Obituary of Francis Chmielewski

Rev. Francis J. Chmielewski passed away August 7, 2014 peacefully under Hospice care at his home, St. Bernard's Rectory. Father Frank was born November 13, 1947 to Theresa (nee Stachalski) and Thaddeus Chmielewski. After attending his home parish school the former St. Luke's on Buffalo's east side, he attended the Diocesan Preparatory Seminary, in Buffalo. Father earned his Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Divinity Degrees from St. John Vianney Seminary in East Aurora. On May 26, 1973 Father was ordained by Bishop Edward D. Head. Following his ordination he was assigned as Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph Parish in Niagara Falls, as well as serving as a Chaplain for the Boy Scouts that summer. In 1977 he was appointed Administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Buffalo and Temporary Hospital Chaplain at both Mercy Hospital and the former Millard Fillmore Hospital, in Buffalo. Later that year he was appointed Parochial vicar at St. Francis of Assisi in Buffalo. In 1985 he became a full time Chaplain at the Veterans Medical Center in Buffalo, where he was awarded both Quality Assurance and Superior Performance Awards from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. During this assignment he became a weekend associate at St. Bernard Parish in Buffalo where he was appointed Pastor in 2001. In 2008 as part of the Diocesan Journey of Faith and Grace he was appointed Senior Parochial Vicar of the linked St. Casimir and St. Bernard Parishes in Buffalo. In 2010 he was appointed temporary administrator of the the linked parishes and then in 2011 he was again appointed Pastor of St. Bernard Parish in Buffalo where he served until his death. Father is preceded in death by his mother, Theresa who died in 2004 and his father, Thaddeus who died just prior to his ordination in 1973. He is survived by an uncle, Daniel Stachelski Sr., aunt and Godmother Dorothy Buczynski and cousins Father was a warm, caring and very faithful to his parish family at St. Bernard while maintaining a connection with his Polish heritage on Buffalo's eastside. Visitation at St. Bernard R.C. Church Clinton Street at South Ogden Street, Buffalo Sunday from 2-7 PM. where a Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday at 10 AM. Most Rev. Richard J. Malone, Bishop of Buffalo, officiating. Interment will be in St. Adalbert Cemetery on Dale Road in Cheektowaga. Relatives and friends are invited. Flowers gratefully declined