Rev. Rocco F. Provinzano

Rev. Rocco F. Provinzano

AGE: 83 • Woodbridge

Rev. Rocco F. Provinzano, 83, of Woodbridge, died Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, at St. Joseph's Senior Home in Woodbridge. He was born and lived most of his young life in Jersey City to the late Gerardo and Angelina Provinzano. He is survived by his sister, Georgiana Hueston of Madison. He has 14 nephews and nieces, 13 surviving, 15 great-nieces and nephews, and 5 great-great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Nicholas and Gerard, and his sisters, Marie and Rosemary. Fr. Rocco attended Saint Paul of the Cross Grammar School and William L. Dickinson High School. He was an active member and officer of St. Michael's CYO in Union City and was a member and Chairman of the Hudson County Senior CYO prior to entering Seton Hall Divinity School.

Fr. Rocco was ordained on May 28, 1966 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark by the Most Reverend Thomas A. Boland after graduating from Seton Hall University and Immaculate Conception Seminary. His first assignment was as Parochial Vicar for Immaculate Conception Parish, Newark from 1966 to 1972. He was then on staff for Pastoral Services in the Marriage Encounter Ministry from 1972 to 1980 where he traveled the country providing Marriage Encounter weekends to various parishes. He continued to serve as Parochial Vicar for St. Francis De Sales Parish, Lodi, from 1980 to 1985, for Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Washington Twp., from 1985 to 1987, for Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Verona, from 1987 to 1989, for St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish, Bayonne, from 1989 to 1990 and for St. Andrew Parish, Westwood, from 1990 until his retirement in 2000. During his retirement, he continued serving as an assisting priest for several parishes.

Ceremonies of reflection and celebration include a wake in the Sanctuary of St. Catherine Laboure Roman Catholic Church, 110 Bray Ave., N. Middletown from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. A Funeral Liturgy will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16 at St. Catherine's Church. Burial will follow at Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey City.

In lieu of flowers, Fr. Rocco has requested donations be made to one of the following charities: Covenant House, Times Square Station, P.O. Box 731, New York, NY 10108-0900 or to Smiles for Children, Boston Medical Center, Office of Development, 801 Massachusetts Ave., 1st Floor, Boston, MA 02118. Funeral services are under the direction of the John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, 115 Tindall Rd., Middletown. For more information, to send condolences or for directions, please visit www.pflegerfh.com.