Rev. Joseph Comtois, pastor of St. Mary's Church Spencer, died Friday afternoon in St. Vincent's Hospital, Worcester, after a lingering illness. Poor health was a lifelong issue that necessitated his removal to the West for a time in his early priesthood, And it plagued his entire priesthood, according to Rev. W Chaquette of Springfield, MA. Of quiet nature, he was known to his associates as a profound thinker and sound philosopher. His scholastic bearing and serene attitude endeared him to his people, according to Fr. Chaquette.
Father Comtois was ordained for the Diocese of Springfield, MA by Msgr. Williams. His ordination and first Mass was on December 17, 1887. His first assignment was at North Adams (1897-1899). He also served in Lake City, CO (1899-1900) and Gunnison CO (1900), Otter River, MA (1900), North Brookfield (1900-1901), Leominster, Precious Blood in Holyoke (1903-1907), and as pastor at St. Louis Church in West Springfield, MA (1907-1913), Church of the Assumption in Milbury (1913-1922) and St. Mary's Spencer (1922-1936).
For nearly 39 years Father Comtois served as a priest, first as a curate and later as pastor. He was born in Lanoraie, Comte Berthier, Canada, the son of Joseph and Mary Theodise (Derosier) Comtois. He studied at Juliette college in Canada, started his seminary studies at the Brighton seminary and later completed his theological studies at the Baltimore,Md seminary.
He served his first pastorate in West Springfield from 1907 to 1913 when he went to the Church of the Assumption in Millbury and was pastor there until 1922 when he came to Spencer. The Spencer parish over which Father Comtois had supervision for 14 years was a large one. Father Comtois also had supervision of St. Mary's school, where nuns of the Assumption order are the teachers of the 100 pupils.
Father Comtois leaves two sisters. Mrs Mary Menard of Leominster and Mrs. Hormidas Lapierre of Millbury. He and his family came to the U.S. when he was eight years old. They settled in the Chapinville Road section of Northborough, MA. His cousin Hattie Desrosiers inherited his prayer cards and passed them on to Therese Boucher. One very worn out card includes a prayer for "my loved ones."
Note: Fr. Comtois is the 1st cousin of Hercule Derosier (31449076) through his mother, Josephine Comtois, and his 2nd cousin once removed through his father, Joseph Derosier.
Father Comtois was ordained for the Diocese of Springfield, MA by Msgr. Williams. His ordination and first Mass was on December 17, 1887. His first assignment was at North Adams (1897-1899). He also served in Lake City, CO (1899-1900) and Gunnison CO (1900), Otter River, MA (1900), North Brookfield (1900-1901), Leominster, Precious Blood in Holyoke (1903-1907), and as pastor at St. Louis Church in West Springfield, MA (1907-1913), Church of the Assumption in Milbury (1913-1922) and St. Mary's Spencer (1922-1936).
For nearly 39 years Father Comtois served as a priest, first as a curate and later as pastor. He was born in Lanoraie, Comte Berthier, Canada, the son of Joseph and Mary Theodise (Derosier) Comtois. He studied at Juliette college in Canada, started his seminary studies at the Brighton seminary and later completed his theological studies at the Baltimore,Md seminary.
He served his first pastorate in West Springfield from 1907 to 1913 when he went to the Church of the Assumption in Millbury and was pastor there until 1922 when he came to Spencer. The Spencer parish over which Father Comtois had supervision for 14 years was a large one. Father Comtois also had supervision of St. Mary's school, where nuns of the Assumption order are the teachers of the 100 pupils.
Father Comtois leaves two sisters. Mrs Mary Menard of Leominster and Mrs. Hormidas Lapierre of Millbury. He and his family came to the U.S. when he was eight years old. They settled in the Chapinville Road section of Northborough, MA. His cousin Hattie Desrosiers inherited his prayer cards and passed them on to Therese Boucher. One very worn out card includes a prayer for "my loved ones."
Note: Fr. Comtois is the 1st cousin of Hercule Derosier (31449076) through his mother, Josephine Comtois, and his 2nd cousin once removed through his father, Joseph Derosier.
