[TI] Rev A. Robert Lamantia obituary

[M GILL]

Reverend A. Robert Lamantia 
 
 
LAMANTIA
Reverend A. Robert Reverend A. Robert Lamantia, 87, of Toledo, OH, born
to Eternal Life, Thursday, June 12, 2008, at St. Vincent Mercy Medical
Center. He was born on January 5, 1921 in Lima, OH to Salvatore and
Vincenza Lamantia. Father Lamantia was ordained on May 22, 1948 and
first assigned to Immaculate Conception in Toledo until 1952 when he
was assigned to O.L.P.H.. He served there until 1965 when he was
assigned as pastor at Oak Harbor St. Boniface Church. This was a time
of many liturgical changes and Fr. Lamantia formed a Liturgy committee
that eventually resurrected a temporary altar and began celebrating
Mass facing the people. He was also instrumental in starting St.
Boniface School in two classrooms in the fall of 1966. In 1969 Bishop
Donovan sent him to I.C. Bellevue to implement the liturgical changes
that were necessary there. In 1973 he was moved to St. Charles in Lima,
OH where he furthered to update the new Liturgical changes. He served
as Dean, responsible for checking the Sacramental and financial records
of 22 parishes. In 1984 Bishop Hoffman implemented the policy that no
priest should remain in an assignment more than 10 years, so that year
he was transferred to St. Rose Church in Perrysburg where he served
until his retirement at age 70 in 1990. He continued to help other
parishes after his retirement including St. Joseph Church in Maumee,
St. Joseph Church in Sylvania and most recently at St. Joan of Arc in
Toledo. He is survived by brothers and sisters, Marie Duvall of Lima,
OH, Vincent Lamantia of Lima, OH, Josephine Ciancilo of Sidney, OH,
Richard Lamantia of Dayton, OH, Helen Gulker of Troy, OH, Roseanne
Sprague of Dayton, OH and Virginia Raymond of Lima, OH; and many nieces
and nephews. The Reception of the Body and Vespers will be celebrated
at 4 p.m. with visitation following until 9 p.m. on Sunday at St. Joan
of Arc Church, 5856 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, OH 43614 and continue
after 9 a.m. on Monday, June 16, 2008, where the Funeral Liturgy will
begin at 11 a.m. with Bishop Leonard Blair presiding. Committal
services will follow at St. Rose Cemetery's Priest Circle in
Perrysburg. Memorials may be made in the form of contributions to the
Priest's Retirement Fund c/o The Diocese of Toledo. Arrangements are
being handled by Witzler-Shank Funeral Home, Perrysburg, OH.
Condolences to the family may be made by visiting www.witzlershank.com 


Published in the Toledo Blade from 6/14/2008 - 6/15/2008.