November 6, 2024

A Mass of Christian Burial for Father Clyde A. Lewis will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on November 4, 2024, at St. Augustine’s Church in Peru. Bishop Terry R. LaValley will serve as the celebrant and Father Joseph A. Morgan, VG, will offer the homily.

Msgr. Dennis J. Duprey, VF, will preside over the Reception of the Body at 1:30 p.m. on November 3 at St. Patrick’s Church in Rouses Point. Calling hours will follow until 3 p.m.

On November 4, calling hours will be held at St. Augustine’s Church, Peru, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Burial will follow Mass at St. Augustine’s Cemetery with a reception afterward at the parish center.

Father Lewis died Oct. 31, 2024, at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. He was 85.

Born April 29, 1939, in Boston, Massachusetts, he was the son of Clyde and Helen (Judge) Lewis. He grew up in Plattsburgh, attending St. John’s Academy, which ignited his interest in the priesthood. He studied at Wadhams Hall in Ogdensburg, Christ the King Seminary in Olean, New York, and at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He was ordained Dec. 16, 1964, at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome by Bishop Francis F. Reh.

Father Lewis’ first assignment was as assistant pastor in Saranac Lake.  He was also an assistant pastor in Gouverneur and at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg.

From 1966 to 1970, he served the diocese as assistant director in the youth office. He spent 10 years as associate director and director of the religious education office until 1979. He also served as president of the New York State Council of Diocesan Directors of Religious Education and as a member of the board of directors of the National Conference of Diocesan Directors.

He became pastor of St. Augustine’s in Peru and St. Patrick’s in West Peru in 1979 and then Holy Family in Watertown from 1993 to 2002. In 2002, he became pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Rouses Point, an assignment that later grew to include St. Joseph’s Church in Coopersville and St. Mary’s Church in Champlain until his recent retirement.

In addition, Father Lewis served the diocese as a pro-Synodal Judge of the Marriage Tribunal, as a member of the Priests’ Personnel Board and the Committee for Continuing Education of priests and as chair of the Art and Architecture Committee of the diocesan Department of Worship.

Survivors include his brother, John, and his wife, Judy; and their children, Anne Marie and David; a niece, nephew and cousins.

Father Lewis was predeceased by his parents.

An avid sports fan, Father Lewis loved baseball, basketball, football and skiing and cheered on the Boston Red Sox and Notre Dame, where his father had played football. He also collected stamps and coins.

Memorial donations may be made to the Catholic parish of your choice.

Arrangements are in the care of the Hamilton Funeral Home.

A story about Father Lewis will be in next week’s edition.