PETTIT - FATHER JOSEPH PETTIT entered eternal life Friday evening, July 22, 2011. He was born August 3, 1924 in Grand Rapids, MI. the son of JOSEPH and ERNA (SCHMIDT) PETTIT.
Father Joe was ordained a priest for the Passionist Community on March 26, 1955 at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Louisville, KY. He ministered at various locations as a Passionist priest until coming to the Diocese of Grand Rapids in 1973. He served in the diocese in the following positions: associate pastor of St. Mary's, Grand Rapids; St. Patrick, Portland and the Cathedral of Saint Andrew; pastor at St. Philip Neri, Reed City with Mission of St. Ann at Paris; St. James, Montague with Mission at St. John Claybanks; St. Joseph, Pewamo; St. Margaret Mary, Edmore and St. Bernadette, Stanton. Father also ministered as a Chaplain to Blodgett and Butterworth Hospitals and the Carmelite Monastery. He also served as Diocesan Director of Communications and was appointed Advocate in the Diocesan Tribunal. After his retirement in 2003 Father Pettit served the diocese in an on-call capacity.
Surviving is his sister, VIRGINIA (MAX) CRONK, several nieces, nephews and their families.
The Funeral Mass will be con-celebrated on Tuesday, July 26, 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Parish, Grand Rapids. Father will lie in state one hour prior to the Mass. Visitation will be 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Arsulowicz Brothers West Mortuary, 585 Stocking, NW. Interment Mt. Calvary Cemetery. May Father Joseph Pettit rest in eternal peace and enjoy the fullness of the glory of the Lord he so faithfully served. Let us continue to remember him in our Masses and prayers. May this good and faithful servant now enter into the joy of his Lord. Arsulowicz Brothers Mortuaries, Inc.
Published in THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, MI, on July 24, 2011
NOTE: An important omission to Joe's obituary is the fact that he served in the U.S. Navy, in the Pacific theatre, during WWII.
*********************~ooOoo~*********************
In Joe's baby book, THE BOOK OF BABY MINE, is the entry, "When I was born AUGUST 3 [1924] was the date. 6 pounds and 10 ounces was my weight. The day was SUNDAY, Tick tock, tick tock! 45 minutes past 11 P.M., said the wise old clock. And O, I was tiny to live in this land! Just see the wee outline of my foot and hand [There is an outline of Joe's left foot]! Further on, under the heading of "My First Outing", it states, "The day I was baptized at St. Mary's Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, I rode in Uncle Leo's Essex Coach & my aunt Leona held me on her lap." Also, on the page with the header "Where I got my name, and all about my Christening~", is written, "I was named after my dear daddy. My God parents were Aunt Leona & Uncle Leo. I was baptized on Sunday, August 17, 1924 at St. Mary's Church, Grand Rapids, Mich., by Rev. Fr. J. Riess & cried all the while. That's the sign of a healthy baby they tell me."
These baby book entries were made by Joe's mother, ERNA SERENA (SCHMIDT) PETTIT.
*****
1930 U.S. CENSUS, GRAND RAPIDS (3rd Ward), KENT CO., MI, 7 April 1930
Pettit, John L. (Head), 53, b. MI (Parents b. U.S), Widowed, Foreman - Furniture Factory
Steinbach, Louise B. (Sister-in-Law), 34, b. MI (Father b. Germany / Mother b. Canada-F), Single, Housekeeper - Home
Pettit, Marie R. (Daughter), 24, b. MI (Parents b. MI), Single, Decorator - Furniture Fac.
Pettit, Francis (Daughter), 20, b. MI (Parents b. MI), Single, Student Nurse - Hospital
PETTIT, JOSEPH R. (Grandson), 5, b. MI (Parents b. MI)
Live at 342 Franklin St.
