Rev. Fr. Henry John Januszkiewicz

Reverend Henry J. Januszkiewicz, 81, of Fort Myers, FL passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Joanne’s House at Hope Hospice in Bonita Springs. He was born February 4, 1937 a son of the late Bronislaw and Stanislawa (Wypasek) Januszkiewicz. A native of Newark, New Jersey he was ordained May 26, 1962 at St. Matthews Cathedral in Washington, DC after studying for the priesthood at St. Bonaventure University and Christ the King Seminary from 1956 – 1962 in Olean, NY. Prior to this, he had studied at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. While pursuing his studies for the priesthood, he also received his Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy and Theology. Fr. Henry celebrated his first Mass on May 27, 1962 at St. Stanislaus Parish in Newark, NJ. For the first 6 years of his priesthood, he served as Parochial Vicar at St. Thomas Moore in SE Washington, DC from 1962-1968. He was then assigned to The Children’s Center for Delinquent and Dysfunctional Children in Laurel, MD, St. Patrick’s Church in NW Washington, DC, St. Mary’s Church in Landover, MD and Annunciation Catholic Church in NW Washington, DC before being assigned as Pastor to Ascension Catholic Church in Bowie, MD. As Pastor, he raised 2.3 million dollars to build a new church that included a separate chapel, Our Lady of Czestochowa. His church was one of the first parishes to institute 24-hour perpetual adoration. Fr. Henry served as Pastor there from 1978-1996. Fr. Henry established a personal relationship with Pope John Paul II. He traveled to Rome, Italy several times during Pope John Paul II’s Papacy, each visit being special, unique and personal with the Pope. At the Vatican, Fr. Henry concelebrated morning Mass with Pope John Paul II in his private chapel before eating breakfast afterward made by John Paul’s private nuns. After health problems arose in 1994 he retired from the Archdiocese of Washington and moved to SW Florida. He assisted at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Lehigh Acres, FL from 1996-2006 as well as St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Bonita Springs, FL from 1996-2015. From 2015 until the time of his passing, Fr. Henry had been assisting at Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord in Fort Myers, FL. He is survived by his two brothers, Tadeusz Januszkiewicz and Casimir Januszkiewicz; his nieces and nephews, Ellen Januszkiewicz, whom he lived with for 40 years and her daughters, Katrina and Julia and their golden retriever, Twinkie; Thaddeus (Angela) Januszkiewicz and their daughters, Tara, Gina, Brianna and Kaitlyn; Frederick Januszkiewicz and his children, Nicholas and Tiffany; Thaddeua Marie (Ronald) Nowak and their sons, Michael and Kevin; Reinette Januszkiewicz; Barbara (Lou) Halasz; Mark Sawruk; Matthew Sawruk; Michelle Sawruk; Donna Tafro; and Stella Tafro. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Frederick Januszkiewicz; and sisters, Gladys Tafro and Helen Sawruk. Father Henry’s remains will lie in state at the Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord, 8121 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33919 on Thursday, January 10, 2019 from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. with Monsignor Edward McNamara, officiating. Additional services will be held at Ascension Catholic Church in Bowie, MD. He will be laid to rest beside his mother at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to a college fund to benefit his great-nieces, Katrina and Julia whom he adored, C/O Ellen Januszkiewicz to funeral home address. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home.

Rev. Fr. Henry John Januszkiewicz

February 4, 1937 - January 5, 2019