Reverend Stephen A. Anderson

The Reverend Stephen A. Anderson, pastor of Our Lady Queen of the Americas Parish, Conneaut Lake, died on Monday, March 25, 2013, at the Meadville Medical Center, Meadville, Pennsylvania. Father Anderson was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, on September 25, 1953, the son of Albert Leroy and Dolores Jean (Gahr) Anderson. He attended Sacred Heart Elementary School, Erie, Divine Word Seminary, Girard, and Saint Mark High School Seminary. He graduated from Gannon College (University) in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in German and later, in 1989, with a Masters degree in English. Seminary studies were completed at Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, New York where he received a Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 4, 1979 at Saint Peter Cathedral in Erie by the Most Reverend Alfred M. Watson. Following ordination, he was assigned in June of 1979 as Parochial Vicar at Saint Callistus Parish, Kane, Pennsylvania and in 1980 as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Peace Parish, Erie. In July 1984, he was assigned to the faculty of Elk County Catholic High School where he taught German, English and Theology. Subsequent appointments included chaplaincy ministry at Mercyhurst Preparatory School and Gannon College (1988–1991) and Mercyhurst College (1988–1998) where he also served as a member of the faculty. In 1998, he was appointed pastor of Our Lady Queen of the Americas where he served until his death. Father Steve was pre-deceased by his parents, a sister, Mary Ellen Anderson and a brother, Philip. He is survived by a sister, Suzanne (Jim) Hudson of Erie and a brother, Paul (Shirley), of Birmingham, AL, an aunt, Sally Borland, a sister-in-law, Yevet Anderson, a niece, Jamie Hudson and numerous nieces and nephews, and his beloved dog, Gabriel. Visitation will be at Our Lady Queen of the Americas Church, 155 South 9th St., Conneaut Lake, PA on Monday, April 1, 2013 from 2 - 4 and 6 – 9 p.m. The Most Reverend Lawrence T. Persico will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of the Americas Church. Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Erie. Donations can be made in Father Steve's name to Our Lady Queen of the Americas Church. Arrangements have been entrusted to Jeff Monreal of The Monreal Funeral Home, 35400 Curtis Blvd., Eastlake, OH, and Rocco R. Tedesco III of Hatheway-Tedesco Funeral Home, 614 Baldwin St., Meadville, PA.