BLOOMFIELD, CT - Reverend Henry R. Dery, 92, of Bloomfield, CT, passed away peacefully Saturday, April 7, 2012.
Father Dery was born May 7, 1919 in Dudley, MA, son of the late Adelard and Anne (Lachance) Dery. He graduated from St. Joseph Seminary in Cleveland, Ohio and was ordained May 22, 1948 in Cleveland by The Most Reverend Edward F. Hoban, then Archbishop of Cleveland. In 1948 Father Dery began his studies in Rome at the Angelicum University where he received his degree in Theology- S.T.L. in 1950. He returned to Cleveland in 1950 and began teaching at Major Seminary until 1953. Father Dery then became the Spiritual Director at Eymard Seminary in Hyde Park, NY where he served for five years before becoming a Vocational Recruiter and later the Rector of Eymard Seminary until 1968. In 1968, Father Dery was appointed to his first pastorate at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1980 he became the Pastor and Superior at Sacred Heart Parish in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1984, Father Dery began serving the Archdiocese of Hartford at St. Joseph Church in Bristol, CT and then at St. Jerome Church in New Britain, CT. He became the Pastor at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, CT in 1988 where he served until his retirement in 1994.
Father Dery retired in his hometown of Webster-Dudley, MA. He celebrated his Golden Jubilee on May 22, 1998 and later that year Father Dery moved to St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, CT where he continued to help out in many parishes.
Father Dery is survived by many nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by nine brothers, four sisters and his two uncles, Rev. Ludger Lachance SSS and Rev. Henri Lachance SSS.
Friends may call at Saint Thomas Seminary, 467 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield, CT on Wednesday (Apr. 11) from 9:00-11:00 am. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday (Apr. 11) at 11:00 am in the Chapel of Saint Thomas Seminary by the Most Reverend Henry J. Mansell, Archbishop of Hartford. On Thursday, April 12, friends may call at Father Dery’s home parish Sacred Heart of Jesus, 18 East Main St., Webster, MA from 9:00-10:45am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Sacred Heart of Jesus at 11:00am. Father Dery will be buried in Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery in Webster, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations in Father Dery’s memory may be made to Saint Thomas Seminary, 467 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield, CT 06002. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, Inc., 340 School Street, Webster, MA 01570.