Bishop Nelson Perez will celebrate the funeral Mass for Father John M. Tezie, senior priest-retired, at 11 a.m. March 16 at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 333 S. Lake St., South Amherst. Homilist will be Father Charlie Diedrick.
The wake will begin with vespers at 3 p.m. March 15 in Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church. Auxiliary Bishop emeritus Roger Gries will preside and will be the homilist. The wake will continue until 7 p.m.
Father Tezie, 85, died on March 12.
He was born Nov. 17, 1933 to the late Michael J. and Ann Marie (Rosipal) Tezie. Father Tezie was educated at St. Christopher School in Rocky River; Rocky River High School; St. Meinrad Minor Seminary, Indiana; Borromeo Seminary, Wickliffe; and St. Mary Seminary, Cleveland. He was ordained to the priesthood for service to the Diocese of Cleveland on May 23, 1959 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist by Bishop Floyd L. Begin.
Father Tezie’s first assignment was as parochial vicar of Holy Cross Parish, Euclid. He was transferred on June 11, 1964, to St. Wendelin Parish, Cleveland, to serve as parochial vicar. During this assignment he also served also as a religion teacher for St. Edward High School in Lakewood, effective Sept. 1, 1968. Father Tezie was assigned as parochial vicar of Annunciation Parish in Cleveland on Sept. 30, 1969, and on Sept. 9, 1970, he was assigned as parochial vicar of St. Peter Parish, Lorain. He was assigned as parochial vicar of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Cleveland on March 6, 1973, and on Oct. 15, 1976, Father Tezie was appointed chaplain at St. John Medical Center. He was appointed administrator of St. John the Baptist Parish in Akron on Sept. 12, 1977, and on March 3, 1978, he was named pastor of St. John the Baptist, Akron.
Father Tezie was assigned as parochial vicar of St. Helen Parish in Newbury on June 1985, and on Dec. 1, 1986, he was assigned co-chaplain for Huron Road Hospital, East Cleveland, University Hospitals, Cleveland and Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, while in residence at Christ the King Parish in East Cleveland. Then on March 17, 1987, he was assigned co-chaplain at Southwest General Hospital in Middleburg Heights, and Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Cleveland, with residence at St. Joseph Parish in Strongsville. He was appointed chaplain at Southwest General Hospital, Middleburg Heights, on July 22, 1987, with residence at St. Mary Parish, Berea.
On Dec. 3, 1990, Father Tezie was named pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Hinckley, and on June 10, 1996, he was named pastor of Assumption Parish in Grafton. He was assigned as co-chaplain at University Hospitals, Cleveland, on Sept. 10, 1998, and as senior parochial vicar in residence at St. John Nepomucene Parish, Cleveland. On Oct. 2, 2000, Father Tezie was appointed chaplain at St. Michael Hospital, Cleveland. He was assigned to serve at St. Mary Parish in Berea as senior parochial vicar on Oct. 29, 2001, and on Aug. 16, 2002, he was appointed administrator pro tem of St. Mary’s, Berea.
Father Tezie retired on Nov. 17, 2003.
He is remembered as a dedicated and faithful priest who worked quietly attending to the needs of those entrusted to his care. His devotion to the sick and suffering as well as the elderly was inspiring and his gentle smile and friendly greeting will be missed.
Interment will be at St. Joseph Cemetery in Amherst.