Sometime after his mother's premature death in 1929, Joe remembered being taken to a foster home by his father, Joseph Pettit. He had with him all the worldly possessions of a 5 yr. old, including a swim suit. As his father and this lady were in discussion, he was throwing this swimsuit up against the ceiling and catching it as it fell. Joe remembered feeling happy that he was with his dad. His father left promising he'd be back in a few days to get him. The elder Joe Pettit never returned. This abandonment by his father always was a source of tremendous pain in son Joe's life. Once the Schmidts found out where he was, Joe was picked up and sent to live with his sister, Marianne, at Edward and Louise Esch's home. As Uncle Ed said, "What's one more mouth to feed?"
At the age of 16 [c.1940], Joe went to see Katherine Hepburn in a play in Detroit. He waited backstage with his Brownie camera and when Miss Hepburn came with her big burly body guard to the dressing room, he asked the body guard if it would be alright if he took a picture of Miss Hepburn. The body guard said he'd see, since there really was no one else around. Katherine Hepburn was in a fur coat, yellow slacks and was wearing a kerchief. She struck a side pose and Joe took the picture. She retorted, "Your flash is killing my eyes!" and she was gone. Later Joe brought around a 8x10 copy of the picture for Miss Hepburn. The bodyguard remarked he'd like a copy of the picture. The play went to New York and Uncle Joe came to her dressing room in the Big Apple with the 8x10 copy of her picture in an envelope. He knocked on her dressing room door and when Katherine Hepburn answered, Joe told her he had a copy of her picture that he taken in Detroit that her body guard wanted. She took the envelope, without opening it up, and in a haughty tone said, "You're lying!", and closed the door. Joe was wounded to the quick and never cared much for her after that. Miss Hepburn must have been around 30 years old at the time.
~ Oral Memories of Fr. Joseph Pettit recorded 21 August 2003
*****
In his youth, Joe Pettit was an usher at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
While attending a Catholic Charismatic Conference with my Uncle Joe at the University of Notre Dame in the early 1970's, he introduced me to Maria von Trapp of "Sound of Music" fame. She was an older woman at that time wearing the attire of an Austrian peasant. Maria was very gracious and had a good rapport with my uncle whom she knew.
~ Recollections of Mike Cronk, Nephew, 26 July 2011
Father Joe was ordained a priest for the Passionist Community on March 26, 1955 at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Louisville, KY. He ministered at various locations as a Passionist priest until coming to the Diocese of Grand Rapids in 1973. He served in the diocese in the following positions: associate pastor of St. Mary's, Grand Rapids; St. Patrick, Portland and the Cathedral of Saint Andrew; pastor at St. Philip Neri, Reed City with Mission of St. Ann at Paris; St. James, Montague with Mission at St. John Claybanks; St. Joseph, Pewamo; St. Margaret Mary, Edmore and St. Bernadette, Stanton. Father also ministered as a Chaplain to Blodgett and Butterworth Hospitals and the Carmelite Monastery. He also served as Diocesan Director of Communications and was appointed Advocate in the Diocesan Tribunal. After his retirement in 2003 Father Pettit served the diocese in an on-call capacity.
Surviving is his sister, VIRGINIA (MAX) CRONK, several nieces, nephews and their families.
The Funeral Mass will be con-celebrated on Tuesday, July 26, 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Parish, Grand Rapids. Father will lie in state one hour prior to the Mass. Visitation will be 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Arsulowicz Brothers West Mortuary, 585 Stocking, NW. Interment Mt. Calvary Cemetery. May Father Joseph Pettit rest in eternal peace and enjoy the fullness of the glory of the Lord he so faithfully served. Let us continue to remember him in our Masses and prayers. May this good and faithful servant now enter into the joy of his Lord. Arsulowicz Brothers Mortuaries, Inc.
Published in THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, MI, on July 24, 2011
NOTE: An important omission to Joe's obituary is the fact that he served in the U.S. Navy, in the Pacific theatre, during WWII.
