Father Stanislaus W. Kobel (1946-2016)
Father Stanislaus W. Kobel, 70, died Nov. 12, 2016, at the St. Lawrence Friary Infirmary in Beacon.
Fr. Stan was born in Philadelphia on Oct. 16, 1946 the son of Stanislaus W. and Margaret (Bonner) Kobel. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Prep High School in Philadelphia in 1964 and from St. Joseph’s University in 1968. He was a businessman in the fields of accounting, management, marketing and economics.
He entered the Postulancy Program of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars Province of the Sacred Stigmata of St. Francis on Aug. 27, 1989 at St. Lawrence Friary. He made his first Profession of Vows on Aug. 3, 1991, and was ordained a priest Sept. 7, 1996, at Immaculate Conception Church in the Bronx by Bishop William Curlin.
Fr. Stan served in ministry in various dioceses, including at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Passaic, New Jersey, and also as a hospital chaplain at St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic. He also served for many years as Parochial Vicar at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina.
He is survived by his brother, John Kobel; sisters Kathleen Gartland and Peggy Keasler; five nephews and a niece.
Calling hours will be held Nov. 16 from 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. with a vigil service at 8:30 p.m. at St. Lawrence Friary, 180 Sargent Avenue, Beacon. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. at St. Lawrence Friary, with burial in the friary cemetery.
Josephine C. Novotny (1938-2016)
Josephine “Jo” C. Novotny, 78, a lifelong Beacon resident, died at home on Nov. 12, 2016, with her family at her side.
Born in Beacon on March 18, 1938, she was the daughter of William and Mary (McKenna) Holland. In 1959 she married Gerald G. Novotny, who diedin 1993.
Jo retired after 30 years working in the Beacon City School District. She was a parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Church, a member of the Tioronda Garden Club and, in her younger years, the Beacon Junior Social League. Most important of all Jo loved spending time with her family and friends.
She is survived by her children, Judy Novotny (Donald Rich) of Chelsea, William Novotny of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Janet Ganzer (Troy) of Washingtonville and Michael Novotny (Molly) of Falls Church, Virginia. She also is survived by her grandchildren Kyle Novotny, Nicholas Ganzer, Megan Ganzer, Maddie Novotny and Annie Novotny, and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Nov. 16 at St. John the Evangelist Church, followed by burial at St. Joachim Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).
