Father Joseph W. Hickey

Father Joseph W. Hickey, a former pastor of St. Francis Xavier parish, the Bronx, and St. Mary’s parish, Wappingers Falls, died on Good Friday, April 18. He was 83.

Cardinal Dolan was principal celebrant at the April 23 Funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Wappingers Falls.

The homilist was Father Robert J. Robbins, pastor of Our Saviour parish, St. Stephen/Our Lady of the Scapular parish and the Chapel of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, all in Manhattan.

“His death on Good Friday gives us a keen insight into how he lived his life,” Father Robbins said. “Joe had a keen understanding of the presence of the cross in our lives. No matter the good times, he always knew that the not-so-good times were hiding in the wings.”

When Father Robbins was ordained a transitional deacon in 1973, Father Hickey served as his deacon supervisor. Father Robbins said “an unflinching respect and love for the priesthood” was among the most profound things Father Hickey taught him the year before Father Robbins was ordained a priest.

“He had the softest of hearts for anyone who was ill, or homebound or hospitalized,” Father Robbins said. “He would spend many hours going to those whom he called ‘my people.’ And so it was until he could no longer get around or drive his car, whatever his assignment was, and even into his retirement.”

Before his early retirement at age 70 in 2000, Father Hickey had been parochial vicar of Transfiguration parish in Tarrytown for two years.

He was pastor of St. Francis Xavier, the Bronx, 1992-1998, when he resigned for health reasons, and of St. Mary’s, Wappingers Falls, 1983-1992, where he had been administrator since 1977.

He served as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart, Hartsdale, 1972-1977; St. Joseph’s, New Paltz, 1959-1972; St. Agnes, Manhattan, 1957-1959; St. Columba’s, Chester, 1956-1957, and St. Aloysius, Livingston Manor, summer 1956.

Born in Tarrytown, he attended St. Teresa’s School in Sleepy Hollow, Cardinal Hayes High School, the Bronx, and Cathedral College, Queens, before entering St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, where he earned a bachelor’s degree.

He was ordained by Cardinal Spellman in 1956.

Survivors include a sister, Rita Cullo. Burial was at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Wappingers Falls.