Josephite Father Richard F. Wagner died April 26, 2024.
He is survived by his brothers, Robert Wagner & Roger Wagner; nieces & nephews, Deborah (Steve) Walker, David (Carol) Wagner, Ann (Phil) Reifsteck, Paul Wagner, & Mary Alice (Scott) Vara; many great-nieces & nephews.
Father Richard F. Wagner, SSJ, the oldest Josephite at the Josephite Senior Residence in Washington, died April 26. He was 91. Born and raised in Rochester, New York. Father Wagner was ordained a Josephite priest in 1959. He served as pastor of St. Veronica in Cherry Hill from 1968 to 1973, where he was involved in getting a Head Start program launched. Throughout his more than 60 years as a Josephite, he ministered in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Maryland and Florida.
In a 2023 interview with The Josephite Harvest, Father Wagner said he became a Josephite because the Baltimore-based religious society's apostolate was the Black community. "I wanted to serve the Black community because of what I had seen, what I grew up with in the age of segregation," he said. "Things were not as they should be. The church was not committing itself as they should be. Now there is more of a need for the Josephites in the Black community than ever before."
His Funeral Mass was held May 3 at the Church of the Incarnation, 880 Eastern Ave. NE, Washington, D.C.
His Graveside Service will be held 11:00 AM Friday, May 10, 2024 at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (East Side), 2461 Lake Ave.
To share a memory of Richard or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.