Deacon Joseph H. R. Cormier

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Deacon Joseph H. R. Cormier

November 25, 1930 ~ July 27, 2022

Deacon Joseph H. R. Cormier, 91, of Conowingo, Maryland passed away on July 27, 2022.

 Joe was born in Gardner, Massachusetts to the late Edgar Cormier and Margaret Lemanager. He is preceded in death by his wife Bessie Lee and three siblings Theresa, Ernest and Roger, and by his grandson Kristopher and nephew David.

Joe is survived by his three children: daughter Lyn Chambers of St Peter, Missouri, son Raymond Cormier (Irina) of Port Deposit, Maryland and daughter Marguerite Cormier (Jeanne) of Worcester, Massachusetts; his siblings: Edna (Donnie Casey), Robert (Carol), John (Ginette); as well as by his three grandchildren Joe, Kat and Elizabeth; step-granddaughter Alena; three great-grandchildren Alexis, Xavier and Zayden; granddaughter-in-law Kristi Cormier; a special friend Sarah Johnson (Erb); and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Joe enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1947 and was a veteran of the Korean War, where he fought in the battle of Chosin Reservoir. Joe was also a veteran of the Vietnam War and spent much of his military career in Special Forces. In 1957 he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he met the love of his life, Bessie Lee. They were married September 7, 1957. Together they moved many times and had plenty of adventures while Joe finished his career in the Army, and finally retired in 1970 as a command sergeant major.

For almost 20 years Joe and his wife lived in Tooele, Utah and during this time he became a deacon in the Catholic Church. He applied for the permanent diaconate program for the Diocese of Salt Lake City in 1994, and was ordained on November 30, 1997 by Bishop George H. Niederauer at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. He served at Saint Francis Xavier Parish, Kearns from January 1, 1998 until August 31, 2000; he served at Saint Marguerite Parish, Tooele from September 2000 until his retirement in September 2008.

Later in life Joe moved to Conowingo, Maryland, where he resided for the last several years.

Joe was always a valuable and vibrant member of every community he lived in. He loved to help people; he was always there for everyone who needed advice, support or just to be heard. He was a dedicated and an extremely active lifelong supporter of the Catholic Church. Joe was a passionate reader, RV traveler, sports fan and loved westerns. He loved his family and was loved back.

A funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr. Ken Vialpando and Fr. Rafael Murillo on August 4, 2022, at St. Marguerite Catholic Church. Deacon Cormier was interred at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery on August 5, 2022.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children Hospital or Smile Train charity, two of Joe’s favorite charities.