Fr. DeSales Young, 1920-2017
Our brother, Fr. DeSales Young, OFM Cap., made his transitus to the Lord on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at Vincentian de Marillac in Pittsburgh, PA. At 96, DeSales was the "Senior friar" of our Province - a distinction for which, among many distinctions, he was both grateful and proud.
Born July 15, 1920, and named Arthur Francis, Jr., at his baptism, the future Capuchin was the second of six children born to Arthur and Lenora (Lippold) Young in Cumberland, MD. The Youngs were active members of Ss. Peter & Paul Parish there and friends to many of the friars of Ss. Peter & Paul "Monastery," one of the earliest established fraternities of our St. Augustine Province. The Young family would have two sons who would become Capuchin friars.
Fr. John Carey, 1929-2017
Our brother, Fr. John Carey, OFM Cap., made his transitus to eternal life on April 3, 2017, in Saxonburg, PA. He was 88.
Born on February 23, 1929, to Joseph and Sarah (Furlong) Carey in Providence, RI, he was given the name Charles at baptism. He attended Assumption Parish Elementary School in Providence, and, in 1943, he enrolled in Columban Prep School in Silver Creek, NY.
In 1946, Charles was invested with the Capuchin habit in the then British Custody of New England and was given the name John. After his profession of vows, he attended St. Lawrence Seminary College in Milton, MA, graduating in 1950. When the Custody of New England was incorporated into the New York/New England St. Mary Province, he was sent to Capuchin College in Washington, DC, for theological studies and eventually asked to become a member of our Province of St. Augustine.
Fr. Bonaventure Stefun, 1928-2017
When people would ask our brother friar, Bonaventure Stefun, OFM Cap., how he was doing, he was famous for always responding "Terrific," accompanied by those eyes which told you he would make it be so. Our brother returned to the Lord on March 4, 2017, in Pittsburgh at the age of 88, and we know that it was a 'terrific' experience for him, something he had been waiting and hoping for.
Born in New Kensington, PA, on September 22, 1928, to John and Anna (Kovolik) Stefun, he was given the name "Joseph" at his baptism. One of nine Stefun children, he was to be the last surviving sibling. Preceding him in death were his sisters Anna, Barbara (Stanley), Mary (Schuler) and Elizabeth (Reedy); and his brothers Andrew, John, George and Raymond. Numerous nephews and nieces mourn his passing among whom is his nephew and fellow Capuchin friar Emett Schuler, OFM Cap., of our Capuchin College fraternity in Washington, DC.