The wake for Father David Halaiko will begin with vespers at 3 p.m. March 11 in Nativity of the Lord Jesus Church, 2425 Myersville Road, Akron. Bishop Martin Amos, retired bishop of Davenport, Iowa, will preside and Father Dominic Gideon will be the homilist. The wake will continue until 7 p.m. in the church.
Bishop Edward Malesic will be the main celebrant at Father Halaiko’s funeral Mass at 11 a.m. March 12 in Nativity of the Lord Jesus Church with Deacon Bob Bender as the homilist.
Father Halaiko, 84, died on March 4 at the Village of St. Edward in Green.
He was born on April 3, 1941 to the late Andrew and Esther (Kline) Halaiko. Father Halaiko was educated at St. Vincent de Paul and St. Sebastian schools in Akron, Maryknoll Junior Seminary, Borromeo Seminary, Wickliffe and Saint Mary Seminary, Cleveland.
Bishop Clarence Issenmann ordained him to the priesthood for service to the Diocese of Cleveland on May 20, 1967 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Cleveland.
Father Halaiko’s first assignment after ordination was as parochial vicar of St. Ann Parish in Cleveland Heights. He was transferred on July 5, 1973 to serve St. Mark Parish in Cleveland. On June 24, 1976, Father Halaiko was appointed parochial vicar of St. Paul Parish in Akron. He was appointed parochial vicar for St. Matthew Parish in Akron and administrator of the Chapel, Nativity of the Lord Jesus in Springfield Township on July 1, 1977.
Father Halaiko served as co-chaplain for the Knights of Columbus Council 4664, effective Dec. 21, 1977.
On Sept. 13, 1979, Father Halaiko was appointed as a member of the Diocesan Building Commission.
He was named the founding pastor of Nativity of the Lord Jesus Parish in Springfield Township on June 24, 1980, where he served until his retirement on Jan. 1, 2017.
Father Halaiko also served as assistant chaplain, Knights of Columbus Charles Reymann Council 4664, effective Aug. 20, 1981.
Those who knew him said Father Halaiko will be remembered for the many pilgrimages he led to the Holy Land, for his love of his ethnic background and traditions, his years of ministry in Summit County and helping others to grow closer to the Lord through his priestly ministry.
Interment will be in Standing Rock Cemetery, St. Patrick Section, in Kent.