Father Richard A. Jesionowski

Father Richard A. Jesionowski of the Diocese of Buffalo, died Oct. 27, 2018, just months after retiring at the age of 84.

Born Nov. 16, 1933, in Dunkirk to Richard A. and Dorothy (Papierski) Jesionowski, Father Jesionowski attended St. Hedwig School in Dunkirk, Dunkirk High School, Holy Cross Seminary in Dunkirk, and St. John Vianney Seminary in East Aurora.

He was ordained May 25, 1968, at Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana, then auxiliary bishop of the diocese.

His assignments took him throughout Erie, Niagara and Cattaraugus counties. He served as administrator of St. Helen Parish, Hinsdale. Then he served as associate pastor at Our Lady of Czestochowa, Cheektowaga; St. Luke, Buffalo; St. Barbara, Lackawanna; Assumption, Buffalo; St. Agatha, Buffalo; St. James, Depew; SS. Peter & Paul, Depew; and Nativity of Mary, Buffalo. In 1984, he began his first pastorate at St. Stanislaus Kostka, Niagara Falls, followed by Holy Trinity, Niagara Falls. After a brief stint as administrator of St. Jude's in Sardinia, Father Jesionowski began a 20-year run as pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians, Cheektowaga that ended with his retirement in August.

Father Jesionowski also served four years in the U.S. Air Force, 1954-58. He followed that by working for United Airlines until 1962, when he entered St. John Vianney Seminary.

He is survived by his sisters Alice Weaver, Barbara McCormack, and Dorothy Schrantz, and predeceased by one sister Irene Palmer.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, Nov. 1 from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Chapel at Our Lady Help of Christians. A funeral Mass is planned for Nov. 2, at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish with Bishop Edward M. Grosz presiding.