In remembrance – Father John R. Olsavsky

The wake for Father John R. Olsavsky will begin with vespers at 3 p.m. Sept. 14 in St. Joan of Arc Church, 496 E. Washington St., Chagrin Falls. Father Donald Oleksiak will preside and Father Larry Jurcak will be the homilist. Visitation will continue until 8 p.m.

Bishop Martin Amos, bishop emeritus of Davenport, Iowa, will be the main celebrant at the funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Sept. 15 in St. Joan of Arc Church. Father Robert Sanson will be the homilist.

Father John Olsavsky, 90, died on Sept. 6.

He was born on Jan. 11, 1936 to the late John and Thecla (Repka) Olsavsky. Father Olsavsky was  educated at St. Ladislaus School and Cathedral Latin High School, Cleveland, St. Gregory Seminary, Cincinnati, Borromeo Seminary, Wickliffe and Saint Mary Seminary, Cleveland.

On May 19, 1962 in the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, Bishop John Whealon ordained him to the priesthood for the service of the Diocese of Cleveland.

Father Olsavsky’s first assignment was as parochial vicar of SS. Cyril & Methodius Parish, Barberton. On 1 July 1969, he was appointed secretary-notary of the Diocesan Tribunal. He also served as assistant chaplain at St. John Hospital, Cleveland.

Father Olsavsky began graduate studies at St. John Lateran University in Rome, Italy on June 10, 1971. On Aug. 9, 1973, he was appointed defender of the bond in the Diocesan Tribunal with residence at St. Boniface Parish, Cleveland. He was appointed vice-officialis of the Diocesan Tribunal on Nov. 2, 1976. This appointment was renewed on  July 29, 1980.

Father Olsavsky was named pastor of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Cleveland on Jan. 24, 1979.

On April 7, 1983 he was appointed officialis of the Diocesan Tribunal.

Father Olsavsky was named pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish and he also began a five-year term as adjutant judicial vicar on Sept. 1, 1988. On Jan. 1, 1993 he was appointed presiding judge – Appeal Court.

Father Olsavsky served as presbyteral convener of the Suburban Southeast District from June 1, 1995 until May 31, 1998. He was a member of the College of Consultors from Sept. 25, 1995 until June 30, 2000 and again effective Oct. 1, 2005. Father Olsavsky served as a pastor consultor in 1997 and Sept. 1, 2003 until 2008. He was appointed an at-large member of the Presbyteral Council on June 1, 2005.

Father Olsavsky retired on Feb. 1, 2006, and he was named pastor emeritus of St. Joan of Arc Parish.

During his retirement, Father Olsavsky represented the retired priests on Presbyteral Council from 2012 to 2015 and 2019 to 2022.

Father Olsavsky was proud of his Slovak heritage and said he was grateful for the gift of his priesthood. Those who knew him said he will be remembered as kind, honest, direct and focused on doing what was best for the people of God.

A private burial will take place at a later date at Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland.