WILMINGTON, Del. — Oblates of St. Francis de Sales Father Joseph E. Tustin, who previously served in parishes in Asheboro and Kernersville, passed away earlier this year. He died March 8, 2023, in his 64th year of religious life as a professed member of the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered March 13, 2023, at Our Lady of Light Chapel in Childs, Md. Interment followed at the Oblate Cemetery.
He was born in Philadelphia in 1939, the son of Joseph Frank Tustin and Harriet Gutowski Tustin. After graduating from Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia in 1957, he entered the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and professed first vows on Aug. 21, 1959. He made perpetual profession on Sept. 30, 1962, and was ordained a priest on Oct. 21, 1967. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a Master of Theology from De Sales School of Theology in Washington, D.C.
Over the years, he served on the faculty of Father Judge High School and Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia, Pa., on the staff of Villa Maria Retreat House in Wernersville, Pa., and as pastor of St. Richard Parish in Mannheim, Pa.
In North Carolina, he served at St. Joseph Parish in Asheboro, Holy Cross Parish in Kernersville, and St. Mary Parish in Goldsboro.
Upon retirement, Father Tustin ministered at Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in Philadelphia.
He was preceded in death by his parents as well as his sisters, Mary Hypes and Patricia (Billy) Jacobs as well as his brothers, George Tustin and Michael Tustin. He is survived by many nieces and nephews.
In memory of his life and legacy, donations may be made to the Oblate Development Fund, P.O. Box 87, Childs, MD 21916-0087.
— Catholic News Herald
VALE — Mother Mary Louis, 93, foundress of the Maryvale Sisters, entered the arms of her heavenly Father on Thursday, June 8, 2023.
A gathering of friends will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, located at 921 2nd St. N.E. in Hickory.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 15, 2023, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church with Father Edward Sheridan officiating. Viewing will be held for one hour before Mass.
Burial will follow in the Maryvale Sisters Cemetery in Vale.
Mother Mary Louis was born Sept. 12, 1929, in Middletown, Conn., to the late Alexander and Rose Zampini Mangine. Mother Mary Louis was the foundress of the Maryvale Sisters in 1961 with Father Norman St. Martin. She was a faithful servant to the Lord and her religious community.
Survivors include the Maryvale Sisters: Sister Mary Michael, Sister Mary Clare and Sister Mary Francis; and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The Mother Mary Louis/Maryvale Sisters Outreach Projects, 2522 June Bug Road, Vale, N.C. 28168.
Warlick Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald
BELMONT — Benedictine Father Francis Phillip Forster, a monk and priest of Belmont Abbey, died peacefully in the Lord on Thursday, May 11, 2023. He was 90.
The body will be received at Belmont Abbey at 7 p.m. Monday, May 15, 2023, followed by vespers and visitation. The rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Mary Help of Christians Basilica on the campus of Belmont Abbey, followed by the funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. Burial will follow at the abbey cemetery.
Father Francis was born Sept. 2, 1932, in Willard, Ohio, the youngest of five children. He spent his early years on the family farm. After graduating from high school, he served in the U.S. Air
Force from 1951 to 1955 during the Korean Conflict, achieving the rank of staff sergeant. Following his discharge, he entered Belmont Abbey College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1960.
While in college, he entered the novitiate at Belmont Abbey and made his profession of vows on July 11, 1958. He was ordained a priest on June 4, 1964.
Father Francis served for 51 years in the faculty and administration of Belmont Abbey College, from 1958 to 2009. His first appointment was as instructor in the Department of Philosophy. He then served for many years as registrar and director of institutional research, then as director of data processing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Philip F. Forster and Frances Leitz Forster, and his three brothers, Bernard Forster, Robert Forster and Eugene Forster.
He is survived by the monks of Belmont Abbey; his sister, Mary Ann Forster; and numerous nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Memorial donations may be made to: Belmont Abbey College, 100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Road, Belmont, N.C. 28012.
Condolence messages may be shared at www.McLeanFuneral.com.
McLean Funeral Directors of Belmont is in charge of the arrangements.
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Read more about Father Francis Forster’s life at Belmont Abbey: https://belmontabbey.org/our-monks/
CHARLOTTE — Deacon Bernard William Wenning Jr. passed away May 16, 2023. He was 87.
The funeral Mass was celebrated May 25, 2023, at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte.
He was born Sept. 4, 1935, and grew up in West Long Branch, N.J., living there until he was 21 years old. He graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School in 1954. He initially worked for William’s Sign Painting in West Long Branch until he joined the U.S. Navy in 1955. He was stationed at Boeing Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., for four years.
