Reverend John L. Fabian, Pastor Emeritus of Saint Stephen's Church, Plymouth, and a resident at Villa St. Joseph, Dunmore, died on May 10, 2005, at Mercy Hospital, Scranton, after a brief illness.
Father Fabian, son of the late John A. and Anna M. (Polasko) Fabian, was born in Mocanaqua on July 30, 1922. He was a graduate of Shickshinny High School and the University of Scranton, receiving his degree in 1942. His studies for the priesthood were completed at Saint Peter's Seminary in London, Ontario, Canada. Father Fabian was ordained to the priesthood on May 22, 1948 in Scranton, by the Most Reverend William J. Hafey, D.D., late Bishop of Scranton.
Following ordination, Father Fabian served as assistant pastor at Saint Elizabeth's, Bear Creek; St. John Nepomucene, Luzerne; Saint John Nepomucene, Freeland; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Wilkes-Barre; Holy Rosary, Ashley; and Holy Trinity, Hazleton. Father Fabian was appointed to his first pastorate on September 26, 1967 at Ascension Parish in Mocanaqua, his home parish, where he served until March 31, 1971, when he was appointed pastor of St. John the Baptist, Taylor. Father Fabian was appointed pastor of Holy Rosary in Ashley on September 7, 1976, where he remained for eight years until his appointment as pastor of Holy Trinity in Simpson, September 6, 1984. Father Fabian was appointed pastor of Saint Stephen's in Plymouth on May 22, 1987, where he served until his retirement on July 1, 1997. Father Fabian also served as dean in the Plymouth area from January 2, 1992 until July 1, 1997. After his retirement, Father Fabian celebrated weekend liturgies at Saint John the Baptist Church in Larksville.
In addition to his parochial duties, Father Fabian remained active in several Slovak fraternal societies, including the Pennsylvania Slovak Union, the Pennsylvania Slovak Catholic Union, for which he served as national chaplain, and the First Slovak Catholic Union. He was also a member in the Knights of Columbus.
Father Fabian served on the executive board of the Slovak Catholic Federation, the board of review at Fairview State Hospital, and the advisory board of the American Slovak Society of Lackawanna County. He was a former moderator of the Slovak Women's Club of Luzerne County and president of the Plymouth Ministerium, and his honors include membership in Who's Who in American Religion.
This past April, Father Fabian received distinguished recognition by the Slovak Catholic Federation at their 56th National Convention in Hazleton. Father Fabian was recognized for his years of service to the Catholic Slovak Community.
Father Fabian is survived by a brother, Joseph M., Virginia Beach, VA; two sisters, Mrs. Margaret Aciukewicz and Mrs. Elizabeth Wojcik, both of Mocanaqua; several nieces and nephews; great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews.
A viewing will take place at Saint John the Baptist Church, 126 Nesbitt Street, Larksville, on Friday, May 13, 2005, from 2 to 7 p.m. A Mass of Transferal will be celebrated at Saint John the Baptist Church, Larksville, at 7 p.m., with the Very Reverend Donald Williams, V.F., presiding.
A Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Most Reverend John M. Dougherty, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton, on Saturday, May 14, 2005, at 11 a.m. in Saint John the Baptist Church, Larksville. A viewing will also take place Saturday morning prior to the 11 a.m. funeral Mass. Interment will be in Saint Stephen's Cemetery, Lehman