July 5, 2018

OBITUARY: Father David Stopyra, OFM Conv.

REGIONAL

SPRINGFIELD — Conventual Franciscan Father David Stopyra was born in Lawrence, Mass., on April 3, 1934 and died on July 1, 2018.

He was the son of the late Peter and Agnes (Sierzega) Stopyra. He was a graduate of Holy Trinity Grammar School and Central Catholic High School, both in Lawrence, and St. Bonaventure University, N.Y. He entered the Franciscan Friars Conventual Novitiate at Mt. St. Lawrence Novitiate in Becket, Mass., on Aug. 14, 1951. He professed his temporary vows on Aug. 15, 1952 and professed his solemn vows on Aug. 15, 1955. He was ordained to the priesthood at St. Michael’s Cathedral, Springfield, on May 28, 1960.

His first assignment was for one year as assistant pastor and teacher at St. Francis Parish and St. Francis High School, Athol Springs, N.Y. In 1961 he was asked to be both a teacher and a counselor at Archbishop Curley High School, a post he held for the next 10 years. From 1971 to 1976 he served as principal at Archbishop Curley High School.

From 1976 to 1979, he served as guardian and director of formation at St. Hyacinth College and Seminary in Granby. Returning to the pastoral apostolate, he became pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish in Trenton, N.J., from 1979 to 1982. He served as pastor at St. Hyacinth Parish, Auburn, N.Y., from 1982 to 1991, and then as pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Athol Spring, N.Y., from 1991 to 1997. His last pastorate was at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Taunton, Mass., where he served from 1997 until 2013.

He then was assigned to St. Hyacinth Friary in Chicopee in 2013, where he resided until his death.

In addition to his Franciscan family he leaves his sisters, Helen Previte and Mary Pitochelli, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by siblings, Conventual Franciscan Father Alfred Stopyra, Frank, Katherine Dziadosz, Stanley, Victoria, Charles, Walter, Anthony, and Theresa Champagne.

Father Stopyra will lie in state at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Basilica, 566 Front St., Chicopee on Thursday, July 5 from 3-7 p.m., with a Franciscan wake service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 6, at 11 a.m., also at St. Stanislaus Basilica. Visitation will take place from 9-10:45a.m. A Memorial Mass at St. Michael Parish, North Andover, Mass., and burial in the Friars Plot at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Lawrence, will be held next week.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Franciscan Education Burse, 12300 Folly Quarter Rd., Ellicott City, MD 21042.