He married his bride, Dot, in 1957. In 1963, the family moved to Vienna, Va., where he volunteered with the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department and served as its president for several years. He worked for the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller at both Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. In 1978, the family moved to Charlotte when Ben accepted the position of Deputy Chief of the Tower at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. He worked in that capacity until his retirement.
On June 18, 1988, he was ordained a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Charlotte at St. Gabriel Church, and it was at that parish that he began his ministry as a deacon. He served in that calling for 22 years.
In 1990, Deacon Wenning was the first deacon assigned to the Airport Chaplaincy at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, serving on the Airport Chaplaincy Board. It was then that he also started to take on diocesan responsibilities. As the ministry of permanent deacons evolved, Deacon Wenning served as assistant director of post ordination affairs, as vicar of the Charlotte region, and as administrator and director of the Permanent Diaconate for the diocese.
At St. Gabriel Parish he taught RCIA classes and worked in the Marriage Encounter Program, along with his many other deaconate duties and responsibilities. Ben truly was a deacon's deacon, a mentor, and a friend to many. He retired in 2007.
He enjoyed camping with his wife and children, vacationing at the beach, and going on cruises.
He loved his church activities and St. Gabriel Parish community. He was artistically gifted and enjoyed framing artwork, woodworking, painting, spending time with his Marriage Encounter friends, and being the president of his neighborhood’s HOA. He was the “designated pot stirrer” each Christmas season, as he helped his wife Dot make homemade fudge. Spending time with Dot and the family brought him the most pleasure.
He was known as “Mr. Wonderful” to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a big practical joker and was well known for his hilarious sense of humor and witty responses.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Dot Wenning; his five children and their spouses: Michael (Lydia), Cathy, Linda (Doug), Mark (Alisa) and Mary (Jeff); 15 grandchildren and their spouses: Emily, Malena (Daniel), Ben, Matthew (Sarah), Michele (Kirk), Davy, Jessica (Ryan), Kelley, Zack, Tanner, Tori, Jeffrey (Amber), Rachael and Kate; 10 great-grandchildren: Kiley, Emma Grace, Lathan, Paisley, Christian, Bryson, Avery, Ava, Riley and Walker; his brother Joe (Gioconda); his sisters: Barbara Ann (Frank), Louise (Joe) and Millie (Dan); multiple nieces and nephews; and a large community of friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, one sister, three brothers and his grandson, Michael.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Center for Pediatric Behavioral Health in Wilmington in honor of his grandson Michael, who passed away unexpectedly on March 2, 2023. Michael, who was employed as associate director for the center’s Early Learner Program, was excited about the new space that CPBH had been planning, and the ability to install an outdoor playground for the center’s children. All donations will fund the installation of the new playground, which will be dedicated to Michael. Donations can be made via www.centerforpediatricbehavioralhealth.com or by mail to: Center for Pediatric Behavioral Health, 720 James Dr., Wilmington, N.C. 28403. Donations are non-tax deductible.
Carolina Funeral Service & Cremation Center was in charge of arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald
SYLVA — Father James P. Cahill, 93, passed away Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at his residence.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, located at 37 Murphy Dr. in Maggie Valley. Inurnment will follow the Mass at St. Margaret’s Columbarium.
A native of Philadelphia, Pa., he was born Sept. 12, 1929, the youngest child of the late Joseph and Helen (Hentschel) Cahill.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston College before entering the Jesuits in 1947, studying at the adjoining Jesuit seminary, Weston College (now Weston Jesuit School of
Theology) in Cambridge, Mass. He was ordained a priest on June 17, 1961, by Cardinal Richard Cushing, Archbishop of Boston.
He served in the Diocese of Charlotte for several years, first at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte from 1986 to 1991, and then as pastor of St. Mary Mother of God Catholic Church in Sylva from 1991 until his retirement in 2002. He also served as vicar forane of the Smoky Mountains Vicariate, where he helped as needed in parishes.
Upon retirement, he gave the homily at the diocese’s annual priest jubilarian Mass, where he said a priest’s ministry is about sharing God’s love, peace and joy with others. “If I can take God’s peace and His love, and the joy of being with Christ, and convey that to another human being, I feel that my life as a priest is doing something remarkable.”
Those who knew Father Cahill knew he had a favorite phrase: “ORP,” or “old retired priest.”
In addition to his parents, Father Cahill was preceded in death by his siblings, one sister and two brothers.
Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville is in charge of arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald