Obituary of Fr. Cornelius Conti

Fr. Cornelius G. Conti, OFM, 77 years of age, a professed Franciscan friar for 53 years and priest for 48 years, died Sunday, November 14, 2010 at Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, NJ. Fr. Conti was born May 30, 1933 in Erie, PA. The child of Anthony and Elizabeth Pfister Conti, he received the name Charles at his baptism. He attended St. Michael's grammar school (1946) and graduated (1950) from Cathedral Preparatory School, both in Erie, PA. He received a BA in English in 1954, from Gannon College in Erie before entering the Order. He was received into the Order of Friars Minor, Holy Name Province, on July 14, 1956 at St. Raphael Friary in Lafayette, NJ. On July 15, 1957, he professed first vows there before Fr. Celsus Wheeler, OFM. He studied philosophy at St. Francis College in Rye Beach, NH and theology at Holy Name College in Washington D.C. On August 22, 1960, he professed final vows at Christ the King Seminary in Allegany, NY., before Fr. Celsus Wheeler, OFM. On March 17, 1962, he was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi at Mount St. Sepulchre, the Franciscan Monastery Church, in Washington D.C. Fr. Conti's first assignment was assistant registrar at Sienna College in Loudonville, NY, for one year. From 1964-1968 he was a guidance counselor at Bishop Walsh High School in Olean. From 1968 -1972, he was assigned to the Admissions Office at St. Bonaventure University, where he received a Masters degree in education, in 1971. He then resided at Holy Name College in Washington DC, while earning a Master of Arts degree, in 1973 from Washington Theological Union. From 1973-1977, he assisted with the Franciscan Youth Apostolate at St. Francis of Assisi Church on West 31st Street in New York City. From 1977 to 1979, he was hospital chaplain at St. Francis Hospital in Olean. He was parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Angels parish in the Bronx from 1979-1981. From 1981-1983, he was associate at St. Anthony Shrine, Boston, MA. From 1983-1984, he was parochial vicar at St. Stephen of Hungary Parish on East 82nd Street in New York City. From 1984-1988, he was assigned to Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Kingston, Jamaica as parochial vicar. He then returned to St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, until 1992, then spent one year at St. Bonaventure University as coordinator of Athletics. He was appointed pastor of the parish in Kingston Jamaica for two years, then resided for a year at St. Patrick- St. Anthony in Hartford, CT., before retiring to St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, FL., for the next twelve years. Due to failing health, he was transferred to Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, NJ. Friends will be received at St. Bonaventure University Chapel One Friary Circle on Wednesday from 7-8pm. A Wake Service will be held at 7:30pm at the Chapel. Br. Christopher Coccia, OFM, will preside. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday November 18, 2010 at 11am, at St. Bonaventure Chapel. Minister Provincial John O'Connor, OFM, will be principal celebrant and Br. F. Edward Coughlin, OFM, will preach the homily. Burial will be at St. Bonaventure Cemetery. Fr. Conti is survived by his brother Richard and cousins Mr. David Bertocci of Dumfries, VA., and Mr. David Fuhrman of Erie, PA. Memorials if desired may be made to The Franciscans- St. Anthony's Guild, 4 Jersey Street, East Rutherford, NJ 07073-1012.