Archpriest Joseph MacLellan, 74, who in retirement was attached to Saint George Church here, fell asleep in the Lord July 28, 2010.
Father Joseph was born on July 17, 1936 in Falconbridge, Ontario. He first ventured west as a young man, attending flight training school with the Royal Canadian Air Force in Moosejaw and Portage la Prairie. It is while stationed in Portage la Prairie that he met his future wife, Martha, a school teacher. Although the RCAF did not become his career path, flying was his hobby for many years.
Prior to his conversion to Orthodox Christianity and ordination—Father Joseph was raised in the Roman Catholic tradition—he was employed for 34 years by the Greater Winnipeg Gas Co. In addition to pursuing the Orthodox Church in America’s Late Vocations program, he received a Diploma in Pastoral Training and a Licentiate in Theology, cum laude, from Saint Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox College at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, in 1979 and 1980 respectively. In 1984, he was ordained to the priesthood in the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America. For five years he served as pastor of Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, after which he served numerous rural Romanian Episcopate parishes across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. He was committed to his parishioners and spoke of them with great love and respect. Due to failing health, he retired from active ministry in 2003.
In addition to his wife of 52 years, Preoteasa Martha, Father Joseph is survived by his children Tamara (Paul), Timothy (Colleen), Mary (David), Angela (Lorne), Andrew, Naomi, Natalie (Norman) and 15 grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother James (Christene) and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Father Donald, sister Anne, and brother-in-law Bruno Bedard.
Father Joseph will lie in state at Saint George Church, Winnipeg, on Monday, August 2. A Memorial will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m. His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate will preside at funeral services on Tuesday, August 3, at 9:30 a.m.
May Father Joseph’s memory be eternal!