The Very Rev. Nicholas Andrew Fedetz, 81, pastor emeritus of Saints Peter and Paul Church here, died at the Bayonne Medical Center on January 1, 2005.
Born on April 17, 1923, the son of the late Very Rev. Andrew and Mary Fedetz of Shenandoah, PA, Father Fedetz graduated from Columbia University and Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. In June 1946 he married the former Glykeria [Geraldine] Shevchuk, the daughter of the Very Rev. Theodore and Eva Shevchuk. Later the same month, he was ordained to the diaconate by the late Archbishop Leonty of Chicago at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, New York, NY. In July of the same year, he was ordained to the holy priesthood by the late Archbishop Benjamin of Pittsburgh in the same cathedral.
After his ordination, he was assigned to Holy Trinity Church, Springfield, VT, which he served until August 1948, when he was transferred to Saint John the Baptist Church, Canonsburg, PA. In July 1961, he was assigned to Saints Peter and Paul Church, Detroit, MI. From 1971 until 1981, he served as founding pastor of Holy Resurrection Church, Southfield, MI. On June 15, 1981, he was named pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Church, Bayonne, NJ, which he served until his retirement on June 30, 2002.
In addition to his parish duties, Father Fedetz served as dean of the Michigan Deanery and held numerous other positions.
Father Fedetz was preceded in death by his wife, who reposed on July 30, 2004. He is survived by two daughters, Kyra and Tais, and several grandchildren.
Divine Liturgy and a memorial service were held at Saints Peter and Paul Church, Bayonne, NJ on Monday, January 3, with the funeral service and burial at St. Tikhon Monastery, South Canaan, PA on Tuesday, January 4.
May Father Fedetz’s memory be eternal!