Father George Popovich

Poland - A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Bishop George Murray SJ, Monday at 11:00 AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Austintown for Father George Popovich age 83 who entered into eternal rest Thursday morning at the Hospice House surrounded by family, after a lengthy illness.

Fr. George was born June 4, 1926 in Youngstown, the son of Phillip and Anna Kvarta Popovich. He was a graduate of Ursuline High School, St. Mary College, Kentucky and St. Mary Seminary Cleveland, Ohio and did post graduate study at the University of Notre Dame.


Father Popovich was ordained to the priesthood May 26, 1951, in Youngstown by Bishop Emmet M. Walsh. He served as associate pastor at St. John the Baptist Parish, Campbell, Ohio. He has been pastor at : St. Ambrose, Garretsville; St. Bernadette, Masury; St. Paul, Salem; and SS.Cyril and Methodius, Warren. He was named chaplain to St. Joseph Riverside Hospital, Warren in 1984, where he served until December 2008.


Father Popovich has served as the first diocesan priests personnel director; on the Priests' Senate; as chairman of the liturgy commission; judge on the marriage tribunal; a consultor to synod '76; as Knights of Columbus Chaplain for councils in Masury, Salem and Warren and a member of the ad hoc committee to study the need for a pastoral council.


Father Popovich served as a member of the Priests Council, as Director of Pastoral Council and as a diocesan consultor.

Father Popovich is survived by his sister Dorothy Schraider; brothers; Frank Jennie Popovich and Thomas Nancy Popovich and sister-in-law Pauline Popovich. He is survived also by fifteen nieces and nephews , including Rev. Stephen Popovich, pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Austintown; twenty-eight grand nieces and nephews and a great great niece and nephew.

Father Popovich was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Joseph wife Pauline, Philip and Charles Popovich; his brother-in-law William Schraider and nephew William Schraider Jr.

Father George had a profound love for the University of Notre Dame and a deep interest in the sport teams. He was an avid fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Browns, and Indians.

He especially enjoyed his last assignment as chaplain of St. Joseph Medical Center, where he was affectionately known as "Father Sunshine". He also enjoyed living at St. James rectory in Warren for a number of those years.

The family of Father Popovich would like to offer thanks to the administrative staff, the sisters, nurses, and all connected with St. Joseph Medical Center for their loving concern and care and the staff of Hospice of the Valley for the excellent care, love and support during his illness.

The family has requested that Material tributes take the form of donationsmorial contributions made in Father Popovich's name to St. Joseph Medical Center or Hospice of the Valley.

Friends may call Sunday from 2 PM to 7 PM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church where a prayer service will be held at 7:00 PM.

Friends may also call from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM Monday morning at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated by Most Reverend Bishop George Murray SJ, at 11:00 AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.

A service of committal will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown

Professional arrangements are by Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Austintown Chapel.