*********************~ooOoo~*********************
In Joe's baby book, THE BOOK OF BABY MINE, is the entry, "When I was born AUGUST 3 [1924] was the date. 6 pounds and 10 ounces was my weight. The day was SUNDAY, Tick tock, tick tock! 45 minutes past 11 P.M., said the wise old clock. And O, I was tiny to live in this land! Just see the wee outline of my foot and hand [There is an outline of Joe's left foot]! Further on, under the heading of "My First Outing", it states, "The day I was baptized at St. Mary's Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, I rode in Uncle Leo's Essex Coach & my aunt Leona held me on her lap." Also, on the page with the header "Where I got my name, and all about my Christening~", is written, "I was named after my dear daddy. My God parents were Aunt Leona & Uncle Leo. I was baptized on Sunday, August 17, 1924 at St. Mary's Church, Grand Rapids, Mich., by Rev. Fr. J. Riess & cried all the while. That's the sign of a healthy baby they tell me."
These baby book entries were made by Joe's mother, ERNA SERENA (SCHMIDT) PETTIT.
*****
1930 U.S. CENSUS, GRAND RAPIDS (3rd Ward), KENT CO., MI, 7 April 1930
Pettit, John L. (Head), 53, b. MI (Parents b. U.S), Widowed, Foreman - Furniture Factory
Steinbach, Louise B. (Sister-in-Law), 34, b. MI (Father b. Germany / Mother b. Canada-F), Single, Housekeeper - Home
Pettit, Marie R. (Daughter), 24, b. MI (Parents b. MI), Single, Decorator - Furniture Fac.
Pettit, Francis (Daughter), 20, b. MI (Parents b. MI), Single, Student Nurse - Hospital
PETTIT, JOSEPH R. (Grandson), 5, b. MI (Parents b. MI)
Live at 342 Franklin St.
Sometime after his mother's premature death in 1929, Joe remembered being taken to a foster home by his father, Joseph Pettit. He had with him all the worldly possessions of a 5 yr. old, including a swim suit. As his father and this lady were in discussion, he was throwing this swimsuit up against the ceiling and catching it as it fell. Joe remembered feeling happy that he was with his dad. His father left promising he'd be back in a few days to get him. The elder Joe Pettit never returned. This abandonment by his father always was a source of tremendous pain in son Joe's life. Once the Schmidts found out where he was, Joe was picked up and sent to live with his sister, Marianne, at Edward and Louise Esch's home. As Uncle Ed said, "What's one more mouth to feed?"
At the age of 16 [c.1940], Joe went to see Katherine Hepburn in a play in Detroit. He waited backstage with his Brownie camera and when Miss Hepburn came with her big burly body guard to the dressing room, he asked the body guard if it would be alright if he took a picture of Miss Hepburn. The body guard said he'd see, since there really was no one else around. Katherine Hepburn was in a fur coat, yellow slacks and was wearing a kerchief. She struck a side pose and Joe took the picture. She retorted, "Your flash is killing my eyes!" and she was gone. Later Joe brought around a 8x10 copy of the picture for Miss Hepburn. The bodyguard remarked he'd like a copy of the picture. The play went to New York and Uncle Joe came to her dressing room in the Big Apple with the 8x10 copy of her picture in an envelope. He knocked on her dressing room door and when Katherine Hepburn answered, Joe told her he had a copy of her picture that he taken in Detroit that her body guard wanted. She took the envelope, without opening it up, and in a haughty tone said, "You're lying!", and closed the door. Joe was wounded to the quick and never cared much for her after that. Miss Hepburn must have been around 30 years old at the time.
~ Oral Memories of Fr. Joseph Pettit recorded 21 August 2003
*****
In his youth, Joe Pettit was an usher at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
While attending a Catholic Charismatic Conference with my Uncle Joe at the University of Notre Dame in the early 1970's, he introduced me to Maria von Trapp of "Sound of Music" fame. She was an older woman at that time wearing the attire of an Austrian peasant. Maria was very gracious and had a good rapport with my uncle whom she knew.
