Rev. Eugene R. Carr

Reverend Eugene R. Carr died on the 13th day of July, 2025, after having faithfully served the Diocese of Scranton for sixty-two years.

Father Carr, son of the late Eugene F. “Gene” Carr and Elizabeth Theresa “Betty” Trovitch Carr, was born in Hazleton on July 10, 1935. He was a graduate of West Hazleton High School and attended Saint Bonaventure University, Olean, New York where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree.

Father studied for the priesthood at Christ the King Seminary, Olean, New York and was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 1963 by the Most Reverend Jerome D. Hannan D.D., late Bishop of Scranton.

Father Carr received a summer assignment as Assistant Pastor pro tem at Christ the King, Dunmore in July 1963 and was appointed Chaplain at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Hazleton in September of that year. He was appointed Assistant Pastor at St. Mary’s Avoca in September 1966 and in September 1969 Father was appointed Assistant Pastor at Holy Rosary, Scranton.

In July 1978, Father Carr received his first pastorate at St. Basil, Dushore. His next appointment was Pastor at Sacred Heart of Mary, Jermyn in February 1985 where he served for eleven years. In July 1996, Father Carr was appointed Pastor at St. John the Evangelist, Scranton and was appointed Senior Priest in July 2000. Father Carr retired on July 5, 2000.

Reverend Carr celebrated the 60th Anniversary of his Ordination with a Pontifical Mass celebrated by Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, DD., J.C.L. on June 8, 2023.

Father enjoyed following UCONN basketball and enjoyed gathering with friends. He loved to plant trees wherever he was stationed and they are all still growing, beautifying the grounds. He also liked to share his knowledge of gardening with others. He will be remembered for his kindness and how he tried to get to know each individual, what they liked, what they needed, and what he could provide.

In addition to his parents, Father was preceded in death by a nephew Joseph J. Lestishock on November 3, 2003, and a brother-in-law Joseph Lestishock on November 27, 1977.

Father Carr is survived by his sister Marjorie Lestishock of Allentown, PA, and his brother James P. Carr of Lancaster, PA. Father is also survived by his niece Lisa A. Lestishock and her husband Alfonso Estrada of Oakland, CA, and by several cousins from the Trovitch and Carr families, and by many friends.

Viewing will take place Sunday, July 20, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Mary Mother of God Parish, 316 William Street, Scranton, PA. A Vesper Service will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m.

A Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, on Monday, July 21, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Mary Mother of God Parish, 316 William Street, Scranton, PA. A viewing will also take place at 10:00 a.m. prior to the Funeral Mass. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Drums, PA.

Active Pallbearers: James McMahon, Freddy Loefflad, Al Essig, Leo Lambert, Matt Saxe, John Lambert

Honorary Pallbearers: James P. Carr, Bob Hurley, John Shoemaker, John A. Shoemaker Esq., Fred Loefflad, Gene Filbin, Bill Foley

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, PA.

To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to homerfuneralhome.com.

Addendum:

Rev. Eugene R. Carr

P. 0. Box 1063

Killington, VT 05751-1063

Rev. Eugene R. Carr - Pastor, 1979 - 1985

Bishop McCormick assigned Father Carr as Pastor on June 8, 1979, on the sixteenth anniversary of his ordination. Actually, Fr. George McCloskey was going on active duty in the US Navy at that time. Upon hearing this, Fr. Carr asked the bishop for consideration to be appointed Pastor. Father Carr had begun his association with the parish as a teenager in 1948. Fr. James P. Flynn, a previous pastor of St. Francis in Overton was then pastor of St. Francis in West Hazleton, Fr. Carr's home parish. Fr. Carr accompanied Fr. Flynn to the area on numerous occasions and many family names became familiar to him. He remembered several businesses: the Ben Franklin Store (he never knew that there was such a thing!), the Green Swan, and Lambert's Garage. In 1966, Fr. Carr purchased a Ford station wagon from Lambert's for I.HM. sisters in Avoca. A one-day bingo provided the money needed. Fr. Carr visited St Basil's Convent in Dushore on the day he picked up the station wagon.