Rev. Joseph Comtois, pastor of St. Mary's Church Spencer, died Friday afternoon in St. Vincent's Hospital, Worcester, after a lingering illness. Poor health was a lifelong issue that necessitated his removal to the West for a time in his early priesthood, And it plagued his entire priesthood, according to Rev. W Chaquette of Springfield, MA. Of quiet nature, he was known to his associates as a profound thinker and sound philosopher. His scholastic bearing and serene attitude endeared him to his people, according to Fr. Chaquette.
Father Comtois was ordained for the Diocese of Springfield, MA by Msgr. Williams. His ordination and first Mass was on December 17, 1887. His first assignment was at North Adams (1897-1899). He also served in Lake City, CO (1899-1900) and Gunnison CO (1900), Otter River, MA (1900), North Brookfield (1900-1901), Leominster, Precious Blood in Holyoke (1903-1907), and as pastor at St. Louis Church in West Springfield, MA (1907-1913), Church of the Assumption in Milbury (1913-1922) and St. Mary's Spencer (1922-1936).
For nearly 39 years Father Comtois served as a priest, first as a curate and later as pastor. He was born in Lanoraie, Comte Berthier, Canada, the son of Joseph and Mary Theodise (Derosier) Comtois. He studied at Juliette college in Canada, started his seminary studies at the Brighton seminary and later completed his theological studies at the Baltimore,Md seminary.
He served his first pastorate in West Springfield from 1907 to 1913 when he went to the Church of the Assumption in Millbury and was pastor there until 1922 when he came to Spencer. The Spencer parish over which Father Comtois had supervision for 14 years was a large one. Father Comtois also had supervision of St. Mary's school, where nuns of the Assumption order are the teachers of the 100 pupils.
Father Comtois leaves two sisters. Mrs Mary Menard of Leominster and Mrs. Hormidas Lapierre of Millbury. He and his family came to the U.S. when he was eight years old. They settled in the Chapinville Road section of Northborough, MA. His cousin Hattie Desrosiers inherited his prayer cards and passed them on to Therese Boucher. One very worn out card includes a prayer for "my loved ones."
Note: Fr. Comtois is the 1st cousin of Hercule Derosier (31449076) through his mother, Josephine Comtois, and his 2nd cousin once removed through his father, Joseph Derosier.
Father Comtois was ordained for the Diocese of Springfield, MA by Msgr. Williams. His ordination and first Mass was on December 17, 1887. His first assignment was at North Adams (1897-1899). He also served in Lake City, CO (1899-1900) and Gunnison CO (1900), Otter River, MA (1900), North Brookfield (1900-1901), Leominster, Precious Blood in Holyoke (1903-1907), and as pastor at St. Louis Church in West Springfield, MA (1907-1913), Church of the Assumption in Milbury (1913-1922) and St. Mary's Spencer (1922-1936).
For nearly 39 years Father Comtois served as a priest, first as a curate and later as pastor. He was born in Lanoraie, Comte Berthier, Canada, the son of Joseph and Mary Theodise (Derosier) Comtois. He studied at Juliette college in Canada, started his seminary studies at the Brighton seminary and later completed his theological studies at the Baltimore,Md seminary.
He served his first pastorate in West Springfield from 1907 to 1913 when he went to the Church of the Assumption in Millbury and was pastor there until 1922 when he came to Spencer. The Spencer parish over which Father Comtois had supervision for 14 years was a large one. Father Comtois also had supervision of St. Mary's school, where nuns of the Assumption order are the teachers of the 100 pupils.
Father Comtois leaves two sisters. Mrs Mary Menard of Leominster and Mrs. Hormidas Lapierre of Millbury. He and his family came to the U.S. when he was eight years old. They settled in the Chapinville Road section of Northborough, MA. His cousin Hattie Desrosiers inherited his prayer cards and passed them on to Therese Boucher. One very worn out card includes a prayer for "my loved ones."
Note: Fr. Comtois is the 1st cousin of Hercule Derosier (31449076) through his mother, Josephine Comtois, and his 2nd cousin once removed through his father, Joseph Derosier.