~ Recollections of Mike Cronk, Nephew, 26 July 2011
PETTIT - FATHER JOSEPH PETTIT entered eternal life Friday evening, July 22, 2011. He was born August 3, 1924 in Grand Rapids, MI. the son of JOSEPH and ERNA (SCHMIDT) PETTIT.
Father Joe was ordained a priest for the Passionist Community on March 26, 1955 at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Louisville, KY. He ministered at various locations as a Passionist priest until coming to the Diocese of Grand Rapids in 1973. He served in the diocese in the following positions: associate pastor of St. Mary's, Grand Rapids; St. Patrick, Portland and the Cathedral of Saint Andrew; pastor at St. Philip Neri, Reed City with Mission of St. Ann at Paris; St. James, Montague with Mission at St. John Claybanks; St. Joseph, Pewamo; St. Margaret Mary, Edmore and St. Bernadette, Stanton. Father also ministered as a Chaplain to Blodgett and Butterworth Hospitals and the Carmelite Monastery. He also served as Diocesan Director of Communications and was appointed Advocate in the Diocesan Tribunal. After his retirement in 2003 Father Pettit served the diocese in an on-call capacity.
Surviving is his sister, VIRGINIA (MAX) CRONK, several nieces, nephews and their families.
The Funeral Mass will be con-celebrated on Tuesday, July 26, 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Parish, Grand Rapids. Father will lie in state one hour prior to the Mass. Visitation will be 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Arsulowicz Brothers West Mortuary, 585 Stocking, NW. Interment Mt. Calvary Cemetery. May Father Joseph Pettit rest in eternal peace and enjoy the fullness of the glory of the Lord he so faithfully served. Let us continue to remember him in our Masses and prayers. May this good and faithful servant now enter into the joy of his Lord. Arsulowicz Brothers Mortuaries, Inc.
Published in THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, MI, on July 24, 2011
NOTE: An important omission to Joe's obituary is the fact that he served in the U.S. Navy, in the Pacific theatre, during WWII.
*********************~ooOoo~*********************
In Joe's baby book, THE BOOK OF BABY MINE, is the entry, "When I was born AUGUST 3 [1924] was the date. 6 pounds and 10 ounces was my weight. The day was SUNDAY, Tick tock, tick tock! 45 minutes past 11 P.M., said the wise old clock. And O, I was tiny to live in this land! Just see the wee outline of my foot and hand [There is an outline of Joe's left foot]! Further on, under the heading of "My First Outing", it states, "The day I was baptized at St. Mary's Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, I rode in Uncle Leo's Essex Coach & my aunt Leona held me on her lap." Also, on the page with the header "Where I got my name, and all about my Christening~", is written, "I was named after my dear daddy. My God parents were Aunt Leona & Uncle Leo. I was baptized on Sunday, August 17, 1924 at St. Mary's Church, Grand Rapids, Mich., by Rev. Fr. J. Riess & cried all the while. That's the sign of a healthy baby they tell me."
These baby book entries were made by Joe's mother, ERNA SERENA (SCHMIDT) PETTIT.
*****
1930 U.S. CENSUS, GRAND RAPIDS (3rd Ward), KENT CO., MI, 7 April 1930
Pettit, John L. (Head), 53, b. MI (Parents b. U.S), Widowed, Foreman - Furniture Factory
Steinbach, Louise B. (Sister-in-Law), 34, b. MI (Father b. Germany / Mother b. Canada-F), Single, Housekeeper - Home
Pettit, Marie R. (Daughter), 24, b. MI (Parents b. MI), Single, Decorator - Furniture Fac.
Pettit, Francis (Daughter), 20, b. MI (Parents b. MI), Single, Student Nurse - Hospital
PETTIT, JOSEPH R. (Grandson), 5, b. MI (Parents b. MI)
Live at 342 Franklin St.
