Visitation for Father Thomas G. Montavon, senior priest-retired, will begin at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 12 in St. Colette Church, 330 W. 130th St., Brunswick, and it will continue until the funeral Mass at 11 a.m. that day.
Bishop Martin Amos, bishop emeritus of Davenport, Iowa, will celebrate the funeral Mass. Father Timothy Gareau, pastor of St. Colette Parish, will be the homilist.
Father Montavon, 88, founding pastor of St. Colette Parish, died Jan. 4.
He was born Sept. 10, 1935 to the late Paul and Mary Elizabeth (McCormick) Montavon. Father Montavon was educated at St. Martha School and St. Mary High School, both in Akron. His priestly formation took place at St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland, Borromeo Seminary in Wickliffe and Saint Mary Seminary in Cleveland.
Bishop Floyd Begin ordained him to the priesthood for service to the Diocese of Cleveland on May 20, 1961, in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
Father Montavon’s first assignment was a parochial vicar of St. Albert the Great Parish in North Royalton. On June 6, 1966, he was assigned as parochial vicar at St. Clement Parish in Lakewood. During this assignment, he also taught religion at St. Edward High School in Lakewood, effective Aug. 30, 1968. Father Montavon was transferred on June 17, 1970, to serve at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist as parochial vicar. During this assignment, he also served as diocesan director of the Holy Name Society Union from Aug 15, 1971 until March 1, 1972. Father Montavon was assigned as parochial vicar of St. Thomas More Parish in Brooklyn on Aug. 12, 1976. He was transferred on Dec. 21, 1976, to serve as parochial vicar at St. Augustine Parish in Barberton.
Father Montavon was named founding pastor of St. Colette Parish on July 1, 1977, where he ministered until his retirement on Feb. 20, 2007. During this assignment, he served from 1983-1998 on the board of trustees for the Catholic Cemeteries Association and he was chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, Brunswick Council 4847 beginning Oct. 9, 1983. On July 13, 1988, he was assigned as chaplain of the Knights of Columbus Council 1766.
Those who knew him said Father Montavon would be remembered for his encouraging words, gentle smile, lifelong attention to fostering priestly vocations and his many stories. They said he loved the priesthood and did his best to bring people closer to Christ.
Interment will be at All Saints Cemetery in Northfield.