Fr. John Polinsky lived on Turnpike St., sharing his home with his mother. With his help, it was possible to have five weekend Masses and two daily Masses. Fr. Carr never needed keys for the churches. Jake Farrell opened St. Basil's and Paulie Litzelman locked up. Jake was in charge of the church and cemetery. Paulie worked in the cemetery. The Byron brothers helped with the leaves in the fall. Being in Paulie Litzelman' s trailer on one occasion, Father observed six hand-held, battery-operated trimmers being charged. He asked why they were not using a weed whacker. Paulie said, "We tried one and it used too much string." The McGroarty and Cullen families looked after "The Shrine." St. Francis in Overton was open every day and was looked after by Andy and Edie Lelejedal. St. Francis in Cummiskey was opened by Bob Finan and cared for by Steve and Irene Leskoven. (There is a take-out restaurant named for the same Steve and Irene in Mayfield, PA) Della Steafather always had impeccable altar linens. Peg Getz was sacristan at St. Basil's. Ann Holcombe, Rosie Walsh, Jamie Battin and John Ambs helped with holiday decorating.

Two C.C.D. programs were in place-Tom Sick directed the one at Dushore, Anita Sullivan at Overton. There was singing at every Mass: Sharon Cummiskey was organist at Wilmot; Anita, Dawn and Jean Sullivan at Overton; Angie and Elsie Bohensky and Donna Edkin Green at Dushore, with choir director Mary Lou Meehan.

Joan Feister McMahon was the parish secretary. Our rectory neighbor, Mildred Snyder, recommended Jane McDonald to work in the rectory, a position eventually extended to include the church and the school.

Summer picnics were always something to look forward to. Fr. Carr arrived and found a few hundred dollars in the treasury and the first picnic was anxiously anticipated. Friends and bingo workers from Holy Rosary, Scranton chartered a bus and came to the first picnic.

The future Sullivan Terrace was in the works. It was discovered that the land on which it now stands was previously owned by St. Basil's. The adjoining recreation area was deeded (with caveats as to its use) from the parish to the Borough of Dushore. Fr. Carr, Bob Lambert, Bob Getz and Doc Shoemaker made many trips to Philadelphia to present H.U.D. with the needs of the area for a senior residence.

The land transfer enabled the parish to paint the trim on buildings, renovate and add new rest rooms in St. Basil’s Hall, and install two huge brass chandeliers purchased at auction from the Scranton Dry Store in Scranton. It has been remarked that "it is the nicest place in the two counties for a party."

Bishop John O'Connor of Scranton (and future Cardinal Archbishop of New York) administered the Sacrament of Confirmation in 1983 in St. Basil's.

Vesta Perry of Towanda (formerly of St. Francis, Cummiskey) donated the new Allen organ in St. Basil's. Following its first use, breakfast was held in her honor and to thank her for the gift to the parish.

Lucy Sick, on behalf of the Altar and Rosary Society, presented Fr. Carr with a Waterford Crystal Christmas ornament on his first Christmas.

The parish had five cemeteries and two cemetery associations. For St. Basil's and St. Francis, Cummiskey, Josephine Thomas was secretary-treasurer. For St. Francis, Overton, "The Shrine," and McGovern Cemetery Association, Betty Bahl was secretary-treasurer. At an Overton Cemetery Association meeting held in the church after Sunday Mass (most meetings were held at Betty Bahl's home), a question arose as to the price of graves. Fr. Carr questioned the amount of $15.00 for the sale of graves. The records showed that the cost of a grave from the beginning of the cemetery had been $5.00 and that price had never been raised!

P. Dean Homer began the monumental task of cataloguing all of the parish cemeteries from existing maps, sales of lots, death records, readings and tracings from all of the existing tombstones in all five cemeteries. Walter Karaban finished the job while working at St. Basil's cemetery for three summers and during holiday breaks from college. At the Overton Picnic, a table was set up to ask for help in identifying Overton Cemetery graves. Maps were set up in St. Basil's for several weeks for the same purpose.

Dr. Jerry Plastow arrived as the new dentist with his wife Aimee. He soon became the coordinator of the new youth group with Pam Saxe as its first president.

It was observed that the flagpole in front of St. Basil's needed painting. Two bolts held it in place. The lower bolt was removed in order to lower the pole and Fr. Carr suggested that something be placed on the short end. Jeremiah McMahon's truck was backed up to the pole. As the long part came down, the rear end of the truck was raised in the air! The laughter was heard across town.

Msgr. Dougherty called twice with the question, "Can we talk?" The first time was August 15, the second on a Saturday in January 1985. Both calls were about a transfer. I answered our future auxiliary bishop, "It's only me and poinsettia here," and I agreed to go to Sacred Heart of Mary in Jermyn, PA on February 6, 1985.