DioBeth newSpin: The Rev. Henry J. Pease -- Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our brother, Henry

Memorial Service: Saturday, April 19, at 2 p.m. in St. Stephen’s Pro-Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre.

The Rev. Henry J. Pease, 75, died during the early morning hours of March 13. He served as rector of Historic St. Paul’s Church, Montrose, Susquehanna County, for 26 years (1972-98). In retirement, he served as priest-in-charge of St George’s Church, Nanticoke, near Wilkes-Barre, for eight years.

Ordained a priest in 1965, Father Pease served as an assistant at St. Stephen's Church, Wilkes-Barre, for six years before being called to serve as rector in Montrose. Prior to seminary and ordination, he worked at Dun and Bradstreet (Richmond District) and as a bank examiner for the Federal Reserve Inn Philadelphia.

During a courageous journey into Ecuador in 2000, he rescued three boys, ages 3, 5 and 8, whom he raised in his Saddle Lake home near Tunkhannock, where he had been living alone, and legally adopted them to be his sons. [An April 2002 Diocesan Life story, Journey into Danger, may be downloaded here.]

He was also an adjunct professor of economics at Kings College and Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, since 1966.

[Download He Knew Jesus, a poem for Henry by Gwendolyn-Jane Romeril]
Download pease.He Knew Jesus.pdf

Informing some 90 clergy colleagues at the Diocese of Bethlehem Chrism Mass, March 13, of Father Pease’s death, Bethlehem Bishop Paul Marshall said Father Pease was “the most non-anxious person I knew, always positive, always having a word of encouragement for his colleagues and for his bishop.”

Father Pease was long active in concerns of the 14-county Diocese of Bethlehem where he held many leadership positions, including president of the Standing Committee, chair of the Personnel Committee, chair of the diocesan Program and Budget Committee, the Grant-in-Aid Committee (now Congregational Development), the United Budget Task Force, and vice-chair of Diocesan Council.

For 20 years, he served also as an Education for Ministry mentor in Montrose and Scranton.

“When we moved into this diocese in 1990,” said Barbara Caum of Trinity Church, Athens, “Henry was one of the first persons we met. Ned had lived way too may years (nearly 30) in Alaska without any other clergy to talk to. It was not an easy life. When we met Henry, it was like a lamp of light. A wonderful connection. Such a kind and caring man. He met some incredible challenges that most of us could not even imagine and took them on with great love and courage. Henry, most sweet, steadfast and kind, rest in peace and rise in glory. I say this with great gratitude for having known and loved him. I know he will be well and I hope all will be well with his grandchildren.”

In the community, Father Pease owned the Country Care Personal Care Home, Montrose, and he served as board chairman of Trehab, a community action agency serving six rural counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Susquehanna/Wyoming Unit of the American Cancer Society and the Susquehanna County Chapter of the American Red Cross. He was a former member of the Montrose Rotary Club, where he was the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. He also served as president of the Montrose Literacy Council, the Montrose Recreation Committee and the NY-Penn Board. He was awarded the Silver Beaver Award through the Boy Scouts of America.

Born August 4, 1932, in Exeter, Grafton County, New Hampshire, to the late Perley H. and R. Mary [Wright] Pease, he graduated from Seymour High School, Seymour, Conn., and Blackburn College in Illinois. He received a master’s degree in economics from the University of Tennessee; and, a master’s degree in theology from the Philadelphia Divinity School.

In a 2002 interview for a Diocesan Life story by Dave Howell, Father Pease spoke about how his three grandsons changed his life. He said in some ways raising his second set of children was a lot easier. “I know a lot more than I did forty years ago and I’m not involved in day-to-day work, so I have more time,” he said. “I plan my days on the basis of the kids’ needs.” He noted that grandparents are healthier and stronger today, though he admitted to being tired by the close of an average day.

Surviving are a daughter, Sandra Pease-Darde, Montrose; a son, John Stephen Pease, Tunkhannock; his adopted sons, Francisco David, Dominic Luis and Simon Alexander Pease; two grandsons, Eric Justin and Bradley Matthew Darde; his former wife, Vivian N. Pease; and two cousins, Bruce and Stanley Wright.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 19, at 2 p.m. in St. Stephen’s Pro-Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre. Bishop Paul Marshall will preside. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Interment will be in Montrose.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Friends of Historic St. Paul’s, 60 Church Street, Montrose, 18801, in memory of The Rev. Henry J. Pease.

Deacon Dolores Evans of North Parish, Schuylkill County, said she will “always remember Father Henry as a wonderful, caring and interesting person. The light of his faith always was visible in his eyes. He always had a kind word for everyone.”

Father Scott Allen “will never forget his expertise in economics and his commitment to justice in that realm … Pray that laborers like Henry continue to be animated by the Spirit to do the work of ministry. I will miss his quiet, yet solid presence.”

Onetime rector of St. Stephen’s, Wilkes-Barre, Canon Don Muller said Henry was “in all things a giver. He advocated for others, and did not seem to worry about what he was getting. He took on tasks that others (including myself) would not do … I know he will be greatly missed by so many in the Diocese of Bethlehem. I know I will miss him, but thank God that I had the opportunity to know him.”