Rev. James H. Smith
Deceased: 2014-08-27
Diocese: HARTFORD
Seminary Graduation Year: 1964
REV. JAMES H. SMITH
CLASS OF 1964
Rev. James H. Smith, 75, of East Hartford, received the call from Our Lord and peacefully entered into eternal life on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at St. Francis Hospital, Hartford after a brief illness. Born in Hartford on September 10, 1938, Fr. Smith was the son of the late Harold James and Rose Marie (Proccacino) Smith. Fr. Smith went to St. Augustine School in Hartford and attended high school and minor seminary at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield. He went on to St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore and finished at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Italy.
He was ordained to the priesthood on December 18, 1963 at the Church of Cristo re in Rome. He remained in Rome for several months, studying at the Pontifical Gregorian University, from which he earned a licentiate in sacred theology.
He assisted at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, St. Rita Parish in Hamden, before being assigned as chaplain at the Chapel of St. Thomas More at Yale University in New Haven. He was later an assistant pastor at St. Peter parish in Torrington and co-pastor at St. Mary’s Church, East Hartford. He was assigned as director of vocations in 1978, a position that he thoroughly enjoyed. He became pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in New Haven in 1989, and then priest-chaplain at New Britain General and New Britain Memorial Hospitals. He then served as pastor at All Saints Parish in New Britain and the pastorate of St. Mary Parish in Derby. He also assisted at St. Isaac Jogues Church in East Hartford, Assumption Church in Woodbridge, St. Anthony Church in Bristol, a priest-chaplain at Maloney Correctional Training Center in Cheshire, and pastor of Holy Rosary and St. Anthony parishes in Ansonia where he retired from in 2006. After retirement, he worked very closely with the diaconate community in the Diocese of Camden, NJ.
Father Smith is survived by his two caring sisters, Dolores Butka of West Hartford, and Barbara S. Casey of East Hartford. He also leaves many nieces, nephews, fraternal priests, and dear friends. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Elaine Tracey and her husband, James, of West Hartford; and two brothers-in-law, Edward Butka and Bernard J. Casey both of East Hartford.
Bishop Paul Loverde of Arlington, VA will be the Principal Celebrant at the Mass of Christian Burial, with Archbishop Leonard Blair presiding, at St. Christopher Church, 538 Brewer Street, East Hartford on Tuesday (September 2nd) at 11 am. Burial will be at Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, (Shrine of the Apostles Section), Bloomfield. Father Smith’s family will receive relatives and friends on Monday (September 1st) from 5-8 pm at the D’Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford and on Tuesday morning from 9:30 – 10:30 am at St. Christopher Church prior to the Mass of Christian Burial. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Father Smith’s memory may be made to St. Christopher Church, 538 Brewer Street, East Hartford, CT 06118
