Deacon Jose A. Fontanez, a permanent deacon on health leave, died on December 10, 2014, after a lengthy illness. He was 81 years old.

Deacon Fontanez and his wife were members of the Cathedral parish.

Deacon Fontanez was born on February 7, 1933, in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He was educated in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and was fluent in both Spanish and English. Deacon Fontanez was a carpenter by trade, and had been employed as a cabinet maker prior to retirement.

Deacon Fontanez is survived by his wife Edna Olmedo, whom he married in 1953. He is also survived by three adult children: two sons, Ronald and Jose, and a daughter, Edna. In addition Deacon Fontanez had nine grandchildren.

Deacon Fontanez was ordained a permanent deacon on October 31, 1981, by John Cardinal Krol. From November of 1981 until July of 2008, he was assigned to Incarnation of Our Lord Parish (closed in 2013). He was also given a secondary assignment as Assistant to the Moderator of the Cursillo Movement. His health began to fail in the early to mid-2000's, and in 2008, Deacon Fontanez moved to Florida. He returned to Philadelphia in approximately 2010.

His funeral will be celebrated on Monday, December 16, 2014, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, beginning with a reception of the body and a viewing at 8:30 AM, followed by the funeral liturgy at 10 AM. The principal celebrant will be the Most Reverend John J. McIntyre. Concelebrant and homilist for the Funeral Mass will be Reverend Peter J. Welsh. The Deacon of the Mass will be Deacon Felipe Cruz. Deacon Chaplains will be Deacon Epifanio DeJesus, and Deacon Jose Hernandez.

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