The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-11-28
Funeral of Father Lepote.

The little chimes of the Church of
| Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in North
| Denver, tolled forth requiem for the
| pastor of the little flock last Monday
as the great crowd filed through the
narrow doors and into the humble edi-
/ nee. The love and esteem in which the
congregation held their faithful pas
tor Rev. Felix Mariana Lepore, was
attested by the grief which was visi
bic on their countenances as they knelt
and offered their prayers for the repose
of his soul No less than 1000 people
were in the throng that filled the
church to overlooking and crowded
about it until the street was filled half
down the block. Long before $3.50 there
was not a seat left in the church. Most
of those who gathered to pay their re-
spects to the memory of the priest who
was so tragically called out of the world
last week were Italians, but there were
also present large number of Ameri-
cans and people of other nationalities
who were friends and admirers of Fa-
Their Lepore. The funeral was large
than any that has ever been seen in
Denver. 1t was the unusually sad and
tragic circumstances surrounding the
death of Father Lepore that made the
funeral one of especial interest yet
there was no pomp or ostentation at
tempted. Broad bands of black were
stretched across the church from cor
ner to corner, but there were no floral
decorations with the exception of two
simple wreaths which lay on the bier.
Going to the church no band accom-
panied the funeral cortege, but seven
Italians societies made up the ranks.
Bishop Matz and more than thirty
priests from all parts of the city chant
ed the office of the dead as soon as the
funeral service opened. Solemn high
mass of requiem was celebrated by
Rev. Father Guida, S. j., of the College
of the Sacred Heart. Father Carrigan |
officiated as deacon, Father Pantanelli |
was sub-deacon and Father Phillips |
was master Of ceremonies. The eulogy |
was pronounced in Italian by Father |
who dwelt upon the noble |
character of the deceased priest and |
on the hope of an eternal life. During |
the course of his remarks Father Pan |
tanelli paused frequently as his feel |
ings got the better of him. and the con-
gregation was moved to tears
Thirty-one candles in an ornate can
deiabrum burned solemnly above the /
still figure of the priest that lay in
front of the sanctuary, scarcely five |
feet from the spot where he fell after
the shooting ARRAY which ended in his
1eath. The seats were given to the
members of the societies which had ac-
the body to the church.
They were: Vittoris Emanuele Ill, A
D. F., Mont Carmelo, San Rocco, San
Antonio di Padova, San Giacomo. Ma
.ivi di Potenza and Bersag lieri di Ma
1oli.
The pall-bearers were: Tony Notary,
John Craca. Pasqual Patch, Steve Chic
ero, Eugene Rossi, Nicholas Cammiel-
o, Michele Capulungo and Nicholas
Vagnino. Michele Notary was master
If ceremonies.
The lay testimonials to the deceased
PRIEST were given on the steps of the
,hUrch in order that those who had
,een forced to remain on the sidewalk
night be auditors. This part of the
services had the most visible and vidi
fleet upon the assemblage. The casket
ested at the front portal. on its way
o the hearse. The first speaker was
Iicele Notary, who was master of GER
monies. He is one of the leading MEM
ers of the Italian colony. and his eulo-
Y touched their hearts. The presidents
f the various societies followed Mr..
Notary, and their tributes were indeed
Ugh.
When the laymen had completed their
programme the funeral cortege started
n its way to- the union station, where
he trains were met going to Mount
)livet cemetery Satriano's band of
ixty pieces headed the procession, and
GLOWING the societies came the twenty
colytes with lighted candles and the
listers of the Immaculat= Heart who
ave charge of the parish school.
Every one is familiar ere this with the
ragic death of Father Lepore. Shot by
countryman, Joseph Sorice, he died
lrty-eight hours later. No motive has
cen learned for the origin of the shoot
lg. which resulted in the death of the
HO men.
Father Lepore's body was inferred in
Iount Olivet cemetery.