The Reverend J. Daniel Dymski, 76, died Monday, March 15, 2010 in Naples, Fla.
Born April 28, 1933 in Erie, he was the son of the late John S. and Helen T. Dymski. Fr. Dymski attended St. Casimir Elementary School from 1940 to 1948 and graduated from Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie in 1952. From 1952 to 1954 he pursued seminary studies at St. Mark Seminary and Gannon College in Erie. He then continued his seminary studies at Our Lady of the Angels Seminary and Niagara University in Buffalo, N.Y., completing his studies in 1960. He was ordained as a priest on May 26, 1960 at St. Peter Cathedral in Erie by Bishop Edward McManaman, Auxiliary Bishop of Erie. His home parish was St. Casimir parish, Erie.
Following ordination to the priesthood, Fr. Dymski was assigned as assistant to Blessed Sacrament parish in Erie from 1960 to 1962, briefly to Immaculate Conception parish in Brookville in 1962, then again to Blessed Sacrament parish from 1962 to 1965. He was then assigned as assistant to Notre Dame parish in Hermitage from 1965 to 1966 where he also taught part-time at Kennedy Christian High School. Following this, he was appointed as assistant to St. Leo Magnus parish in Ridgway from 1966 to 1970, where he also taught part-time at Elk County Christian High School and served as hospital chaplain. He then served as pastor of St. Michael parish in DuBois from 1970 to 1982 where he also taught part-time at DuBois Central Christian High School. He was appointed pastor of Holy Cross parish in Fairview from 1982 to 1994. He was then assigned as senior associate to Blessed Sacrament parish in Erie from 1994 to 1996, briefly serving also as parish administrator of St. Elizabeth parish in Corry in 1996. He was appointed as Diocesan Coordinator of Pastoral Services for Nursing Homes in 1996. He was twice assigned as weekend assistant to Our Lady Queen of the Americas in Conneaut Lake in 1996 and 1999. He served briefly in the Diocese of Venice, Fla. from 1996 to 1998, after which time he was appointed as senior associate at St. Joseph parish in Warren from 1988 to 1999. He was then assigned to reside at Sacred Heart parish in Erie and to serve as chaplain to the State Correctional Facility in Cambridge Springs from 1999 to 2005 as well as chaplain to the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home in Erie from 1999 to 2002 and Pleasant Ridge Manor West in Girard from 2002 to 2005. In 2005 Fr. Dymski retired from active ministry due to declining health. During his years of priestly service, Fr. Dymski was involved with several building projects. He was an instrumental figure in the construction of St. Michael Terrace in DuBois and oversaw the building of a new parish church at Holy Cross parish, Fairview. He was active in the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, helped to set up the local senior citizen center, and was instrumental in bringing public transportation to the DuBois area. He was also the author of several books, including A Caregiver’s Companion – Ministry to Older Adults; Aging Gracefully – The Keys to Happier, Holier, Golden Years; and most recently, The Stations of Joy, selling over 20,000 copies.
Besides his parents, Fr. Dymski was preceded in death by his sister, Celestine Dymski.
He is survived by a brother, David Dymski and his wife Ann of Girard; a sister, Mary Ellen Brown and her husband Ed of Erie; cousins Fr. Gerald Ceranowski and Fr. Albert Ceranowski of Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at Holy Cross Church, 7100 W. Ridge Road, Erie, on Sunday from 2 until 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. and again on Monday from 10 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at which Bishop Donald Trautman will preside. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.