A Mass of Christian Burial for Father Romano A. Zanon, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, was to be celebrated at St. Andrew Avellino Church, Flushing, Oct. 12.
He died Oct. 5, at North Shore University Hospital-Northwell Health, Manhasset, L.I. He would have been 91 next month.
Auxiliary Bishop Raymond F. Chappetto was to be the main celebrant of the funeral Mass.
Born in Trento, Italy, he attended Haaren Aviation H.S., Manhattan; New York University’s Washington Square College of Arts and Sciences, Manhattan; Jordan Seminary in Menominee. Mich.; and Mount St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md. He did graduate work at Iona and Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J.
He was ordained to the priesthood on May 28, 1966.
He served as an assistant at St. Rita’s, East New York, 1966-77, and St. Gabriel, East Elmhurst, 1977-82.
He was named administrator of St. Benedict the Moor parish, Jamaica, in 1982. He became pastor there in February, 1985 and served there until 1994.
In 1983, he was appointed chaplain of Mount St. Mary’s Cemetery, Flushing, with residence at Sacred Heart, East Glendale.
He retired in 2012 and remained in residence at Sacred Heart parish. Two years later, he moved to the Bishop Mugavero Residence for Senior Priests in Douglaston.
Before entering the priesthood, he worked as a professional photographer and production manager. A U.S. Army veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, he was awarded a citation for meritorious service with the Eighth Army in Korea and also earned the Korean Service Ribbon with Silver Star.
Msgr. Michael J. Reid, chief operating officer of Catholic Cemeteries for the Diocese of Brooklyn, knew Msgr. Zanon for many years.
“Father Zanon loved his life and job,” said Msgr. Reid. “He found his work very fulfilling and rewarding. He developed great love for the church ritual of the burial. He was a great source of comfort and care for families during the time of their greatest need. So many people were able to find peace because of the love and care he was able to provide for them.
“He was outgoing and outspoken but always reliable and was always there. He truly loved being a priest and was great at what he did,” he said.
Burial was scheduled for Mount St. Mary Cemetery.
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