In Memoriam: Rev. Anthony J. Larry, OSFS

Rev. Anthony J. Larry, OSFS, a professed member of the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales for 59 years, died Monday, September 10, 2018.

A native of Wilmington, DE, Father was born October 14, 1939, the son of Anthony J. and Marguerite C. DeAscanis Larry. After attending Christ Our King and graduating from Salesianum School, he entered the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in August 1957. Father professed first vows at the conclusion of his postulancy and novitiate, August 21, 1959 followed by perpetual profession in November 1962 and ordination to the priesthood October 21, 1967 at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, PA. Prior to ordination, he pursued studies at Niagara University, Niagara, NY, LaSalle University, Philadelphia, and De Sales School of Theology, Hyattsville, MD.

Enjoying a rich and varied mix of ministerial assignments over the years, Father's placements in secondary school ministry included Northeast Catholic High School, Philadelphia, Bishop McDevitt High School, Harrisburg, PA, and Salesianum School; parochial ministry found him serving at St. Michael, Shamokin, PA, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Vienna, VA, St. Bernard, New Bloomfield, PA, St. John Neumann, Reston, VA, St. Paul the Apostle, Greensboro, NC, and St. Anthony of Padua, Wilmington, DE. In addition, Father served as assistant novice master at the Oblate novitiate, Childs, MD in the early 1970s and chaplain at the Franciscan Care Center in Wilmington in the late 1990s.

Father Larry had been assigned to the Oblate retirement community near Elkton, MD since 2003 and continued to assist at Immaculate Conception Parish in Elkton until full retirement in July 2010.

Of the many gifts that Father Larry possessed, perhaps his best known and appreciated was his love of all things liturgical - in particular, the celebration of the Eucharist. He was a member of the Liturgical Commissions for the Diocese of Wilmington and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

In addition to his Oblate religious community, Father is survived by his sisters, Margaret Bilecki (Milton) and Sara A. Watson (Robert).

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 454 Bow Street, Elkton, MD, on Saturday, September 15, 2018, at 11 a.m., where visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until 10:50 a.m. Interment will be in the Oblate Cemetery, Childs, MD.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oblate Development Fund, 2200 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19806.

Published in The News Journal on Sept. 13, 2018

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