Rev. M. Gerard Hafner

Hafner, Rev. M. Gerard, 79, of Tamarac, went to be with the Lord on June 5, 2014. Fr. Jerry was born on May 11, 1935 in Rochester, NY to the late Maurice Francis and Elizabeth (Cronin) Hafner. Father Jerry's parents probably were not too surprised when he decided to become a priest. His parents longed to have a child and they visited Toronto's Brother Andree Bessette, who was canonized in 2010. The future saint had prayed with the Hafners and encouraged them to develop a devotion to St. Gerard. The next year young Gerard was born. Fr. Jerry grew up in Irondequoit's St. Thomas the Apostle Parish and attended the parish school before going on to Aquinas Institute, St. John Fisher College and St. Andrew's and St. Bernard's seminaries. Bishop James E. Kearney ordained him on June 2, 1962 at Rochester's Sacred Heart Cathedral. After ordination, Father Hafner served as associate pastor at Holy Apostles, Rochester, (1962-68); St. Francis of Assisi, Auburn (1968); Holy Spirit, Penfield (1968-71); Holy Family, Auburn (1971); Our Lady of Mercy, Greece (1971-74); St. John the Evangelist, Clyde (1974-76); St. Joseph, Penfield (1976 - 78); Church of the Annunciation, Rochester (1978-79); Sacred Heart Cathedral,Rochester (1980-82) and St. Boniface, Rochester (1982-84). He was later pastor at St. Benedict, Odessa and St. Pius X, Van Etten (1984-87) and St. Columba-St. Patrick in Caledonia and Mumford (1987-96), temporary pastoral administrator at St. John the Evangelist, Spencerport (2001-02). and served on the Diocesan Tribunal for several years. He spent many years in serving the Diocese of Rochester, NY until his retirement in 2002 to South Florida. He served at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Boca Raton, but he currently assists the members of Mary, Help of Christians Catholic Church, Parkland, FL where he is affectionately know as the "the grandfather Priest" and enjoys not having to deal with the parish finances. Fr. Jerry celebrated his Golden Jubilee on June 2, 2012. He was predeceased by his brother, Joseph Hafner. Those left to cherish his memory are his loving brother, James Paul (Ann) Hafner, sister, Maryann (Gary) Gac, sister-in-law, Sharon Hafner, nieces & nephews, Joe Hafner Jr., Deborah Kowalski, Kathleen (Cameron) Smith, Thomas (Rebecca) Hafner, Mark (Cassandra) Hafner, John (Joan) Hafner, Linda Hafner, Karen Gac and seven great nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 8, 2014, 3:00 – 7:00 pm at Mary, Help of Christians Catholic Church, 5980 University Drive, Parkland, FL where a prayer service will begin at 6:30 pm.