Sometime after his mother's premature death in 1929, Joe remembered being taken to a foster home by his father, Joseph Pettit. He had with him all the worldly possessions of a 5 yr. old, including a swim suit. As his father and this lady were in discussion, he was throwing this swimsuit up against the ceiling and catching it as it fell. Joe remembered feeling happy that he was with his dad. His father left promising he'd be back in a few days to get him. The elder Joe Pettit never returned. This abandonment by his father always was a source of tremendous pain in son Joe's life. Once the Schmidts found out where he was, Joe was picked up and sent to live with his sister, Marianne, at Edward and Louise Esch's home. As Uncle Ed said, "What's one more mouth to feed?"
At the age of 16 [c.1940], Joe went to see Katherine Hepburn in a play in Detroit. He waited backstage with his Brownie camera and when Miss Hepburn came with her big burly body guard to the dressing room, he asked the body guard if it would be alright if he took a picture of Miss Hepburn. The body guard said he'd see, since there really was no one else around. Katherine Hepburn was in a fur coat, yellow slacks and was wearing a kerchief. She struck a side pose and Joe took the picture. She retorted, "Your flash is killing my eyes!" and she was gone. Later Joe brought around a 8x10 copy of the picture for Miss Hepburn. The bodyguard remarked he'd like a copy of the picture. The play went to New York and Uncle Joe came to her dressing room in the Big Apple with the 8x10 copy of her picture in an envelope. He knocked on her dressing room door and when Katherine Hepburn answered, Joe told her he had a copy of her picture that he taken in Detroit that her body guard wanted. She took the envelope, without opening it up, and in a haughty tone said, "You're lying!", and closed the door. Joe was wounded to the quick and never cared much for her after that. Miss Hepburn must have been around 30 years old at the time.
~ Oral Memories of Fr. Joseph Pettit recorded 21 August 2003
*****
In his youth, Joe Pettit was an usher at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
While attending a Catholic Charismatic Conference with my Uncle Joe at the University of Notre Dame in the early 1970's, he introduced me to Maria von Trapp of "Sound of Music" fame. She was an older woman at that time wearing the attire of an Austrian peasant. Maria was very gracious and had a good rapport with my uncle whom she knew.
~ Recollections of Mike Cronk, Nephew, 26 July 2011
Father Joe was ordained a priest for the Passionist Community on March 26, 1955 at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Louisville, KY. He ministered at various locations as a Passionist priest until coming to the Diocese of Grand Rapids in 1973. He served in the diocese in the following positions: associate pastor of St. Mary's, Grand Rapids; St. Patrick, Portland and the Cathedral of Saint Andrew; pastor at St. Philip Neri, Reed City with Mission of St. Ann at Paris; St. James, Montague with Mission at St. John Claybanks; St. Joseph, Pewamo; St. Margaret Mary, Edmore and St. Bernadette, Stanton. Father also ministered as a Chaplain to Blodgett and Butterworth Hospitals and the Carmelite Monastery. He also served as Diocesan Director of Communications and was appointed Advocate in the Diocesan Tribunal. After his retirement in 2003 Father Pettit served the diocese in an on-call capacity.
Surviving is his sister, VIRGINIA (MAX) CRONK, several nieces, nephews and their families.
The Funeral Mass will be con-celebrated on Tuesday, July 26, 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Parish, Grand Rapids. Father will lie in state one hour prior to the Mass. Visitation will be 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Arsulowicz Brothers West Mortuary, 585 Stocking, NW. Interment Mt. Calvary Cemetery. May Father Joseph Pettit rest in eternal peace and enjoy the fullness of the glory of the Lord he so faithfully served. Let us continue to remember him in our Masses and prayers. May this good and faithful servant now enter into the joy of his Lord. Arsulowicz Brothers Mortuaries, Inc.
Published in THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, MI, on July 24, 2011
NOTE: An important omission to Joe's obituary is the fact that he served in the U.S. Navy, in the Pacific theatre, during WWII.
