Gerald Langelier was remembered as a man who gave his all to the Our Lady of Mercy Church community. Photo Courtesy of the Diocese of Brooklyn
Monsignor Gerald Langelier, who died Friday night, dedicated decades of his life to Our Lady of Mercy Church in Forest Hills and was beloved by the thousands of parishioners whose lives he touched over the years, residents said this week.
Langelier was found unresponsive at the bottom of his pool at his home in Southold, Long Island, just before 5 p.m., according to police. He was 78 years old.
“He was liked and loved by everybody,” said Pia Parham, a Forest Hills resident and longtime member of Our Lady of Mercy Church. “He was always there for everybody and helped in any way he could. He was known by the people of the church and the entire neighborhood.”
Langelier had served as Our Lady of Mercy’s fifth pastor from 1984 to 2007 – which included leading the church, rectory, convent and school – and continued to be involved in the daily life of the church that was founded in 1927 and serves about 1,300 families. He was always present at Sunday Mass and continued to give his all to the churchgoers who called him one of the most caring people they had ever known.
“I lost a very good friend,” Parham said. “I know he’s in a better place, but we are going to miss him here.”
Worshipers said Langelier was especially well known for his attentiveness to those in need.
“You would go to him and say, ‘I am worried about so and so, and will you say a prayer for them?’” Parham said. “And he would say, ‘Oh yes, I will say a prayer.’ And then later he would ask about them. He always remembered.”
Dian Malm, the parish’s secretary, remembered Langelier as a “true parish priest” who was “very caring and compassionate.”
“His motto was to be grateful for everything you have,” Malm said.
A wake for Langelier was held at Glascott Funeral Home on Wednesday, July 24 from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
A wake will be held again on Thursday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Glascott Funeral Home is located at 102-03 Metropolitan Ave. in Forest Hills. The funeral home’s director, James A. Puccio, who knew Langelier, will be handling the wake.
A vigil mass will be held for the
monsignor on Thursday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Mercy, located at 70-01 Kessel St. in Forest Hills.
A mass will be held on Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Mercy.
By Anna Gustafson
