REV. FRANCIS J. LECHIARA

LECHIARA, REV. FRANCIS J., Pastor of St. Edward Catholic Church in Palm Beach, died in the Church Rectory on Thursday, May 12, 2011 following a sudden illness. Born in Bradford, PA on February 25, 1932, he was one of eight children born to Sebastian and Josephine Fiorenza Lechiara. Fr. Frank, as he was affectionately known, was ordained at Christ the King Seminary in Saint Bonaventure, New York on May 7, 1959. Fr. Frank ministered to the parishioners of St. Edward Catholic Church in Palm Beach since 1992. He previously served as Pastor of St. Thomas More Church in Boynton Beach from 1984 until 1992; Pastor of St. Augustine Church in Coral Gables from 1975 until 1984; and Pastor of St. Kiernan Church in Miami from 1973 until 1975. In additional to his Pastoral duties, Fr. Frank taught school at nearly every level, including high school, university and Seminary; and served as the Vicar of Education for the Diocese of Palm Beach from 1984 until 2004. He also served on numerous Boards and Committees, making great contributions spiritually, morally, and socially to our community at large. He is survived by five siblings, Frances Susi of Miami, FL, Sam Lechiara of Mount Pleasant, SC, Mary Burson of Boca Raton, FL, Lucy McAndrew of Boise, ID, and Marjorie Myers of Los Alamos, NM; three sisters-in-law, Esther Lechiara, Thelma Lechiara, and Mary Lechiara; and many nieces and nephews. Fr. Frank was preceded in death by two brothers, Nicholas who died in the mid 1980's, and Dominic who also died on Thursday morning, May 12, 2011. Fr. Frank will lie in state at St. Edward Catholic Church, Palm Beach, FL on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 from noon until 7:00 p.m. with a Scripture Service to begin at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 by The Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach. The interment will follow at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery, Royal Palm Beach, Florida. Father Lechiara was passionate about the value of a Catholic education and requested that, upon his death, memorial gifts in his name should be given to the Diocese of Palm Beach Education Fund for Needy Students. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Francis J. Lechiara to: Diocese of Palm Beach, Post Office Box 109650, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410-9650. Please write in the memo of the check that the donation is for the Education Fund for Needy Students. Arrangements by Quattlebaum Funeral Home 561-832-5171. View this Guest Book at www. MiamiHerald.com/obituaries.