Fr. Charles S. Fontana“He always asked about how things were going at the seminary and he never forgot the important steps on my journey toward the diaconate and the priesthood,” said Deacon Amore of Fr. Fontana, who died peacefully on Sept. 23 at the age of 71.
Deacon Amore, who studies at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, said Fr. Fontana was a “wonderful role model of a pastor who cared deeply for his people. He loved to reminisce about his time spent in the seminary.”
He said Fr. Fontana loved his Italian heritage, as well as a good meal at his favorite local restaurant, Vince’s, and “spending quality time with friends.”
Deacon Amore remembers Fr. Fontana’s homilies never being very long, “but his words were always well-spoken and profound.”
The future Fr. Fontana was born in Detroit on June 17, 1943, to Luigi and Anita Fontana. Fr. Fontana received his undergraduate degree from Sacred Heart Seminary in 1965 and his M.Div. from St. John’s Provincial Seminary in 1981.
Fr. Fontana also studied at Wayne State University and University of Detroit; he did some additional post-theology graduate work at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
On June 7, 1969, he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Fr. Fontana served at many parishes around the Metro Detroit area. These include serving as associate pastor at St. Suzanne/Our Lady Gate of Heaven Parish, Detroit (1969-76), St. Mary Parish, Wayne (1976-77), and St. Clement Parish, Dearborn (1977-78). He served as temporary administrator of St. Andrew Parish in Rochester in 1977, then as pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Carleton, from 1977-85.
He served as vicar of Old Monroe Vicariate from 1982-85 and was a member of the archdiocesan College of Consultors from 1983-84.
Fr. Fontana served as pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Southgate, from 1985-88; St. Timothy Parish, Trenton, from 1988-2006; and as associate pastor of St. Paul of Tarsus Parish, Clinton Township, from 2006-09.
In 2009, he returned to St. Clement Parish to serve as their pastor, a position he held until February 2014.
Sean Calvin, today associate director of ministerial certification with the Archdiocese of Detroit’s department of evangelization, catechesis and schools, had worked for Fr. Fontana while he was pastor of St. Timothy.
“Fr. Fontana has always had a big impact on my life,” Calvin said. “He was always someone who you could call upon just to talk. His loving concern for me and my family was always very appreciated.”
Calvin said Fr. Fontana was a “huge support for me in my discernment into pastoral ministry” and to the very end of his life “had a love for his ministry as a pastor,” to the extent of wanting to make sure everything was in order at St. Clement just two days before he died.
“I will greatly miss the opportunities to visit with him as well as take him out to dinner,” Calvin said.
Bernadette Fraga, parish secretary at St. Clement, said Fr. Fontana was “very neat and simple. He didn’t like to accumulate ‘things.’”
Fraga said Fr. Fontana was kind, “but wise” as well; “no one was going to take advantage of his generosity.”
“He was a man of his word,” said Fraga. “Very few words sometimes, but to the point and very profound. His homilies would always leave you with something to think about. We will miss him dearly.”
St. Clement parishioner Rosemary Fullmer said often Fr. Fontana would answer the parish phone after office hours and weekends.
“One of the spiritual care chaplains at Oakwood Hospital told me she could call Fr. Fontana anytime for an anointing in any emergency,” said Fullmer. “He certainly was a good and caring shepherd.”
In the past two years of Fr. Fontana’s declining health, he never complained, remembers Fullmer.
“His standard response to anyone was, ‘I’m quite well, thank you,’” she said.
A funeral Mass took place Sept. 30 at St. Clement Parish, Dearborn. Interment is at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 17100 Van Dyke Ave., Detroit, MI, 48234.
Fr. Fontana was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his sister, Linda (Craig) Fontana-Smith, and many cousins. Condolences may be sent to St. Clement Parish, c/o Bernadette, 5275 Kenilworth St., Dearborn, MI, 48126.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this obituary incorrectly listed some of Fr. Fontana's parish assignments.
