Connecticut western news., 1897-11-11
DEATH OF FATHER LEO.

Very Rev Leo da Saracena, O. s. F., pastor of St. Joseph's Church. Winsted, died at the monastery at Winsted at Il o'clock last week Wednesday night of a stroke of apoplexy. with which he was seized at about eight o'clock the same evening while sitting in his chair in the recreation room of the monastery. He was found insensible and died without regaining consciousness.
 Father Leo was one o. the oldest and best known priests in the diocese. He was born in Calabria, Italy, August 15, 1888. and was educated in the Francis can institutions of Cosenza and Rome and was ordained in 1856. He came to America in 1860 and spent year in Allegauy, N Y., and Tonawanda, Penn, coming thence to the diocese of Hart ford as missionary. He was stationed at St. Mary's, New Haven, for nine months, at the end of which time he re. placed Father Mullen as chaplain of the Ninth Regiment Conn. Vols., a regi- ment composed almost entirely of Irish Catholics and with which regiment he remained until the close of the war, when the parish of St. Joseph's, at Winsted, was assigned to him. He said his first Mass at Winsted Jan. l, 1865, and re- mained in charge of the parish at Win. sted with the outlying stations at Bark hamsted and Colebrook and until about eight years ago at Norfolk, until the time of his death except during 8 period of three years when he was provincial of his order with residence at the Fran ciscan college at Allegany, N. Y. Father Leo saw his beloved flock grow from small congregation into one whose num- bers aggregate 5000 souls. It is said that during his pastorate he baptized over $500 children and married 600 couples. During his pastorate the par ish church was enlarged and beautifed. brick monastery built, also the con- vent of St. Margaret of Cortona, for Franciscan nuIs, and large brick paro- chial school.
 There is no doubt that in the death of Father Leo 8 great and good man and priest and devoted pastor has passed away. Although he served his Church with ardor and devotion and indefatiga- ble energy, he was also devoted to the welfare of his adopted town, Winsted. and was also of an ardent patriotism. His devotion to the Stars and Stripes was shown by his keeping the flag fy- ing over his parochial school long be- fore it became a common practice to have the flag over school houses. All Winsted, all denominations, loved and revered Father Leo, He not only en- ioyed the friendship of dignataries and priests of his own church, but also of such representative men as Gov. Cooke, the late Judge Fenn, and the Protestant clergy. Father Leo was man with few equals and his place will not be easily filled.
 The funeral of Father Leo took place at St. Joseph's church, Winsted. Satur- day morning and was perhaps the lar gest funeral ever seen in Winsted. Many members of the Franciscan order were present, priests from all over the diocese, also prominent lsymen among whom was Gov. Cooke. Col. Healy and about 20 veterans of the Ninth regi- ment were also present. There were many beautiful floral tributes, but they were not displayed as the rules of the Franciscan order do not permit their use at funerals. The veterans of the 9th Reg't Conn. Vols. presented beautiful regulation United States flag. After the chanting of the office of the dead, pontiical High Mass was celebrated by Bishop Tierney, and Bishop Beaven of Springfield, Mass, pronounced the ab- solution after the Mass. Agreeably to Father Leo's request there was no ser mon. After the services in the church the procession moved to the cemetery near the Sisters convent. honorary pail bearers from members of the Franciscan order and from the veterans of the Ninth regiment preceded the body, the active pail bearers being old members of the congregation. Father Anacletus, o. s. F., of New York city, officiated at the grave, where the services closed with the sweet plaintive notes of "taps" or "lights out" sounded on the bugle by James F. McCann of Naugatuck, the bugler of the Ninth Regiment.