Deceased Friars

Hilary Deck, OFM

Hilary Deck

1913 – 1964

Fr. Hilary Deck, OFM, was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on Feb. 26, 1913. During World War II, he saw service in Europe as a captain of the tank corps of the U.S. army. After he left the service, he began his studies at St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y.

He was received into the Province’s novitiate in 1946 at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., and professed temporary the following year. Fr. Hilary made his solemn profession of vows on in 1950. He was ordained a priest in 1925 at the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, D.C.

Fr. Hilary’s entire priesthood was spent in parish work at St. Augustine in Thomasville, Ga., St. Francis of Assisi in Beach Haven, N.J., Immaculate Conception in Atlanta, Ga., St. Francis of Assisi in New York City and St. Francis of Assisi in Triangle, Va.

He died suddenly while hearing confessions on Sept. 4, 1964, at St. Francis in New York. Fr. Hilary was 51 years old, a professed friar for 17 years and a priest for 12 years.

Each of us should be called a lesser brother, a Friar Minor. Each one of us should wash the feet of the others.”

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Hilary Deck, OFM

Hilary Deck

1913 – 1964

Fr. Hilary Deck, OFM, was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on Feb. 26, 1913. During World War II, he saw service in Europe as a captain of the tank corps of the U.S. army. After he left the service, he began his studies at St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y.

He was received into the Province’s novitiate in 1946 at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., and professed temporary the following year. Fr. Hilary made his solemn profession of vows on in 1950. He was ordained a priest in 1925 at the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, D.C.

Fr. Hilary’s entire priesthood was spent in parish work at St. Augustine in Thomasville, Ga., St. Francis of Assisi in Beach Haven, N.J., Immaculate Conception in Atlanta, Ga., St. Francis of Assisi in New York City and St. Francis of Assisi in Triangle, Va.

He died suddenly while hearing confessions on Sept. 4, 1964, at St. Francis in New York. Fr. Hilary was 51 years old, a professed friar for 17 years and a priest for 12 years.