Obituary of Thomas M. Nicastro

Fr. Thomas M. Nicastro, O.F.M. Catskill - Fr. Thomas M. Nicastro,, O.F.M. of St Anthony Friary, Catskill, NY formerly of Mt. Alvernia, Wappingers Falls, NY entered into rest Tuesday July 13, 2010 at Columbia Memorial Hospital, Hudson, NY. He was 93. Son of the late Richard and Gennie Lauricella Nicastro, Armand was born in Brooklyn, NY on August 18, 1916. He received the habit of St. Francis on August 24, 1935, was given the name Thomas More and made his first profession of vows on August 25, 1936. Fr. Tom was admitted to solemn profession on August 25, 1936 and ordained a priest on June 7, 1942. Following his ordination he taught St. St. Francis Seminary in Andover, MA, served as assistant pastor in St. Mary of the Angels Parish in Toronto, taught and later became principal at Christopher Columbus High School in Boston, MA and served as pastor of St. Anthony of Padua in New York. Fr. Tom arrived at Mt. Alvernia, Wappingers Falls in 1967 where he served as Director of Retreats and Spiritual Assistant of the Secular Franciscan Order. It was in this ministry at Mt. Alvernia that Fr. Tom displayed the depth of his talents, not only as a capable administrator, but also as a spiritual leader both to those who came to Mt. Alvernia as well as the people in the surrounding communities. To further strengthen his ministerial abilities, Fr.Tom took time out of his busy schedule and commuted to Iona College in New Rochelle, NY for three years earning a Master of Science Degree in Counseling. After 37 years of devoted and caring ministry at Mt. Alvernia, Fr. Tom retired at St. Anthony Friary, Catskill in September 2004 to continue to thank God for helping him "to fulfill successfully his ambition and dream of being a good and prayerful friar and a good and caring priest for all peoples-no matter what ministry he was involved in". Visitation will be on Sunday, July 18, 2010 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. with a Wake Service at 7:30 p.m.at St. Anthony Friary 24 Harrison St., Catskill, NY A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Anthony Friary on Monday July 19, at 10 a.m.. Visitation will be on Monday July 19, 2010 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. with a Wake Service at 7:30 p.m. at Mt. Alvernia, DeLavergne Ave., Wappingers Falls A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at Mt. Alvernia on Tuesday July 20, 2010 at 10 a.m.. Arrangements are under the direction of Straub, Catalano and Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls. To send a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com