A Mass of Christian Burial for Father Felice J. DeLaura, a retired parochial vicar at St. Thomas Apostle Church, Woodhaven, was celebrated there on Friday, Feb. 5. He died Feb. 1. He was 78.
Born in Astoria and baptized in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, he attended Immaculate Conception School, Astoria; Brooklyn Prep; Cathedral Prep and College, Brooklyn, and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington.
He was ordained June 1, 1963 by Bishop Bryan J. McEntegart at St. James Pro-Cathedral, Downtown Brooklyn.
He served as an assistant at St. Fortunata, East New York, 1963-67; St. Joseph of the Universal Church, Bushwick, 1967-71; Holy Family, Flatlands, 1971-79; St. Benedict Joseph Labre, Richmond Hill, 1979-80; St. Luke, Whitestone, 1980-96; and St. Thomas Apostle, Woodhaven, 1996-2008.
He retired in 2008 and lived in a private residence in Hollis since then.
Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto, vicar general, will be the main celebrant of the funeral Mass. Among the special concelebrants will be Msgr. D. Joseph Finnerty, pastor emeritus of St. Kevin’s parish, Flushing.
“He was very patient and very humble,” said Father Frank Tumino, who served as pastor at St. Thomas Apostle during the time Father DeLaura was living there in retirement.
“He was very generous with his time and he was always willing to assist the people of the parish. That he could continue to minister was very important to him. Whenever I needed help with Mass and confessions, he made himself available.”
Referring to the fact that Father DeLaura is survived by his sister, Sister Joanne DeLaura, C.S.J., of Baldwin, L.I., Father Tumino said, “His mother and father had two children. What a wonderful home they must have had. They raised two children who served the Church.”
Burial was in Calvary Cemetery, Woodside.
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