Francis J. Cosgrove

Francis J. Cosgrove, 97, of Bethlehem, entered eternal life on Friday, March 4, 2016. He was born November 10, 1918 in Waterbury, CT; son of the late Joseph and Catherine (Ford) Cosgrove. Deacon Frank was preceded in death by his devoted wife of 54 years, Irene G. Cosgrove.

Frank proudly served in the US Navy during WWII (1941-1946). He served in the South Pacific aboard the destroyer USS De Haven and then aboard the destroyer USS Gillespie achieving the rank of Lieutenant.

He was a graduate of Boston College and received his Masters Degree in Social Work from Boston University. He was employed as a Social Worker in the Veterans Administration in New England from 1946-1957. He worked for the Community Chest in Cleveland, Ohio before moving to the Lehigh Valley in 1961 where he was integral in the establishment of the Lehigh Valley Community Council. Frank served as the Executive Director for 21 years, retiring in 1986.

On October 16, 1982, Francis was ordained as a Permanent Deacon in the first class in the Diocese of Allentown. He spent the next 25 years as a Director of the training program for the Permanent Diaconate. He was an active member of St. Annes Catholic Church, Bethlehem, where he dedicated many hours of service to the parish as their Deacon.

Francis will be dearly missed by all whose lives he touched, in particular, the members of St. Annes who truly were his second family. He is survived by his loving family: daughter, Ann Ehret and her husband, Dave; daughter, Maureen Sawyer and her fianc, Michael Brown; grandchildren, Brian Ehret and his wife, Emily; Katie Coletti and her husband, Tom; Danielle Ehret; Kevin Sawyer and his fianc, Cristin Keppel; Emily Sawyer and her boyfriend, Tom Calcagni; Christopher Cosgrove; Megan Cosgrove and her partner, Nicole; great-grandchildren, Lia and Claire Coletti and Benjamin Ehret. He was predeceased by his son, Joseph M. Cosgrove and his wife, Barbara Cosgrove.

A visitation will be held at The Connell Funeral Home, 245 E. Broad St. Bethlehem, PA 18018 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, 2016. Another viewing will be held on Thursday from 9:30-10:45 a.m. at St. Annes Catholic Church, 450 Washington Ave. Bethlehem, PA 18017 with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11 a.m. Interment with military honors will be held at Holy Saviour Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Annes Endowment Fund to assist St. Annes students who will be attending Bethlehem Catholic High School.

Cemetery
Holy Saviour Cemetery
2575 Linden St.
Bethlehem PA 18017
US

Viewing
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
The Connell Funeral Home
245 E. Broad St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US
610-868-8531

Viewing
Thursday, March 10, 2016
9:30 AM - 10:45 AM
St. Anne's Catholic Church
450 Washington Ave.
Bethlehem PA 18017
US

Mass of Christian Burial
Thursday, March 10, 2016
11:00 AM
St. Anne's Catholic Church
450 Washington Ave.
Bethlehem PA 18017
US

Funeral HomeConnell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA - 18018
US
610-868-8531