BUTLER, N.J. — A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St Anthony of Padua Church on July 8 for Brian Hart, OFM, 69, who died July 3 in Wayne, N.J.
Provincial Minister Kevin Mullen, OFM, presided at the Mass for Brian, who was a professed Franciscan for 39 years. Steven Pavignano, OFM, preached the homily. Burial followed at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Butler.
Early Years
Brian was born Nov. 5, 1944 in Jersey City, N.J., to Joseph and Mary Hart and was raised in Kearny and Pompton Lakes, N.J. Before entering the Order, he attended Leicester, Mass., Junior College, and studied nursing at St. Margaret School of Nursing and Donnelly College in Kansas City, Mo., and St. Francis School of Nursing, Olean, N.Y.
He was received into the Order in 1973 in Brookline, Mass., where he professed first vows one year later. Brian made his solemn profession at St. Mary’s Church, Pompton Lakes, in 1977.
Ministry
Brian spent most of his religious life working with the sick. He was initially stationed at the Provincial infirmary at St. Bonaventure University in Western New York from 1977 to 1978, where he continued his nursing education at St. Francis School of Nursing. He then worked briefly at St. Clare’s Hospital in New York City, East Boston, Mass., and St. Anthony Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla. Brian returned to St. Francis Hospital in Olean in 1984 to minister in the pastoral care department, transferring to Olean General Hospital in 1986. He minstered there for the next two decades.
In 2007, Brian was assigned to St. Anthony Friary, Butler, but due to failing health, he retired in 2009 to St. Anthony Residence, Boston. He was then assigned in 2012 to Holy Name Friary, Ringwood, N.J.
Brian, a triplet, is survived by two sisters — Barbara Giles and her husband Wayne of Pompton Lakes and Joanne Hunt and her husband Halsey of Pompton Plains, N.J. — as well as a nephew, three nieces and seven grand-nephews and nieces.
Memorial donations may be sent to Franciscan Friars — Holy Name Province, 144 West 32nd Street, New York, NY, 10001.
— Compiled by Jocelyn Thomas