Glenmary Council 7853

•   P. O. Box 583   •    Norton, VA, 24273   •    276-328-3733   •

Fr. Robert Bond, Glenmary, who served in Norton, dies Glenmary Father Robert Bond, who served as pastor of St. Anthony’s, Norton, and St. Joseph’s, Clintwood, during the 1970s, died Sept. 1 at Blue Ash Hospice in Cincinnati after a brief illness. He was 75.

After being ordained a priest of the Glenmary Home Missioners in 1960, he served home mission counties in Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky and Oklahoma.

In addition to his work in the missions, Father Bond taught theology and liturgy in Glenmary’s formation program throughout the 1960s after receiving his doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Rome in 1962.

He also led Glenmary’s mission office (1980–86) and served as editor of the quarterly magazine, Glenmary Challenge.

Father Bond’s mission assignments began and ended in the Appalachia mountains that he called home after retiring from active ministry in 2002. Upon retiring, Father Bond took up residence in Burnsville, N.C., where he lived until moving to Glenmary Headquarters in Cincinnati this summer.

While in Andrews, N.C., and Hugo, Okla., Father Bond repaired old computers donated by friends and gave them to local families and charities. He also tutored children and adults to help them become computer literate because “I don’t like to treat the symptoms but the causes,” Father Bond said when interviewed about the program in 1999.

That philosophy also applied to the annual Christmas shopping trips he led. Instead of giving gifts to poor children, Father Bond turned the tables each year and invited children to buy gifts themselves.

Working with a local school, Father Bond took a group of fifth-graders for a day of shopping on him. In the process, he taught real-life lessons in banking (the children had to cash the $15 check he wrote to them), math, budgeting and most of all, selflessness.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Sept. 10 at St. Matthias Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Father Richard D. Dollard, was serving as pastor of St. Timothy's parish, in Tappahannock, VA, when he died March 3, 1998.

Fr. Richard Dollard was ordained by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph H. Hodges on May 1, 1958 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond. Bishop Peter L. Ireton, who had served as ninth Bishop of Richmond, had died four days earlier on April 27, 1958.

NORTON, Va. - Frank A. Gabriele, 82, died at his residence Tuesday (Oct. 16, 2001). He had been a long time resident of the Norton area. He was a son of the late Angelo Carmen and Maria Theresia (Scalzo) Gabriele. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army in World War II, having served last as Sgt. with Company "A" 50th armored infantry battalion. During World War II, Frank was a member of the forces that freed those imprisoned in the death camps at Buchenwald. He attended Milligan College and Xavier College in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a sales clerk with D'Cury's and retired as clerk with Dave's Department Store in Norton.

Frank was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church from its inception, having previously served on the Parish Council. He was a founding member of the Glenmary Knights of Columbus Council 7853.

Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Billie Louise Gabriele, Norton; daughters and son-in-law, Theresia G. and Benny Mason, and Deborah G. Clisso, all of Norton; son and daughter-in-law, Frank J. and Denise Ellen Gabriele, of Norton; four grandchildren, Adam Mason, Seth Mason, Laura G. Sowdon and Brendan Clisso.

Calling hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 8 p.m. Friday in the church with Father Timothy Drake officiating.

Interment will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Garden of Christus in Powell Valley Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sr. Anne Christina Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 620, Norton, Va. 24273, or Southwest Hospice, P.O. Box 349, Norton, Va. 24273.

Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton is serving the Gabriele family.

Posted: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 1:33 am

Arthur Joseph Ostdiek fell asleep in the Lord on Saturday (July 18, 2009) due to complications of a heart condition.

He was a current resident of Coeburn and former 25 year resident of Abingdon. He was a member of Christ the King Church in Abingdon and St. Anthony’s Church in Norton. He was an educator, engineer, researcher, and inventor. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and served on many committees for nature preservation and protection, local jobs training, charitable works, and the arts.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Bonnie Kay Peters Ostdiek; daughter, Julie Somis, her husband, Aristedes’ and their daughter, Kalliopi. He was a beloved and cherished brother, uncle, husband, father, and grandfather.

He was the youngest of 10 children born to Henry and Dora Ostdiek of Lawrence, Nebraska and is survived by eight siblings. He was preceded in death by his sister, Sr. Lenore Ostdiek, OSF.

His love of family, the outdoors, and music sustained him throughout his life and continue to live on in his immediate and extended family and friends. His laughter was contagious, his singing was uplifting, and his puns made us groan. His desire to share his appreciation for all of God’s creations, especially those found here in the mountains of Virginia, brought all of those who knew him great joy.

Services were held for friends at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Norton, on Monday, July 27 at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon. Services for family will be held at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Parkton, Md., where his daughter resides, on Aug. 16.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to the Food Bank run by the Knights of Columbus at St. Anthony’s Church or the Virginia Creeper Trail Club in Abingdon.

Those wishing to express sympathy on-line may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the guestbook. Farris Funeral Service of Abingdon is assisting the family with arrangements.

Thomas Somers, Appalachia, VA

Thomas Hunter Somers, 93, died Sunday at Wellmont Lonesome Pine Hospital, Big Stone Gap.

The family will receive friends at the Roy A. Green Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.  Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of the funeral home.

Tom's body will be taken to Rogers Funeral Home, Belfry, Ky. on Wednesday. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m.

A funeral service will be held at the Rogers Funeral Home Chapel at 11 a.m. Thursday with military graveside services conducted at the Mullins Family Cemetery, Sydney, Ky.

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