Father James Barry Lonergan, 79

A funeral Mass was offered Dec. 28 at St. Mary’s Church in Glens Falls for Very Rev. James Barry Lonergan, who died Dec. 21; Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger officiated at the Mass. Father Lonergan was 79 and had served as a priest for 52 years.

A native of Ticonderoga, Father Lonergan was originally ordained a Franciscan Friar of the Atonement. He was incardinated into the Albany Diocese in 1978. He served at Corpus Christi parish in Ushers and as administrator of Sacred Heart in Berlin and its mission of St. Joseph’s in Stephentown. He was appointed pastor of St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s in Hudson Falls (Roman Catholic Community of Hudson Falls/ Kingsbury) and dean of the Washington County Deanery in 1997 and served in those roles until his retirement in 2004. In 2005, Father Lonergan was appointed minister to retired priests and sat on the Priest Retirement Board of the diocese.

A graduate of Atonement Seminary in Washington, D.C., Father Lonergan was ordained in 1966. He entered military service in 1972 and served as a U.S. Army chaplain in various command posts. He reached the rank of colonel before his retirement in 1996.

His military awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters; the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; the National Defense Service Medal, and the Army Overseas Medal.  On June 13, 2001, New York Gov. George Pataki presented Father Lonergan with the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross with nine state emblems in recognition of his military service.

Father Lonergan was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Military Chaplains Association and the U.S. Army War College Alumni Association.
The son of the late James McKee and Yvonne Virginia (Thibault) Lonergan, Father Lonergan was also predeceased by his brother, Lawrence B. Lonergan. Survivors include his sister, Bonita “Bonnie” Lea Perry and her husband, Vincent J. Perry, Sr., of Albany; his six nieces and nephews; and 14 grandnieces and nephews.

The Rite of Committal with Military Honors was held at Mount Hope Cemetery in Ticonderoga following the funeral Mass.