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Anthony Mestice Obituary
RYE - Bishop Anthony F. Mestice passed away on April 30, 2011.
He was born in NYC on December 6, 1923 the son of Donato and Consiglia Mestice. He attended St. John the Evangelist parish school in NYC, Cathedral College in Manhattan and St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie.
He was ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1949 by Francis Cardinal Spellman and consecrated titular bishop of Villanova and auxiliary to Terence Cardinal Cooke at St. Patrick's Cathedral on April 27, 1973.
His ministry took him first to the Church of St. Anthony in the Wakefield section of The Bronx, NY as Parochial Vicar from 1949 to 1969.
He was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Poughkeepsie, NY and served there from 1969 to 1972 when he returned to the Bronx as pastor of the Church of St. Dominic. He went back to Poughkeepsie again as pastor of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Arlington and Episcopal Vicar of Dutchess County from 1978 to 1990.
His last assignment was as pastor of the Church of the Resurrection, Rye and Episcopal Vicar of Central Westchester from 1990 to 2002.
Bishop Mestice served on many Boards of Trustees: St. Francis Hospitals (Poughkeepsie and Beacon), Ferncliff and Astor Home in Rhinebeck, St. Joseph Seminary, and Operating Services of the Archdiocese of New York. He founded the Commission of Health and Human Services of Dutchess County.
He was also a member of the Board of Directors of Our Lady of Mercy Health Center and on the Board of Trustees of St. Agnes Hospital in White Plains and a member of various committees of the hospital. He served as Vicar for Vocations in the Archdiocese of New York from 1973-1985.
He was elected Chairman of the Vocations Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1980 and served the three year term in that capacity. During that term, he was a member of the Administrative Board of the USCCB in Washington, DC. He was Chairman of the Nominations Committee of the USCCB.
He taught at Manhattan College, served on the Board of Visitors for the City College of New York and received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Marist College.
He is survived by his nieces Patricia J. DeGregorio and her husband Robert and Rosalie M. Mislowsky and her husband William and was great-uncle to Michael A.A. DeGregorio and wife Elizabeth, Christiana D. DeGregorie and Angela M. Mislowsky.
He was predeceased by two brothers: P. Francis Mestice MD and G. Michael Mestice JD, CPA.
A wake will be held at the Church of the Resurrection, Rye, NY on Wednesday May 4 from 5 PM until 7 PM when the Mass of the Holy Eucharist will be celebrated. The mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Please contact Graham Funeral Home 914-967-0129 for final arrangements. Internment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant, NY.
In lieu of flowers donations make be made in his memory to the Priest Relief Fund of the Archdiocese of NY.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Anthony Mestice
sue conrad
May 30, 2011
our thoughts and prayers are with the parisheners and family of Father Mestice. God bless him!
Frances Sutto Pike
May 30, 2011
Uncle Tony, on behalf of my mother, Virginia and the rest of our family, you will be missed. Much love, Frances Sutto Pike
Susan M Bottone Boscia
May 30, 2011
Uncle Tony, You will be missed. We just learned of your death. God Bless You. Love Susan Bottone Boscia
Lillian Candreva
May 12, 2011
My deepest Sympathy to the family of Bishop Mestice. I knew him as pastor of Resurrection Church in Rye and enjoyed working with him as a member of the Parish Council. My husband and I enjoyed his wry sense of humor and we enjoyed many a chuckle together. May he rest in peace.
Christine Sciancalepore-Spurlock
May 10, 2011
Fr. Mestice was one of the priests who started our grammer school in the Bronx back in 1952. I have fond memories of St. Anthony School. God bless you..
Grace Arcuri Mingione
May 9, 2011
I know in my heart that my father Phil is rejoicing to see his childhood friend, his stick-ball playing pal from the streets of Manhattan join him in heaven. Bishop Mestice was not only his spiritual leader but first and foremost his friend. When my father moved to the Bronx with is new wife Florence, they were elated a few years later to have their new parish priest, Father Mestice, arrive at St. Anthony's Church. As Father Mestice he became part of our family knowing my two brothers, my sister, and me, as well as my grandmother and great aunt so well, that I as a young child, thought he was our relative. Several years ago when my father passed away and Bishop Mestice came to pray with us and visit with many people from his first congregation, he provided a tremendous amount of comfort to us all. He epitomized the ideal priest and will be forever remembered by my family and all others whose lives he touched during his many years in God's service. My sincere condolences to his family.
