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September 16, 2024Reverend John Francis Friel passed away on September 11, 2024, at the age of 82. Fr. John was born on March 8, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, John Francis Friel, Sr. and Catherine Violet O’Brien, and grew up with one sister, Elizabeth Rizas. He pursued undergraduate studies at West Chester State College, then at Niagara University, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Philosophy. Fr. John later obtained a Master’s Degree in Management from Webster University, and a Certificate of Advanced Professional Studies from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. Prior to attending Seminary, Fr. John once worked as a short order cook and sandwich maker at a luncheonette in Philadelphia, as an elevator operator at a Philadelphia hotel, and was employed as a teacher in Pennsylvania, where he taught geometry and history to high school students.Fr. John studied for the priesthood and attended Seminary at De Sales Hall School of Theology in Hyattsville, Maryland. On September 12, 1970, he was ordained to the priesthood at Holy Innocents Church in Philadelphia for the Order of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. His passing occurred just one day shy of the 54th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Following his ordination, Fr. John completed training at the U.S. Naval Academy in the North Atlantic in 1971, became a squadron chaplain, and served in active duty as a Lieutenant in the Navy Corps. The following year, in 1972, Fr. John served as a circuit riding chaplain in Vietnam. Fr. John continued serving as chaplain with the U.S. Navy throughout the subsequent years, including on the Destroyer Squadron II at Barber Point NAS, and at numerous Navy bases. Beginning in 1993, Fr. John served four years as a Senior Chaplain at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and an additional two years as Senior Chaplain at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterrey, California.On September 20, 1974, Fr. John moved to Yuma, Arizona where he initially served as a chaplain at Marine Core Air Station Yuma. Fr. John served the Navy with distinction, having received a number of awards and decorations, including: the Legend of Merit (awarded three times); the Meritorious Service Medal (awarded twice); the Navy Commendation Medal; the Meritorious Unit Commendation (awarded twice); the Navy “E” Ribbon; the National Defense Service Medal (two stars); the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Fr. John retired from service in the Navy in 1999, with the rank of Captain.While Father John retired from the Navy in 1999, he was not done serving the people of God. In 1998, he had become president of Yuma Catholic High School, and in 2004 he was appointed as Pastor of St. John Neumann Parish in Yuma, Arizona. Fr. John was incardinated into the Diocese of Tucson on August 25, 2004. Throughout his years in the Diocese of Tucson, Fr. John served as a member on the Council of Priests, and the St. John Neumann Parish community. At one time he also held a private pilot’s license (1976), he enjoyed playing golf, and maintained a lifelong love of reading. He retired from active priestly ministry on May 25, 2019, but remained a dedicated, faithful servant of God with a great love for his family, friends, and his former parishioners. He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Catherine, and sister Betty Ann. He is survived by the extended Watson Family, friends across the world too numerous to count, and his Rizas Family.
Funeral Liturgies for Fr. John will be celebrated at St. John Neumann Church on Thursday, September 26 and will include a time of visitation and Rosary beginning at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m.