Deacon Chesnavage, World War II veteran who comforted the sick, dies at 100

Deacon Albert Chesnavage, a World War II veteran who became one of the first members of the revived permanent diaconate in the 1970s, died March 19 at his home in Dundalk. He was 100.

Affectionately known as Deacon Al, Chesnavage dedicated his nearly 40-year ministry to comforting the sick and the elderly, traveling across the Baltimore area to visit family homes, hospitals and long-term care facilities. 

He was assigned to Sacred Heart of Mary in Graceland Park from the time of his 1974 ordination until his official retirement in 1996, but continued ministering at the parish for many years beyond that. He also assisted at neighboring parishes.

Deacon Chesnavage’s daughter, Eleanor Farzetta, said his deep sense of empathy for the sick and struggling stemmed from his early years, when he lived in the poor mining town of Shenandoah, Pa., and, later, dealing with the traumas of the war.

“He was extremely conscious — especially being in the war — that many people did not have a loved one in the hospital at the time of death,” Farzetta said. “I think that became an issue for him, to bring comfort to those people because he knew how many times people were without it.”

His eldest daughter, Sister Mildred Chesnavage of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, called her father a spiritual man who was “dedicated to humanity.”

“His outreach was amazing,” she said. “He would just do so many different things for people. And my mom would say to him sometimes, ‘You should ask the pastor for a stipend’ because of all of the gas that he used to go all over the place.”

For more than 20 years, Deacon Chesnavage also worked as an usher at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, forging friendships with players and coaches, including Cal Ripken Sr.

“The baseball players, knowing my dad would visit the children’s hospitals, would give him things from the Orioles to bring there,” Sister Mildred said. “So he was kind of an ambassador in that regard.”

At 16, Deacon Chesnavage left his hometown after graduating high school to help support his family. At the outbreak of World War II, he volunteered for service. He was turned down by the Marines because he had an overbite, but Deacon Chesnavage tried again with the Coast Guard and was accepted.

Deacon Chesnavage was initially assigned to the U.S.S. Nemesis in Florida, and later served in the Pacific aboard the U.S.S. Cavalier.

Even then, Deacon Chesnavage was known for his faith, Sister Mildred said. During a Japanese attack, he led his fellow sailors in prayer. Although a torpedo made a direct hit on the Cavalier causing major damage, no one was hurt in the attack.

During an interview with the Dundalk Eagle in 2016, Deacon Chesnavage proudly showed the reporter an old newspaper clipping headlined, “War taught deacon his ministry.”

In 1943, he married Mary Sikorski, a devout Catholic from Our Lady of Good Counsel in Locust Point who had considered becoming a nun. They met when they both attended night school at Southern High School in Baltimore. Mary Chesnavage died in 2018, just three months short of the couple’s 75th wedding anniversary.

Despite Mary Chesnavage’s doctor telling her that she would never have children, the Chesnavages would bring six daughters and six sons into the world. In a 2009 interview with the Catholic Review, she attributed the “miracle” of her children to God.

Deacon Chesnavage served in the Coast Guard for 20 years and later worked for another 20 years for the U.S. Postal Service. The family often gathered around the radio to pray the rosary, said Sister Mildred, principal of Our Lady of Calvary Elementary School in Philadelphia.

Several of the Chesnavage children contemplated religious life. Ultimately, Sister Mildred, then Mariana Chesnavage, became a Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

After his retirement, Deacon Chesnavage had no thoughts of slowing down. He was ordained a deacon in 1974 and worked part-time at the ballpark. During his ministry, he not only helped the sick and suffering but also counseled their families and helped them through their grief.

“He wanted to be there,” said Farzetta, a parishioner of Our Mount Carmel in Doylestown, Pa. “He wanted to be that compassionate ear to listen and offer whatever he could.”

In February, Deacon Chesnavage celebrated his 100th birthday, a milestone his family is grateful he was able to achieve.

For the occasion, his face appeared on jars of Smuckers Peanut Butter and parishioners at Sacred Heart of Mary organized a car parade outside his home. Deacon Chesnavage, who had never seen a car parade before, watched with amusement from a camp chair inside a tent festooned with balloons.

“He was on his throne, waving at people as they went by,” Sister Mildred said. “He was so deserving of that.”

A viewing will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 24 at the Duda-Ruck Funeral Home in Dundalk. A funeral Mass will be offered at 11 a.m. March 25 at Sacred Heart of Mary. Face masks and social distancing are required.

He is survived by his 12 children: Sister Mildred, Eleanor, Juliana, George, Teresa, Jane, Paul, Albin, Leonard, Charles, Thomas and Clare; 20 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 6736 Youngstown Ave, Baltimore, MD 21222.

Email Tim Swift at tswift@CatholicReview.org

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