma.
A funeral Mass was held in the chapel of the Clarence residence. Burial was in the Mount St. Joseph section of Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo.
Sister Henrietta Glair, RSM
Sister Henrietta Glair, 66, died Nov. 26, 2001, in McAuley Residence, Kenmore.
The former Henrietta Frances Glair was the daughter of the late Joseph and Henrietta (Rush) Glair. She attended St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School, Mount Mercy Academy, Mercy School of Nursing and Canisius College, all in Buffalo.
She earned a bachelor's degree in education at Mount St. Joseph's College and a master's degree in math and science at the Buffalo State College. She also received graduate credits at St. Bonaventure University.
She entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1954 and professed final vows in 1957. Sister Henrietta taught at several schools staffed by the Sisters of Mercy and at Canisius High School.
Surviving are four brothers, John of Elma, Thomas of Batavia, Paul of Orleans, Ind., Michael of Orchard Park, and five sisters, Eleanor O'Dwyer of Toronto, Theresa Lillis and Frances Gall of Buffalo, Loretta Regan of Springville and Marie Pasinski of Derby.
A funeral Mass was held in Mercy Center Chapel. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna.
Sister Andre Girard, OSF
Sister Andre Girard, a free-lance artist and educator, died Nov. 19, 2001, in Stella Niagara Health Center.
The former Betty Jeanne Girard was born to the late Joseph and Elizabeth (Kerr) Girard on July 22, 1930. She graduated from the former Mt. St. Joseph Academy. She received a bachelor's degree from Rosary Hill (now Daemen) College and a master's degree from Notre Dame University. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity at Stella Niagara in 1952.
Sister Andre taught at St. Benedict's School and Sacred Heart Academy, both of Eggertsville. She was chair of the art department at Mater Dei High School, New Monmouth, N.J., between 1958 and 1976. Later she served as pastoral associate at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Silver Creek.
Sister Andre was treasurer of the Williamsville Art Society and member of the Buffalo Art Society. She was an impressionist artist in Western New York and exhibited throughout the area. Among her best known works is a series, “The Joyful Song Collection,” based on Psalm 66.
A funeral Mass was held in the chapel at Stella Niagara and burial was in Stella Niagara Cemetery.
Sister Marie Rita Kelly, OSF
Former pastoral care minister, Sister Marie Rita Kelly died Nov. 8, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany.
Born Alice Kelly to Thomas and Honora (McSharry) Kelly in Kinlough, County Leitrim, Ireland, Sister Marie joined the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany in 1930 and professed her final vows in 1937. She became a United States citizen seven years later.
Sister Marie ministered in the laundry and chapel for 43 years in hospitals in Florida and New York, including St. Francis Hospital in Olean. After many years in Florida, Sister Marie returned to Allegany where she ministered in the motherhouse laundry until her retirement in 1987.
A funeral Mass was held in the St. Elizabeth Motherhouse Chapel. Burial was at St. Bonaventure Cemetery in Olean.
Msgr. David A. Gernatt
Msgr. David A. Gernatt died in his home in Gowanda on Nov. 1, 2001, after a long illness.
Msgr. Gernatt was born in Collins on Oct. 7, 1920 to John D. and Martha Gernatt. He was ordained in 1947 by Cardinal Amleto Cicognani in Worthington, Ohio, where he had completed his high school, college and seminary training. Later, he served as spiritual director there. He was elevated to monsignor in 1967.
Msgr. Gernatt founded St. Catherine of Siena Parish in West Seneca in 1967 where he served until his retirement in 1995. He introduced the folk Mass there and Teen Life, religious education for high school students.
Earlier, he served as an assistant pastor at Queen of Heaven, West Seneca; St. John the Baptist, Lockport; Ascension, North Tonawanda; SS. Peter and Paul, Jamestown; St. Francis of Assisi, Buffalo; and Our Lady of the Snows, Panama.
Immediately after ordination, he served a year as a diocesan representative in the Rural Overseas Program, and returned to serve as an instructor in the Catholic Information Center. For the next 15 years, he served on the Marriage Tribunal and was a Pre-Cana, Cana and marriage counselor while also serving as director of vocations in Southern Chautauqua County. Later, he served as director of vocations in Southern Niagara County.
Msgr. Gernatt also broadcast weekly radio programs in Buffalo, Jamestown and Lockport, where he was an instructor in a social Christianity program.
He enjoyed traveling and met Mother Teresa in a visit to Calcutta, India, and Pope John Paul II while visiting Poland.
Survivors include two brothers, Dan and Francis; three sisters, Helen Engler, Esther Dittenhofer and Ruth Howard
A parish Mass at St. Catherine of Siena was celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Edward M. Grosz on November 3. Bishop Henry J. Mansell celebrated a funeral Mass in St. Joseph's Church, Gowanda, on November 5. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Gowanda.
Msgr. Henry J. Gugino 1943-2002
Msgr. Henry J. Gugino, long-time director of Catholic Charities, died this morning (Tuesday, April 9, 2002) at Sister's Hospital following a lengthy illness. Born on Jan. 29, 1943, he was 59.
A wake will be held Thursday and Friday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Amigone Funeral Home, 1132 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. Msgr. Gugino's body will lie in state at St. Joseph's Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, on Saturday, April 13, from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, celebrated by Bishop Henry J. Mansell. Entombment will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Cheektowaga.
Bishop Henry J. Mansell, bishop of Buffalo, expressed his sadness at the passing of Msgr. Gugino. "We were blessed in this diocese to have him as executive director of Catholic Charities. In the field of social services, both locally and nationally, he was a leader without peer. We're so grateful for his distinguished service to charity, to social services, to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
"Under Msgr. Gugino's leadership, I was always impressed with Catholic Charities ability to change with changing needs. Since he became executive director in 1995, Msgr. Gugino helped to establish 45 new programs. At the same time six programs were eliminated, the needs were no longer there."
Father Joseph Sicari, associate director of Catholic Charities, remembered Msgr. Gugino on Tuesday during a press conference at Catholic Charities offices on Washington Street in Buffalo.
"We're saddened by the loss of Msgr. Gugino, and we're grateful for his years of service," Father Sicari said. "He brought strength and security to the Western New York community. We know his legacy will live on."
Born and raised in Buffalo, Msgr. Gugino had been recognized throughout the Diocese of Buffalo as a leader in human services after more than 27 years with Catholic Charities of Buffalo, NY, the single largest human service agency in Western New York. In 1975, Bishop Edward D. Head, then Bishop of Buffalo, appointed Msgr. Gugino assistant director of Catholic Charities.
In his 20 years as assistant director, he was responsible for housing and construction management of Timon Towers, Santa Maria Towers St. Francis Home, all in Buffalo, and program planning and development for the Vietnamese Resettlement Program, drug and substance abuse counseling, and family therapy. He also worked to make social service programs available at the parish level and worked with volunteer agencies such as the Guild for the Blind, Ladies of Charity, and the Apollonian Guild.
In addition, Msgr. Gugino also represented Catholic Charities in several community relations areas including outside programs and agencies at both the county and city level.
In 1995, when Bishop Head appointed Msgr. Gugino director, succeeding Msgr. John Conniff who was retiring, the bishop said Msgr. Gugino's vision would lead Catholic Charities into the future. "Msgr. Gugino is well-qualified to assume the enormous responsibilities of this position. Msgr. Gugino is the perfect candidate to guide the organization into the next millennium."
Msgr. Gugino recently led the 2002 Catholic Charities appeal to another successful conclusion, with more than $10 million dollars raised. During the Palm Sunday announcement at the end of the drive, he said, "I'm always overwhelmed by the hard work that goes into this and to think that I have the great opportunity and great privilege of being the director of Catholic Charities that reaches out into the eight counties and the services that we provide to upwards of 200 thousand individuals.
"It is in an honor to be able to do that and I want to continue to assure the community that we will do it with respect and we will be good stewards of your trust in us."
Despite being diagnosed with prostate cancer at the end of 2001, Msgr. Gugino continued to work hard to make the 2002 Appeal a success, according to Father Sicari. Mgsr. Gugino attended weekly meetings on the campaign and met with many of the people who make the appeal a success.
"We knew it had to be very painful and very difficult," Father Sicari said. "But he wanted to be here. He kept going, he would not give up."
Msgr. Gugino always understood the mission of Catholic Charities. "Catholic Charities is a core activity in this community. We reach out to those who would otherwise stumble. I believe without Catholic Charities, there are children, families, individuals, and communities that literally would be suffering. We give them strength by giving them good counseling. We have services that go to the very heart of making families strong. I think that one of the strengths of Catholic Charities is to recognize that the family is key. Everything we do revolves around making that family strong."
During his tenure at Catholic Charities, Msgr. Gugino implemented a number of innovative programs including multi-systemic therapy, an intensive intervention program for teenagers at-risk for being placed outside the home. He promoted special needs adoptions for hard to place children including those with mental or physical disabilities, and he helped to establish the department of parish-based social services and the domestic violent offenders program.
Prior to serving at Catholic Charities, Msgr. Gugino was associate pastor at St. Peter's Parish, Lewiston, from September 1969 until February 1975, and administrator at St. John Fisher, South Dayton, from June 1968 until September 1969. He was named a monsignor in October 1988.
Ordained on May 25, 1968 by Bishop James A. McNulty, Msgr. Gugino was a graduate of Holy Cross School and the Diocesan Preparatory Seminary, both in Buffalo. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from St. John Vianney Seminary, East Aurora, and a master's degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. In 1997, he was given an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Niagara University.
The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging honored Msgr. Gugino with the 2001 Trustee of the Year Award for his leadership, innovative accomplishments, knowledge and commitment to ensuring a high quality of life for older persons.
In addition to his parish work and his work at Catholic Charities, Msgr. Gugino had extensive community involvement including past board memberships for the Health Agency of Niagara County and the Community Action Organization of Erie County. He was also a past member of the Senate of Priests and the editorial board of the Western New York Catholic.
Until his death, Msgr. Gugino served as a member of the Priests' Council and the board of directors and executive committee for the Catholic Health System, as well as the Diocesan Board of Consultors and the Diocesan Counseling Center. He was also the bishop's coordinator for Catholic health care and served on the board of directors for the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County and the membership board of Baker Victory Services.
Msgr. Gugino is survived by several cousins. He is pre-deceased by his parents, Joseph and Mary (Cristiano), and his sister, Paula.
