Obituary: Scarcello, Rev. Father Michael S.

SCARCELLO, Rev.

Father Michael S. 9/15/1927 - 8/29/2014 Father Michael S. Scarcello, 86, of Rathdrum, passed away Friday, August 29, 2014 at Generations Assisted Living and Wellness.

He was born in Twin Lakes to Ippolito “Paul” and Elizabeth (Sicilia) Scarcello on September 15, 1927, and joined sisters Hazel and Loretta.

The Scarcello families of Frank and Angelina, Antonio and Josephine, Giuseppe and Ruby residing nearby helped provide him with a rich Italian culture.

He attended the Ramsey one-room school and graduated from Rathdrum High School in 1946.

He enjoyed sports and was on the winning Rathdrum Panther’s basketball team (the picture currently displayed at Rathdrum’s Steins Market).

Fr.

Mike received the sacraments of Baptism, Confession, Holy Communion, and Confirmation at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Rathdrum.

He entered St. Edward Seminary in Kenmore, WA, and was ordained on May 10, 1956, in Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral in Spokane by Bishop Bernard J. Topel for the Diocese of Boise, which was being run by an administrator after Bishop James J. Byrne was installed as Archbishop of Dubuque, Iowa, two days earlier.

Fr.

Mike said his first Mass May 27, 1956 at St. Stanislaus Kostka, Rathdrum.

Following a temporary assignment to St. John Cathedral in Boise (1956), he served as associate pastor at Holy Rosary, Idaho Falls (1956-62).

He was pastor at St. Charles, Salmon, and its missions and chapels (1962-70); at St. Catherine’s, Priest River, and St Blanche’s, Priest Lake (1970-1980); and at St. Stanislaus Kostka, Rathdrum, and St. Joseph’s, Spirit Lake (1980-1992).

From 1992-98, he served as Pastoral Care supervisor for St. Stanislaus and St. Joseph’s, before transitioning into retirement in July 1, 1998.

He felt that one of his greatest achievements was to direct the building of the Treinen Parish hall adjacent to St. Stanislaus.

Even when donations were slow he could find the money magically and keep the building momentum going.

Fr.

Mike was a parish priest for more than 50 years and it would be easy to understate the countless lives he has touched and those who have touched his life.

Whether you were a parishioner, cousin, neighbor or an old classmate he would surprise you to always remember your name and pick up the conversation where your last conversation ended.

Along with his vocation as a Priest he also followed in his parent’s footsteps and was a steward of the land and cattle on his ranch.

Summers you could find him cutting, baling and hauling hay.

Winters you could find him tending his cattle on stormy winter nights only to see him later catching a high school basketball game.

He prided himself on being an Idaho cattleman and the Priest River parishioners nicknamed him their “Cowboy Priest”.

Fr.

Mike was preceded in death by: Hazel (Roman) Brunner, Theresa Brunner, Albert Brunner, Jerome Brunner, Roman M. Brunner-Jolley: and Loretta (Peter J) Niland, Laurence (Foucher) Niland, and Joseph M. Niland.

Fr.

Mike’s living nephews and nieces: Tom (Sally) Brunner, Suzanne Brunner, Francis (Connie) Brunner, Michael Brunner, Anita (Steve) Carlson, Geoffrey (Sue) Brunner; Peter Niland, Paula Maria Niland, Patricia Niland, Michael Niland, Gerald (Conny) Niland, Stephen Niland; and their families.

Thank you to Generations staff for the loving care given to Father Mike in his last years.

He was one of God’s greatest treasures!

Viewing will be 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. with Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Friday, September 5, 2014; and Mass of Christian Burial Saturday at 10 a.m. all at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church.

Burial will be in Pinegrove Cemetery, Rathdrum, ID.

Please visit Father Mike’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com YATES FUNERAL HOME, Coeur d’Alene, ID