Father John J. Cosmic, a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Rochester for three years before becoming a priest for his native Diocese of Ogdensburg, died May 7, 2017, at Vianney Hall of the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse in Watertown. He was 94 years old.
Father Cosmic was born in Deferiet, N. Y. He served in the United States Army from 1943-46 and received a bachelor’s degree in English from LeMoyne College in 1955.
He was ordained a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Rochester in 1983. That same year, he retired from IBM after nearly three decades and became the parish deacon at St. Mary Our Mother in Horseheads. He also served as chaplain for the Southern Tier Legion of Mary Curia and spiritual director for the Legion of Mary Praesidium of St. Mary Our Mother.
He studied for the priesthood at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Conn., and was ordained a priest May 26, 1990, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg at the age of 67. Father Cosmic went on to serve at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Ogdensburg Correctional Facility, St. Martin’s Parish in Port Leyden and its mission of St. John’s in Lyons Falls, All Saints in Chaumont, St. Francis Solanus in Harrisville, St. Henry’s in Natural Bridge, St. Paul’s in Black River, St. Rita’s in Deferiet and St. James Minor in Carthage. He moved to the motherhouse in Watertown in 2013.
Father Cosmic’s funeral Mass took place May 12, 2017, at St. James Minor Church in Carthage. Interment was at St. Mary Our Mother Cemetery in Horseheads. He is survived by nieces and nephews and their children, as well as cousins. Memorial donations may be made to Augustinian Academy in Carthage or the Sisters of St. Joseph of Watertown.
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