Father Nicholas A. Rossello

Father Nicholas A. Rossello, a retired diocesan priest, died June 12, 2016, at Mercy House of the Southern Tier in Endicott, near Binghamton in Broome County. He was 86 years old.

He was born Aug. 7, 1929, in Endicott, to John and Theresa (DeSanta) Rossello. He attended Our Lady of the Angels Seminary at Niagara University and was ordained March 12, 1960, at St. Joseph New Cathedral in Buffalo by Bishop Joseph A. Burke. He celebrated his first Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Endicott, his home parish, and received a bachelor's degree from Canisius College in 1970.

Father Rossello was an administrator of the missionary apostolates at St. John of the Cross in Whitesville and at Immaculate Conception Parish in East Bethany. In 1961, he became chaplain of Boy Scout Camp Dittmer in Phelps and an assistant at St. James Parish in Jamestown.

In 1965, Father Rossello was named assistant pastor of Holy Cross in Buffalo, the same year he began teaching at Cardinal Mindszenty High School in Buffalo.

Beginning in 1973, he served as pastor of Our Lady of Loreto in Falconer, where he remained until 1990, when he became pastor of St. Joseph in Lockport. He retired in 2000.

Father Rossello was a member of the Holy Name Society, the Knights of Columbus, the National Association of Priest Pilots, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

He is survived by a brother-in-law, Edward Bernhauer; a nephew, Edward (Brenda) Bernhauer; a grandnephew, Lucas Bernhauer; a grandniece, Melanie Bernahuer; an aunt, Dorothy DeSanta, and cousins.

Visitation and the funeral Mass will all take place at the St. Joseph Oratory at All Saints Church, 391 Market Street, Lockport. Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 17, with the parish Mass celebrated at 7 p.m. that evening. On Saturday, June 18, visitation will occur from 9:30 to 10:30 am. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Bishop Richard J. Malone at 10:30 am on Saturday, June 18. Priests are invited to concelebrate and Deacons are invited to vest.  

Following the funeral Mass on Saturday morning, there will be a luncheon in the church hall at St. Joseph's.

Burial will take place at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 20, in Calvary-St. Patrick Cemetery in Johnson City. Following the burial, the family will receive friends at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 701 West Main Street, Endicott, from 2 to 4 p.m. with a memorial Mass at 4:30 pm. Following the Mass, a reception dinner will be held in the church hall.