Father McGovern Victim of Long Illness.
Solemn requiem high mass for Rev. Father Israel J. McGovern, 64, who established the Catholic Church of the Assumption, Bellevue, 31 years ago, will be held in the Assumption Church Monday morning at 10 o'clock. Bishop Hugh C. Boyle of the Pittsburgh diocese will impart the final blessing. Father McGovern, who saw his small church's congregation grow to a membership of 850 families, died yesterday in St. John's Hospital after an illness of several years. Burial will be in St. Mary's cemetery, Lawrenceville.
Father McGovern was born in Carnegie and attended St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe. He was ordained by the late Bishop Richard Phelan, June 26, 1897. After serving as assistant pastor of St. Mary's Church, Forty-sixth street, he was transferred to Bellevue. Under his direction a new church was erected three years ago. The old building unit of a new church at 35 North Sprague street was made into a parish school. He leaves a brother, Charles McGovern, of Davenport, Ia.
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
(Nov. 17, 1934), p. 20