May 5, 2011
I was saddened to learn of the passing of Bishop Mestice. My parents were good friends of his at St. Anthony's School in the Bronx, as were many of my friends' parents. I have so many fond memories of my time at St. Anthony's School and Bishop Mestice was one of the best. I remember he played second base at the Holy Name softball games across the street at PS 16. I also remember after a long day of fasting on a Holy Saturday, he gave me a glass of milk with a chocolate-flavored straw and told me that he had one everyday. I thought he was the best then as I do now. As a Bishop he presided over my marriage in 1980 and I will always be grateful to him for that. He will always be considered my definition of a priest. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Our loss is heaven's gain. My sincere condolences to his family.
Andrea Arcuri Cuggy
Bronx, New York
Christopher D'Armiento
May 4, 2011
May Bishop Mestice's soul rest in peace. Let perpetual light shine upon him. Bishop Mestice has been part of my family for a very long time. My family has been part of Saint Anthony Church in Wakefield for a long time. This where where my family came to know him. Bishop Mestice's first nuptuals were my grandparents. His altar boys included members of my family--uncles. He confirmed myself(age 35), my brother(age 32), my sister(age 25), and some of my cousins. His spirituality and sense of humor resonated in his life, his sermons, and his personality. He will be greatly missed by all who have known him and all who he has guided. Heaven is a better place now knowing Bishop Mestice is there.
May 4, 2011
My deepest regrets to the family of a fine man Bishop Anthony Mestice. Father Mestice married my parents in 1950 baptized their 9 children. I was also one of his numerous altar boys back in the day of his reign at St. Anthony's in the Bronx. He also confirmed my children who attended St. Anthony School. Yes we go back 55+ years. He will be deeply missed.
Anthony D'Armiento still in the same neighborhood.
Josephine Vigliotti-Braisted
May 4, 2011
My deepest sympathy to the family of Bishop Mestice. I remember him fondly.
I attended St. Anthony School, class of 1957. Father Mestice married Charles and I on June 6, 1964. May he rest in peace.
May 4, 2011
Fr. Mestice was one of the priests who started our grammer school in the Bronx back in 1952. I have fond memories of St. Anthony School. God bless you..
fjohn reinke (mc1968)
May 4, 2011
The Manhattan College alumni community shares the grief, and is now praying for our fellow "Jasper Maker" and the family at this time. Staff -- current and past -- are recognized, remembered, and prayed for. We are mindful of the service of these good men and women that comprise the Jasper "forge" that making us what we are. The Alumni Office has been informed. As well as the Jasper Jottings community that I personally can reach. We are all a little poorer now. "No man is an island, entire of itself ... any man's death diminishes me". We are sorry for your loss.
Linda
May 3, 2011
My deepest condolences to the family of Bishop Mestice....this includes all of his flock that he tended with care.
Claire O'Connor
May 3, 2011
My cousins and siblings and I were confirmed by Bishop Mestice. May he rest in peace with God.
Karen Giordano Rappleyea
May 3, 2011
I will always remember him fondly as a Father to his flock. As a sixteen yr old and two younger sisters, Bishop Mestice came to comfort us when my own father could not be there when my mother passed. I opened the door and he stood on our stoop with open arms. And I will never forget the red converse high tops either. May he rest in the arms of the Lord.
Mary Koniz Arnold
May 3, 2011
Bishop Mestice was our pastor and bishop at Holy Trinity for most of my growing up. He was vibrant and dynamic. It seemed he was always at our church and very involved in our whole community. It surprised me to find out that other people at other Dutchess County churches thought he was always at their churches and always involved in their communities. I don't know how he did it -- it was like he could be two places at once. We have missed him for many years, and miss him more now.
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