Father Carlton J. Westfield, who served the people of Chautauqua for over 30 years, died Dec. 8, 2019. He was 74 years old.  

Born Jan 1, 1945, in Buffalo, the son of Carlton A. and Magdalena Westfield, attended St. Francis de Sales School in Buffalo, St. Francis of Assisi School in Tonawanda, and Bishop Timon High School in South Buffalo. He then entered St. John Vianney Seminary in East Aurora, where he received a master of divinity degree. 

He was ordained May 29, 1971, at Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna by Bishop Bernard J. McLaughlin. His first Mass took place the following day at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Buffalo.

Father Westfield's assignments include serving as associate pastor St. John in Jamestown, chaplain at Jamestown Community College, associate pastor at Queen of Heaven in West Seneca and St. Barnabas in Depew. He began serving as pastor of Our Lady of Loreto in Falconer in 1990 and Our Lady of Victory in Frewsburg in 1992. He then served as pastor of St. Anthony in Fredonia from 1999 until his 2016 retirement. He also served as chaplain for the Knight of Columbus, Father McGiveny Council in Fredonia.

He was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus with Father Justin Council, Cheektowaga. 

He received an Outstanding Leadership Award from the Diocesan Union of Holy Name Societies in 1996. A baseball fan, Father Westfield was involved in the Little League of Jamestown and sat on the board of directors for Babe Ruth Jamestown.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 4-8 p.m. at St. Anthony Church, 66 Cushing Street, Fredonia. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony Church on Friday, Dec. 13, by Bishop Edward M. Grosz. Priests are invited to concelebrate and deacons are invited to vest.