Brother Paschal Steen

A wake service is planned for Monday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. in St. Anthony’s Chapel, St. Paul Friary, Garrison. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. in the chapel, followed by interment in the Friars’ cemetery.

Brother Paschal was born on Sept. 13, 1923, in New York City. He attended St. Francis de Sales Elementary School in NYC and high school at Murray Hill Trade School, NYC, majoring in architecture, drafting and carpentry. He entered the United States Navy during World War II in June 1943 and worked as a carpenter repairing landing crafts until his discharge in July 1946. He attained the the rank of seaman first class. His places of service were Newport, Rhode Island; Great Lake Seaman’s School; Norfolk, Virginia; USS Mount Vernon, Le Havre, France; and Washington, D.C.

After the Navy, he thought about the religious life and came to Graymoor in 1952. In 1953 he received his habit and was professed at St. Joseph’s Friary, Saranac Lake. Brother Paschal remained at St. Joseph’s, where he was responsible for the overall maintenance of the grounds and buildings, the furnaces and the electrical system. During his time there he oversaw four major construction developments at St. Joseph’s. In 1987 Brother Paschal received a surprise honor at St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation Center. The newly constructed visitors building at St. Joseph’s was named after him, the “Paschal Family Building.”

Brother Paschal retired and in 2014 took up residence at Uihlein Nursing Center, Lake Placid. On Sept. 13 he celebrated his 96th birthday. He was the last surviving Tertiary member of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement.

Brother Paschal was the son of the late Arthur and Florence Steen, both of New York City. He was predeceased by his sister, Marie Bradshaw.