Obituary for Fr. David Stopyra, OFM Conv. Fr.
David Stopyra, OFM Conv. , was born in Lawrence, MA, on April 3, 1934, and passed away on July 1, 2018. He was the son of the late Peter and Agnes (Sierzega) Stopyra.
In addition to his Franciscan family he leaves his sisters Helen Previte and Mary Pitochelli and many nieces and nephews. Fr. David was predeceased by siblings Rev.
Fr. Alfred Stopyra, OFM Conv. , Frank, Katherine Dziadosz, Stanley, Victoria, Charles, Walter, Anthony, and Theresa Champagne.
He was a graduate of Holy Trinity Grammar School and Central Catholic High School, Lawrence, MA and St. Bonaventure University, NY. Fr. David entered the Franciscan Friar Conventual Novitiate at Mt.
St. Lawrence Novitiate in Becket, MA on August 14, 1951. He professed his Temporary Vows on August 15, 1952 and he professed his Solemn Vows on August 15, 1955. He was ordained to the priesthood at St. Michael Cathedral, Springfield, MA 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, NY. 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 ten years. From 1971 to 1976 he served as Principal at Archbishop Curley High School.
In the years from there, 1976-1979, Fr. David served as Guardian and Director of Formation at St. Hyacinth College and Seminary in Granby, MA. Returning to the pastoral apostolate, Fr.
David became the Pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish in Trenton, NJ from 1979-1982. He served as Pastor to St. Hyacinth Parish, Auburn, NY from 1982-1991, and then as Pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Athol Spring, NY from 1991 to 1997. Fr.
David’s last Pastorate was at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Taunton, MA where he served from 1997 until 2013. He then was assigned to St. Hyacinth Friary in Chicopee, MA in 2013 until Sister Death called him home on July 1, 2018. Fr.
David will lie in state at St. Stanislaus Basilica on Thursday, July 5th from 3- 7 PM with a Franciscan Wake Service at 7 PM. On Friday, July 6, 2018, a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Stanislaus Basilica, 566 Front St., Chicopee, MA at 11 A.M. Visitation will take place from 9-10:45AM. A Memorial Mass at St. Michael Parish, North Andover, MA and burial in the Friars Plot at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Lawrence, MA will be held next week.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Franciscan Education Burse, 12300 Folly Quarter Rd. , Ellicott City, MD 21042. Funeral arrangements are by Kozikowski Funeral Home, Chicopee, MA and by The John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, North Andover, MA.
Upcoming Events Visitation 2018 JUL 5. 03:00 PM – 07:00 PM St. Stanislaus Basilica_ 566 Front St. Chicopee, MA, US 2018 JUL 5. 07:00 PM St. Stanislaus Basilica_ 566 Front St. Chicopee, MA, US Visitation 2018 JUL 6.
09:00 AM – 10:45 AM St. Stanislaus Basilica_ 566 Front St. Chicopee, MA, US Mass 2018 JUL 6.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
