Father Jeddie Brooks, Jr

Springfield- Father Jeddie P. Brooks, Jr, 63, died Tuesday February 4, 2014 at home.

A native of Adams, Father Brooks was the son of Lenore (Harrington) Brooks and the late Jeddie P. Brooks Sr. He graduated from Adams Memorial High School and studied at Don Bosco College, Newton, N.J.; St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Conn.; and Niagara University, Niagara, N.Y. He completed his seminary studies at Mount St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., and was ordained to the priesthood on June 25, 1977 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Adams by then Springfield Coadjutor Bishop Joseph F. Maguire.

Father Brooks first served as parochial vicar at the former Our Lady of Hope Parish in Springfield and then at St. Mary Parish in Longmeadow. In 1994, he was appointed pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Monson, serving there until his retirement, due to health reasons, in 2013. In 2003, he was named administrator of St. Christopher Parish in Brimfield, and also remained in that position until his retirement. At the diocesan level, Father Brooks served as youth activities coordinator in the second district of the Greater Springfield Deanery.

He was a fourth degree knight and a former chaplain of three Knights of Columbus councils, a regional director of the Order of Alhambra, a knight of the Holy Sepulcher, member of the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission Diocese of Springfield, Chaplin of Springfield third Order Carmelites and past president of the Monson Rotary Club.

During his pastorate at St. Patrick’s in Monson, he oversaw many repairs and improvements to the church and its cemetery. Most recently, he oversaw interior renovations and repainting which were completed in the fall of 2012. While Father Jeddie was a resident of Monson he was an active and cherished member of the community.

Father Brooks leaves his mother Mrs. Lenore R. Brooks of Pittsfield; a sister Cathrine Sanginetti and her husband Michael of Pittsfield; a nephew, Nicholas Sanginetti; a niece, Carly Sanginetti; longtime friends, Fred Fredette and Reverend Ronald Wamsher.

Father Brooks will lie in state for public viewing in St. Patrick's Church 22 Green St. Monson, Tuesday, February 11, 2014 from 10am-6pm with a vigil service and calling hours from 6-9pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Wednesday February 12, 2014 in St. Patrick's with burial to follow at Bethany Cemetery in Monson. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the St. Patrick's Restoration Fund PO Box 473 Monson, MA 01057.

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