The Holy Name Province community is mourning the deaths of two friars’ relatives. Jesse Gonzalez, father of Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez, OFM, of Puerto Rico, died Dec. 26 in San Juan. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 29. Vera Swartout, sister-in-law of Maurice Swartout, OFM, of Buffalo, died Jan. 5. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Jan. 8 at St. Mary Church in West Leyden, N.Y. Francis Dirig, brother of the late Edwin Dirig, OFM, died Dec. 19. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 23 at Holy Cross Church in Callicoon, N.Y. In addition, the friars mourn the deaths of several members of other provinces. Fr. Peter Krieg, OFM, a member of St. Barbara Province, died Dec. 12. Fr. Paul Sylvestre, OFM, a member of the Province of St. Joseph in Canada, died Dec. 16. Fr. Paul had been ministering in the Custody of the Holy Land. Fr. Rocco Famiglietti, OFM, a member of the Immaculate Conception Province, died Dec. 18. Fr. John Abela, OFM, communications director for the Order, died Dec. 19 at the age of 57 from complications of diabetes. Fr. Justus Wirth, OFM, a member of St. John the Baptist Province, died Dec. 20, 2010. Fr. Jerome Kucan, OFM, a member of the Croatian Franciscan Custody of the Holy Family, died Dec. 21. Fr. Roch Niemier, OFM, a member of the Assumption Province, died Dec. 31. Fr. Roch, a former director of the Franciscan Pilgrimage Program, received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from St. Bonaventure University in 2004.