Deacon Martin Patrick Mccarthy

Deacon Martin Patrick McCarthy, 71 of Mount Carmel Township passed away on Thursday morning, February 14, 2019 at his home.

Born in Ashland on March 3, 1947 he was the son of the late Martin Vincent and Eleanor (Devine) McCarthy.

Martin began his higher education as a seminarian in his sophomore year of high school. He graduated from St. Mark’s Seminary in Erie in 1965. Following he received his BS in political science from Temple University, Philadelphia in 1969. After graduation Martin was employed by the Philadelphia Police Department for six years under Frank Rizzo. He went on to be a special investigator in the Pennsylvania Inspector General’s Office in Harrisburg. At this time, Martin received a master’s degree in public administration from Shippensburg University.

In his early 40s, he pursued his true dream of becoming a history teacher in a catholic school. He joined the faculty of Our Lady of Lourdes as a history teacher and dean of students in 1992, a position he held until 1999. During this time, he pursed and his Masters of Education degree at Bloomsburg University and went on to acquire his principal certification at Bucknell University in 1998. Martin then became the principal at St. Monica’s Elementary School in Sunbury in 1999. He returned to Our Lady of Lourdes in 2009 and served as principal and administrator until his retirement in November 2017.

On September 27, 1975 in the former St. Joseph’s Church in Locust Gap with Fr. Patrick Devine officiating, he married the former Maryrose Breslin who survives.

Martin was accepted into the Permanent Diaconate program for the Diocese of Harrisburg and was ordained a deacon in May 2010. Upon ordination, Deacon McCarthy was assigned to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish where he currently served.

Deacon McCarthy was very active in all aspects of the church’s ministries. He was instrumental in the success of the annual summer festival. He was the president of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and was proud and honored to be a 4th Degree Knight having been a member of the Bishop Lawrence Schott, Knights of Columbus Council 628, Mt. Carmel.

Martin was an avid reader of all history books especially the American Civil War. He excelled in sports as a youth and used those talents as a coach later in life. Martin will always be remembered as the most loyal Philadelphia sports fan, having rooted for the Eagles, Phillies and Flyers. He had a hidden talent as the “Meteorologist at Lourdes” predicting daily weather and subsequent school delays and closings.

Surviving in addition to his wife of over 43 years, Maryrose B. McCarthy are one daughter, Molly McCarthy and her husband Joseph Lutz; two grandchildren, Brigid Breslin Lutz and Brogan Martin Lutz; one sister, Mary Elaine McCarthy; two brothers-in-law, Joseph Yermalovich and Joseph Breslin and his wife Joan; one sister-in-law, Margaret Stief; one nephew, Kyle Yermalovich; two nieces, Jill Herbert and Lauren Williams; his loving dog “Tootsie” and the cat, “Paddy”.

Preceding him in death in addition to his parents, were his sister, Ann Colleen Yermalovich and his brother-in-law, Michael J. Breslin.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be concelebrated on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 11:00 am in Our Lady of Mt. Church, Mt. Carmel. The Most Rev. Ronald W. Gainer, Bishop of Harrisburg will be the main celebrant with Rev. Francis J. Karwacki, Pastor and Rev. Andrew J. Stahmer as concelebrants. Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery, Ralpho Township. A viewing will be held on Friday from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School, 2001 Clinton Ave., Coal Township and on Saturday morning from 9:00 am until 10:45 am at the Joseph J. Stutz, Inc. Funeral Home, 40 S. Market St., Mount Carmel. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School, 2001 Clinton Ave., Coal Township, PA 17866 or Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 47 S. Market St., Mount Carmel, PA 17851. Arrangements have been entrusted to Joseph J. Stutz, Inc. Funeral Home, Mt. Carmel, Joseph J. Stutz, III Supervisor.