*********************~ooOoo~*********************
In Joe's baby book, THE BOOK OF BABY MINE, is the entry, "When I was born AUGUST 3 [1924] was the date. 6 pounds and 10 ounces was my weight. The day was SUNDAY, Tick tock, tick tock! 45 minutes past 11 P.M., said the wise old clock. And O, I was tiny to live in this land! Just see the wee outline of my foot and hand [There is an outline of Joe's left foot]! Further on, under the heading of "My First Outing", it states, "The day I was baptized at St. Mary's Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, I rode in Uncle Leo's Essex Coach & my aunt Leona held me on her lap." Also, on the page with the header "Where I got my name, and all about my Christening~", is written, "I was named after my dear daddy. My God parents were Aunt Leona & Uncle Leo. I was baptized on Sunday, August 17, 1924 at St. Mary's Church, Grand Rapids, Mich., by Rev. Fr. J. Riess & cried all the while. That's the sign of a healthy baby they tell me."
These baby book entries were made by Joe's mother, ERNA SERENA (SCHMIDT) PETTIT.
*****
1930 U.S. CENSUS, GRAND RAPIDS (3rd Ward), KENT CO., MI, 7 April 1930
Pettit, John L. (Head), 53, b. MI (Parents b. U.S), Widowed, Foreman - Furniture Factory
Steinbach, Louise B. (Sister-in-Law), 34, b. MI (Father b. Germany / Mother b. Canada-F), Single, Housekeeper - Home
Pettit, Marie R. (Daughter), 24, b. MI (Parents b. MI), Single, Decorator - Furniture Fac.
Pettit, Francis (Daughter), 20, b. MI (Parents b. MI), Single, Student Nurse - Hospital
PETTIT, JOSEPH R. (Grandson), 5, b. MI (Parents b. MI)
Live at 342 Franklin St.
Sometime after his mother's premature death in 1929, Joe remembered being taken to a foster home by his father, Joseph Pettit. He had with him all the worldly possessions of a 5 yr. old, including a swim suit. As his father and this lady were in discussion, he was throwing this swimsuit up against the ceiling and catching it as it fell. Joe remembered feeling happy that he was with his dad. His father left promising he'd be back in a few days to get him. The elder Joe Pettit never returned. This abandonment by his father always was a source of tremendous pain in son Joe's life. Once the Schmidts found out where he was, Joe was picked up and sent to live with his sister, Marianne, at Edward and Louise Esch's home. As Uncle Ed said, "What's one more mouth to feed?"
At the age of 16 [c.1940], Joe went to see Katherine Hepburn in a play in Detroit. He waited backstage with his Brownie camera and when Miss Hepburn came with her big burly body guard to the dressing room, he asked the body guard if it would be alright if he took a picture of Miss Hepburn. The body guard said he'd see, since there really was no one else around. Katherine Hepburn was in a fur coat, yellow slacks and was wearing a kerchief. She struck a side pose and Joe took the picture. She retorted, "Your flash is killing my eyes!" and she was gone. Later Joe brought around a 8x10 copy of the picture for Miss Hepburn. The bodyguard remarked he'd like a copy of the picture. The play went to New York and Uncle Joe came to her dressing room in the Big Apple with the 8x10 copy of her picture in an envelope. He knocked on her dressing room door and when Katherine Hepburn answered, Joe told her he had a copy of her picture that he taken in Detroit that her body guard wanted. She took the envelope, without opening it up, and in a haughty tone said, "You're lying!", and closed the door. Joe was wounded to the quick and never cared much for her after that. Miss Hepburn must have been around 30 years old at the time.
~ Oral Memories of Fr. Joseph Pettit recorded 21 August 2003
*****
In his youth, Joe Pettit was an usher at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
While attending a Catholic Charismatic Conference with my Uncle Joe at the University of Notre Dame in the early 1970's, he introduced me to Maria von Trapp of "Sound of Music" fame. She was an older woman at that time wearing the attire of an Austrian peasant. Maria was very gracious and had a good rapport with my uncle whom she knew.
~ Recollections of Mike Cronk, Nephew, 26 July 2011
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
