Obituary of Father Anthony M. Gaydos, O.S.M. by Friar Servants of Mary – USA Province
Anthony M. Gaydos, O.S.M., a solemn professed friar and priest of the Order of Friar Servants of Mary, USA Province, died Friday, July 18, 2014, at Mary Queen and Mother Center, Affton, MO. He was ninety-three years of age and a priest for sixty-six years. He was born April 27, 1921 in Weirton, West VA, the son of the late Emery and Anna (Pillar) Gaydos. He is the brother of the late Sr. Cecilia Gaydos, O.S.M., Emery (Sylvia), the late Martha (John) Merryman, Bernard, Timothy (Marian), and the uncle of several nephews & nieces.
Fr. Gaydos entered the Servite Order at Mater Dolorosa Seminary, Hillside, IL on September 15, 1934, professed solemn vows in 1946 and was ordained a priest on May 27, 1948. Fr. Gaydos was an Instructor and Assistant Master of Students, Mater Dolorosa Seminary, Hillside, IL; Instructor at St. Philip High School, Chicago, IL, Master of Postulant Brothers, Chicago, IL, Assistant Servite Vocation Director, Chicago, IL., Instructor, Servite Seminary, Hillside, IL. He also served as Pastor of St. Philip High School and Associate Pastor at Seven Holy Founders Parish, Affton, MO. He began his nearly forty year association with St. Marie du Lac, Parish, Ironton, MO, in 1973. He served at this parish in the foothills of the Ozarks first as pastor until 1991, and then as senior priest. He will be remembered for his humorous stories and serious homilies as well as for his contentious relationship with the ducks at the parish lake. For many years he kept his Servite brothers entertained with his contributions to their monthly newsletter, Inter-Servos.
He officially retired in 2012 with residence at Mother of Perpetual Help Center , St. Louis, MO. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, July 24, 2014 at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica. Interment was in the Servite plot at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois