Cover photo for Rev. F. Wagner Ssj's Obituary
Rev. F. Wagner Ssj Profile Photo
In Memory Of
Rev. F. Wagner Ssj
1932 2024

Rev. F. Wagner Ssj

May 23, 1932 — April 26, 2024

Josephite Father Richard F. Wagner died April 26, 2024.

He is survived by his brothers, Robert Wagner & Roger Wagner; nieces & nephews, Deborah (Steve) Walker, David (Carol) Wagner, Ann (Phil) Reifsteck, Paul Wagner, & Mary Alice (Scott) Vara; many great-nieces & nephews.

Father Richard F. Wagner, SSJ, the oldest Josephite at the Josephite Senior Residence in Washington, died April 26. He was 91. Born and raised in Rochester, New York. Father Wagner was ordained a Josephite priest in 1959. He served as pastor of St. Veronica in Cherry Hill from 1968 to 1973, where he was involved in getting a Head Start program launched. Throughout his more than 60 years as a Josephite, he ministered in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Maryland and Florida.

In a 2023 interview with The Josephite Harvest, Father Wagner said he became a Josephite because the Baltimore-based religious society's apostolate was the Black community. "I wanted to serve the Black community because of what I had seen, what I grew up with in the age of segregation," he said. "Things were not as they should be. The church was not committing itself as they should be. Now there is more of a need for the Josephites in the Black community than ever before."

His Funeral Mass was held May 3 at the Church of the Incarnation, 880 Eastern Ave. NE, Washington, D.C.

His Graveside Service will be held 11:00 AM Friday, May 10, 2024 at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (East Side), 2461 Lake Ave.

To share a memory of Richard or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rev. F. Wagner Ssj, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Interment

His Graveside Service will held 11AM, Friday May 10, 2024

2461 Lake Avenue, Rochester, NY 14612

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Visits: 12

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree