John Prave

UNION SPRINGS < John Prave, 76, of Springport Cove, Union Springs, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008. Mr. Prave was born in Auburn, the son of the late Anthony and Carmelina Cannizzo Prave. He attended Holy Family Elementary School and graduated from Holy Family High School in 1950. He attended and graduated from the Auburn Business School and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, attaining the rank of staff sergeant. He received his associate"s degree from Auburn Community College and his bachelor"s degree in English from SUNY Oswego and was awarded his master"s degree in English from SUNY Cortland. Mr. Prave joined the faculty of Seneca Falls Central School in 1964 as an English teacher and retired in 1993 as chairman of the English department. In 1974, Mr. Prave was elected to the Union Springs School Board and served for five consecutive terms. In addition, he served as board president for two years. In 1978, Mr. Prave entered the Diaconate program of the Diocese of Rochester. In 1982, he was ordained by Bishop Matthew H. Clark as a Permanent Deacon and was a member of the first class of Deacons to serve in the Rochester Diocese. He was appointed by Bishop Clark to serve as parish deacon at St. Michael"s and St. Patrick"s Churches in Union Springs and Aurora, where he assisted the parish priest at Masses, preached, performed wedding and funeral services and baptized. He was honored to preside at the wedding of his daughter Michelle and the baptisms of his grandchildren. Over the years, the parish expanded to include other churches from other communities: St. Joseph"s in Cayuga; St. Patrick"s in Aurora; Our Lady of the Lake in King Ferry; St. Bernard"s in Scipio Center; and St. Patrick"s in Moravia, and underwent a name change to Good Shepherd Catholic Community. For a short time, the parish also included St. Isaac Jogues of Fleming. After serving in each of these locations, Deacon Prave retired in 2003 following 21 years of service. He is survived by his beloved wife, Karen Fairchild Prave, of Union Springs; a son, John P. Prave, and Patty, of Summit, N.J.; two daughters, Kathleen M. Halley, and Mark, of Fairport, and Michelle C. Davidson, and Lisa, of North Attleboro, Mass.; a brother, Anthony Prave Jr., and Sue, of Auburn; a sister, Mary Pardee, and Jim, of Auburn; six grandchildren, Meghan, Mitchell, Karis, Evan, Nicole and Samuel; several nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to call 1 to 4 p.m. Friday at the Shakelton Funeral Home, 418 Main St., Aurora, and 5 to 8 p.m. at St. Patrick"s Church where Deacon Prave will lie in state. Vigil prayers will be held at 8 p.m. Friday evening at St. Patrick"s Church. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 3 in St. Patrick"s Church, 299 Main St., Aurora, with the Most Reverend Matthew H. Clark, D.D., Bishop of Rochester, presiding, assisted by the Rev. Richard Shatzel and Raymond A. Defendorf, presiding Deacon. Interment will be in St. Joseph"s Cemetery, Fleming. Following the interment everyone is invited to a luncheon at the Union Springs Firehouse. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Good Shepherd Catholic Community Memorial Fund, Aurora, NY 13026, in memory of Deacon John Prave. To send a message to the family, sign our guest book at www.auburnpub.com and click on obituaries.

This obituary was originally published in The Citizen (Auburn, NY).