Father Philip J. BranonFairfield - Father Philip J. Branon, age 84, died Friday morning, October 22, 2010 in the St. Albans Health & Rehab Center. Father was born in Fairfield October 10, 1926 son of the late E. Frank and Mary (Barry) Branon. Growing up in Fairfield on the family farm, he knew hard work and was always a farmer and sugarmaker at heart. Even as a parish priest he would tap some trees and make his coffee with sap. He attended the Gould School in Fairfield, St. Mary’s High School in St. Albans, St. Michael’s College, St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield, Ct. and St. John Seminary in Brighton, Mass. He was ordained by Bishop Edward F. Ryan at the Cathedral April 11, 1951 and was assigned to St. Paul’s Church in Barton from 1951 to 1953, the Cathedral in Burlington as assistant Principal of Cathedral High School from 1953 to 1955, Vermont Catholic Charities Office from 1955 to 1957, back to the Cathedral and U.V.M. Chaplain until 1960 and the U.V.M. Catholic Center until 1971, during which time he was instrumental in constructing the Catholic Center Facility. In 1971 he became the pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in South Hero, St. Joseph Mission in Grand Isle and St. Benedict Mission in North Hero until his transfer in 2005 (following 34 years as their pastor) to become associate pastor at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, in Newport. Illness forced him to extended care facilities in 2009. He was the Newman Chaplain at U.V.M. and Diocesan Director of the Newman Apostolate from 1957 to 1971. He was president of the National Newman Chaplain’s Association from 1966 until 1968. Father was a member of the Diocesan Board of Education from 1970 to 1972. Father also served on the Burlington Community Council, Vermont Conference of Social Welfare, the Grange and Burlington Civil Defense.
Those parishoners of the Island Churches knew of his firm ways and jokingly referred to themselves as Branonites.
He is survived by his brother Paul T. and his wife Mary Branon of Acton, Ma., and Derby, sisters-in-law Mary Branon of Plattsburg, N.Y., Barbara Branon of Fairfield and Mary Teresa Branon of So. Burlington, dear friends Roger and Emelda Simard of Grand Isle, several nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his parents he was predeceased by his brothers W. Barry Branon, E. Francis Branon, Robert J. Branon, Charles R. Branon, Ralph P. Branon, John R. Branon, and sisters Charlene Cosgrove and Rosemary E. Branon.
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 27th, at 11:00 A. M. in St. Patrick’s Church. The celebrant will be Most Reverend Bishop Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of the Diocese of Burlington. The homilist will be Father Karl Hahr, Pastor of All Saints Parish, Richford. A time of visitation will be held from 3 to 6 P.M. Tuesday, at the Brady & Levesque Funeral Home, 86 So. Main St. St. Albans and at church prior to the Mass Wednesday morning from 9 A.M. until the Mass. Interment will be in the Branon family lot in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. Memorials may be made in Masses or to the Priest Benefit Fund, Post Office Box 489, Burlington, Vermont 05402. Online condolences may be sent by the funeral home website:
www.bnlfh.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Brady & Levesque Funeral Home and Commemorative Services.
