The Reverend Mr. Clemens J. Urbanski

Permanent Deacon, St. Anthony of Padua, Fairport Harbor

died, October 7, 1999 at his home after having received the prayerful support and consolation of the Sacraments. Reverend Mr. Urbaniski had been ill with cancer.

Deacon Urbanski was born on January 30, 1924 in Glassport, Pennsylvania, to Clarence and Helen (Dworek) Urbanski. He graduated from Glassport High School in 1942. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from Waynesburg College in 1946 and a Masters of Science Degree in Chemistry from John Carroll University in 1955. Clemens was employed for Uniroyal Chemical Company for thirty eight years until his retirement in 1986.

Clemens married Janet Olsen on February 15, 1947. Their marriage brought them eight children: David, Robert, Janet (French), Joyce (Imes), Chris, Sally (Hribar), Thomas and Vincent in addition to seventeen grandchildren. He was pre-deceased by his parents and two grandchildren.

Rev. Mr. Urbanski was ordained to the Diaconate on June 5, 1982 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Cleveland, Ohio, by the Most Reverend Anthony M. Pilla. Following his ordination, he was assigned as pastoral minister to St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Fairport Harbor where he continued to minister as deacon until his death.

Clemens participated in numerous ministries throughout his years as a deacon including the St. Anthony Parish Food Pantry, which serves the Fairport Harbor community, the Fairport Breakfast Bunch, which serves breakfast to elementary school children, and the Catholic Hunger and Emergency Shelter Fund. In addition to his service to the hungry and needy, Deacon Urbanski ministered to the inmates at the Lake County Jail. He also served on the Fairport Harbor School Board for thirteen years and was a member of the Fairport Library Board of Trustees. He was also named Fairport Harbor Citizen of the Year by the Men's Civic Club twice and was an inductee of the Lake County Citizens Group Hall of Fame. Deacon Urbanski was active in the Fairport Ministerial Association, a member and Assistant Chaplain of the Lake-Geauga Serra Club, and a former member and president of the Catholic Service Bureau. His greatest satisfaction was serving the hungry, needy, and homebound of his community.