The wake for Deacon James R. Stewart will begin with vespers at 3 p.m. Sept. 24 at St. Joseph Church, 32929 Lake Road, Avon Lake. Bishop Edward Malesic will be the presider; Father Ronald Wearsch, St. Joseph pastor, will be the homilist. The wake will continue until 7 p.m.
Bishop Martin Amos, retired bishop of Davenport, Iowa, will celebrate the funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Sept. 25 in St. Joseph Church with Father James Klein as the homilist.
Deacon Stewart, 88, died on Sept. 18.
Survivors include his wife, Adeline; a son, James; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter, Cynthia.
On May 31, 1980 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Bishop James Hickey ordained Deacon Stewart to the permanent diaconate for service to the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland.
Deacon Stewart was assigned to St. Joseph Parish, Avon Lake. In addition, he served as a pastoral minister at Lorain Community Hospital in Lorain. On May 2, 1997, he was appointed pastoral administrator pro tem of St. Ladislas Parish in Lorain. He was assigned on Aug. 15, 1997 to serve at St. James Parish in Lakewood, and on Sept. 15, 2001, he was assigned to St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Sheffield Lake. On July 4, 2010, Deacon Stewart was assigned to St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Lorain.
He retired on Nov. 1, 2011.
Those who knew Deacon Stewart said he exercised his diaconal ministry with great joy and dedication. They said his attention to the sick and suffering was appreciated and he will be missed by his family, friends and parishioners from his various assignments.
Interment will be at All Souls Cemetery in Chardon.