Father Anthony John Petracca

Father Anthony John Petracca, 68, died on August 25, 2024 at Windber Hospice.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony John Petracca Sr. and Margaret Mary Petracca (Fadigan), his grandparents, John Petracca (from Italy) and Rose (Arcaro) Petracca, and William Fadigan and Mary (Bannon) Fadigan.

He is survived by his four siblings; Margaret Ann Petracca, of Las Vegas, NV; Michael Anthony Petracca and his wife Teresa, of Camarillo, CA; Eleanor Frances Petracca, of Los Alamitos, CA; and John Anthony Petracca and his wife Ruby, of Summerlin, NV; nephews Andrew, Michael, Stephen, and Thomas Petracca.

Father Anthony was born in the Philadelphia suburbs on February 2, 1956. He attended Catholic grade school and high school in Drexel Hill, PA, and then graduated from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia in 1978. After attending Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, and the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus OH, he was ordained a priest by Bishop James J. Hogan for the Diocese of Altoona - Johnstown on May 18, 1985. He had long stated that the primary factors in his wanting to become a priest of God were serving Mass as an altar boy, his love of the Word of God, and the example of godly priests such as his first spiritual director, Father William C. Van Breda, OSA.

Father Anthony served in a number of parishes in the diocese, and even tried a vocation with the Carthusian hermits in Vermont. After his family moved to the west coast, he began driving cross-country each year, which experiences led to his first book, Seeing America First. A second book, of homilies, soon followed: Making Lemonade. He loved the beauty of America, through which he felt the presence of God the Father and Creator. He loved praying, studying, and preaching the Word of God, through which he came to know Jesus even better.

Finally, his ministry to his parishioners occasioned him more and more to experience the Holy Spirit's loving presence through others. (He was greatly aided in these perceptions by his godly and beloved spiritual director for two decades, Father Silvan Rouse, CP.)

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Father Anthony's last assignment, Saint Anthony Church in Windber, PA by the Reverend Rod Soha, TOR on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 11:00 AM. Entombment to follow at St. Anthony church cemetery. Friends received from 10 AM until time of Mass at St. Anthony Church.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Frank Duca Funeral Home, Westmont Chapel, 1622 Menoher Blvd. Johnstown PA 15905.

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