Spencer – Father Edward, OCSO, a Trappist monk of St. Joseph's Abbey, 167 North Spencer Road, Spencer, died peacefully on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 in the abbey's infirmary surrounded by his family and his monastic brothers. He is survived by his devoted sisters and brother, Eleanor Misci of Peabody, Nora Moccia of Lynnfield, Vincent (Jim) Steriti of Nahant, Rose Marie Maloney and her husband, William, of Harwich, his many nieces and nephews, and his brothers at the monastery. He is predeceased by his parents, Albert and Theresa (DiGianni) Steriti and his brother, Angelo Steriti. Born in 1930 in Revere, Massachusetts, Edward Joseph Steriti attended Revere High School and Boston University, where he was enrolled in a program of pre-law studies. After some time as a store clerk, Father Edward entered the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor at Immaculate Conception Monastery in Troy, New York, but stayed only a short time, subsequently entering the Trappist community at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer in 1951, where he took the name Brother Bonaventure. Eventually reverting to his baptismal name, Father Edward pronounced his solemn vows at the abbey in 1956 and was ordained a priest there in 1957. He was soon sent to help establish two of the abbey's foundations: In 1959 to Our Lady of the Angels monastery at Azul, Argentina, and in 1962 to St. Benedict's Abbey in Snowmass, Colorado. He returned definitively to St. Joseph's Abbey in 1964 whereupon he continued to serve the community faithfully throughout his monastic life, helping at Trappist Preserves and in the community kitchen. He was a dearly loved confessor, retreat master and spiritual director to the brothers and to numerous others who came to him for counsel and consolation. For many years he lived in a small cabin deep inside the abbey woodlands offering his life in prayerful solitude as a devout hermit. In a clearing there he tended a thriving vegetable garden for the monastery kitchen and for his dear friends, the poor, who were fed at The Mustard Seed, a food pantry run by the Catholic Worker in Worcester. In the evenings he fastened rosaries for the abbey's porter's lodge. In the hearts of the monastic community “Father Eddie” remains a deeply respected brother monk. With gratitude for the gift of his presence among us, the monks of St. Joseph's Abbey commend his soul to your prayers. Contributions in his memory may be made to Father Edward's favorite charity, the Catholic Medical Mission Board, 10 West 17th Street, New York, N.Y. 10011-5765.
There are no calling hours. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Abbey on Tuesday, May 6, at 2 P.M. Burial is in the abbey cemetery. J. HENRI MORIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 23 Maple Terrace, Spencer, is directing arrangements.