Rev. Joseph P. D'Agostino, 100

A funeral Mass was offered Aug. 4 at Holy Trinity Church, Poughkeepsie, for Rev. Joseph D'Agostino, who died Aug. 1. He was 100 and was the oldest priest in the Albany Diocese, having spent 74 years in the priesthood.

A native of Schenectady, he served as associate pastor (and later administrator and pastor) at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Gloversville; chaplain for Coxsackie Correctional Facility; moderator for the Diocese's deaf ministry; and pastor of St. Patrick's parish in Athens and Resurrection in Germantown. He also spent time with the continuing education program at Notre Dame University in Indiana before retiring in 1988. He then moved to Poughkeepsie. From 1989-2010, he ministered as an associate at Holy Trinity parish in Arlington.

"I enjoyed all my years as a priest," he told The Evangelist in 2013. "I would recommend this vocation. It's a great life and has so many opportunities to serve and help others."

Promoting the priesthood is apt for a beloved priest who spent so very much time in ministry. May he be welcomed by God into the rewards of heaven.

Interment was in St. Peter's Cemetery, Poughkeepsie.[[In-content Ad]]