Person:Bernard Smith (7)

Msgr. Bernard Smith Aug. 10, 1906 -- March 29, 2003

Funeral services for the most senior member of the Catholic clergy of t he Diocese of Toledo, Msgr. Bernard E Smith, were Wednesday at Rosary Cath edral. Msgr. Smith died early Saturday afternoon at Rosary Care Cent er of the Motherhouse of the Sylvania Sisters of St. Francis where he h ad resided only a few days.

Monsignor was the oldest in diocesan priests' seniority, just weeks sho rt of his 70th anniversary of priestly ordination, which was June 10, 193 3. At 96, he was also the oldest in age of all Toledo priests.

Monsignor, a native of St. Joseph Parish, Fremont, was the only son of Edw ard J and Laura M Smith. After his father's death when he was 11 years ol d, Monsignor was forced to become the head of the house. His sister and on ly sibling, Mrs. Ralph Nighswander Niswander, died several years ago. Foll owing 1927 graduation from St. Joseph College in Grand Rapids MI, he ente red studies at St. Gregory Seminary in Cincinnati. Four years of theologic al studies followed at St. Mary's Seminary, Norwood OH, graduating in Ju ne 1933, when the Most Rev. Karl J Alter ordained him at Rosary Cathedr al in Toledo.

Monsignor served Rosary Cathedral from October 1934 until his retireme nt in late June 1976. Monsignor left as Cathedral pastor/rector in retirem ent.

In 1964, he was named administrator of the parish. He was named past or in 1966, a position he held until his 1976 retirement. Monsignor then s erved as chaplain to the Sisters of Notre Dame at the Toledo Motherhouse f or 22 years. In later years, Monsignor lived in a villa on the groun ds of the Sisters of St. Francis in Tiffin.

He was elevated to Monsignor, so named as Domestic Prelate, November 196 6, by George J Rehring, then Bishop of Toledo. The following month he w as named Dean of the Toledo deanery, the most populous of the Diocese.

In 1969, then Bishop John A Donovan named Msgr. Smith as Vicar Gener al as administrative assistant to the bishop.

Early short time appointments included associate pastor roles at St. Thom as Aquinas Parish, Toledo, and St. Bernard Parish, New Washington and chap lain at St. Anthony Orphanage, Toledo.

Bishop Robert W Donnelly, Diocesan Administrator, was the main celebra nt of the funeral liturgy. Rev. Raymond Fisher, Chaplain at St. Bernadi ne Home, Fremont, and a later successor to Monsignor as Rosary Cathedral P astor/Rector was the homilist.

The Rite of Committal was Wednesday afternoon at Calvary Cemetery, Toled o.

Tributes can be made in the form of contributions to the Rev. Msgr. Berna rd E Smith Memorial Fund in care of Rosary Cathedral.

James Coyle and Son Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Originally published Thursday, April 3, 2003