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Rev. Joseph M. Lanzalaco C.S.B.

About

Bishop Kearney High School

FUNERAL HOME

Paul W. Harris Funeral Home Inc. - Rochester

570 Kings Hwy South

Rochester, New York

Joseph Lanzalaco Obituary

Lanzalaco, Rev.

Joseph M., C.S.B.

Rochester: Unexpectedly on Friday, July 24, 2015, at the age of 65. Predeceased by his parents, John & Rose. Fr. Lanzalaco is survived by his brother, John (Elaine) Lanzalaco; sister, Doria (Frank) Momano; nieces, Christine, Denise & Heather; nephew Brian; grandnieces & grandnephews; and his Basilian Confreres.

A native of Rochester, Fr. Lanzalaco was an alumnus of Bishop Kearney High School, Monroe Community College, and St. John Fisher College. After receiving his Masters of Divinity from the University of Toronto, he was ordained at Rochester's Church of the Annunciation in 1987.

Following his ordination, Fr. Lanzalaco worked at Andrean High School in Indiana as a teacher of theology, women's softball coach, and dean of students. During his tenure in Indiana, he also served as Catholic Chaplain at Indiana State Prison, with a special ministry to death row inmates.

Upon his return to Rochester in June 2000, he assisted at various parishes in the community and served as Parochial Vicar at St. Thomas the Apostle in Irondequoit. In 2001, he returned to Fisher, his alma mater, as Director of Campus Ministry and served as a member of the President's Cabinet.

Fr. Lanzalaco was a US Army Veteran of the Vietnam War.

His family will receive friends Tuesday, 4:00pm - 8:00pm at the funeral home (570 Kings Hwy South). Fr. Lanzalaco will lie in state from 8:00am - 9:15am on Wednesday at St. Kateri at Christ the King Church where his funeral mass will follow at 9:30am. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Aquinas Institute Basilian Scholarship Fund, 1127 Dewey Ave., Rochester, NY 14613. To share a memory or send the family a condolence, please visit www.harrisfuneralhome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Rochester Democrat And Chronicle on Jul. 26, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Lanzalaco

16 Entries

Debbie L

August 2, 2015

John,
I am so very sorry to hear about the loss of your brother, my prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.

August 1, 2015

Rest in Peace Fr. Joe. Did not know you very long, but quality time is better than quantity time. He was a true Ambassador at St. John Fisher College. With sincere sympathy.

Russell Mandrino

July 28, 2015

Father Joe was a very "Special Priest" he knew what life was like out there. My few conversations with him were most interesting. His path to the priesthood was not the norm, his stint in the U.S. Army with tours in Vietnam and Germany made him a unique religious person. We will all miss very much his inspirational homilies at the Carmelite Monastery 7:30 Mass.

Terry & Donna Tydings

July 28, 2015

John, we were very sorry to hear about the passing of your brother Fr. Joe. He was a great guy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Cynthia Watson

July 28, 2015

I'm so very sorry for your loss. I met Father Lanzalaco at the Basilian Chapter last summer and liked him instantly! He was very kind to me.

Sanndi Brochu

July 27, 2015

Doria - I know that you know how sad I am about Father Joe leaving us. I also, know that I enjoyed reading the things people had to say when my mom passed. This is something you can look at over and over.
I loved your brother, as you also know. In such a short time to make such and impact on an individual speaks so highly about what an amazing and special person he truely is. I will miss him with all of my heart.
You are so very lucky to have had such a special person in your life for all of YOUR life.
Thank you for sharing him with all of us.

Love you Sanndi

Steven Momano

July 27, 2015

Father Joe was a kind and gentle soul who reminded me of why I am and always will be a Catholic. In his own unique way, he demonstrated compassion, kindness, and a simple love of humanity. Without pretense or formality, he led by example as God's "at large" ambassador. He was a happy messenger of peace who loved his Country, his community, and his fellow man. May God always bless him.

Jane Lavery

July 26, 2015

Fr. Lanzalaco was a special human. I didn't have the benefit of knowing him until several years ago; since then, I've found his his life experiences, his studies, and his demeanor to be extraordinary. I will miss him, his ministry, and his humor. Heaven is an even better place now!

Amanda Gibeau

July 26, 2015

My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Father Joe. Father Joe was such an important part of my time at St. John Fisher, always there to lend an ear to just listen and give advise when needed. Father Joe was a one of a kind person. His caring and compassion was an inspiration. Rest easy my friend.

July 26, 2015

FAther Joe shared everything he knew about God with us.
He had lived a lot and learned alot

Linda Petote Martin

July 26, 2015

Father Joe used his priesthood to tell us everything he knew about God.
It was easy to see that he had experienced a alot and learned alot in life. He was generous in sharing that with us through his homilies and through the sacraments - most especially, the Eucharist.
His homilies were inspirational in a manner that was all Father Joe!
And no matter who he was with, or what he was doing, he always heard your confession - he even heard confession at his own mother's funeral!
You were always grateful for his penances, too, because they were so perfectly suited to your soul. Sometimes he would ask you to pray a certain psalm, or gently give a kindness.
Father Joe was a joyful priest. He had a personal greeting and a smile for everyone! If you had a particular pattern for attending Mass, and had diverged from that in the slightest, he would come up to you and say with a big smile,
"I haven't seen you in a while, where have you been?'
He made you wish he was your big brother!
He presided at morning Mass almost every weekday at the Carmelite Monastery. He loved his mother and the Blessed Mother. He never once left the Monastery after Mass without coming back to the main altar to place his hand on the crucified Christ nailed to the cross. This was a powerful moment, and you could see that the crucifix was personal to Father Joe.
Father Joe never parked in the designated priest parking spot; he liked to park out by the street, so if you were running (almost) late to Mass, you could always count on his spot.
I never ever once heard him speak about Vietnam.
Father Joe had a real knack for making you feel loved and important to him.
I loved Father Joe and he will live in my heart and my soul forever.

Sue & Brian Bell

July 26, 2015

Fr. Joe married my husband and I in 2012. He had a unique way of always bringing light into whatever we were talking about. He shared a bit of his life-story with us once at dinner and I have to say, if there was anyone I've ever known who was truly called by God to be a light to those around him, it was Fr. Joe. He will be truly missed.

Molly McLaughlin

July 26, 2015

Father Joe was very special to our family. He married our son and daughter-in-law, baptized our grandsons, and was the smiling face who greeted my mother every day at 4:30 Mass. He will be remembered as he lived, always with a smile, by the Schaeffer, Bayer, and McLaughlin families.

Anthony Pulci

July 25, 2015

Joe was my great friend in the 70s. We were reunited four yrs ago when he became the greatest inspiration of my faith. I will sorely miss him.

Peter & Nicole D'Arienzo

July 25, 2015

We were new to Irondequoit, parishioners at St. Thomas the Apostle in the fall of 2000. Fr. Joe made us feel so welcome. He always greeted us by name and always with a smile. He will be missed.

Germaine Calawa-Hill

July 25, 2015

Father Joe always had a smile whenever I would see him which I will surely miss. He always remembered my name. I will not forget this wonderful priest. My sympathy to his loved ones.

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