THE SCHWERTFEGER / SCHWERT FAMILY:
Johann Bernard Schwertfeger
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Johann's name was anglicized to "John Bernard Schwert" upon the family's emigration to the United States in April, 1881. Johann was, of course, an infant when he arrived in the United States. One of the few artifacts of this journey is a small pitcher (Schnabeltasse) used by Franz and Julianna to feed their infant boy. The family settled in Buffalo, New York. There, Johann attended Saint Boniface School and evening public school. In September, 1906, he entered the Saint Josephite Seminary in Baltimore, received tonsure in June, 1908, and was ordained in Baltimore on June 21, 1911, by James Cardinal Gibbons. "Rev. John B. Schwert" celebrated his first solemn mass on June 25, 1911, at Saint Boniface Roman Catholic Church in Buffalo, NY.
In 1924, due both to failing health and the needs of his parents, Rev. John returned to Buffalo. There, he became a secular priest. Among the parishes of the Diocese of Buffalo in which Rev. John served as pastor or assistant pastor were: On June 27, 1936, Rev. John was appointed as chaplain at Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo, where he had living quarters and put on many miles up and down the hallways tending to the patients' spiritual needs and getting up at all hours of the night to give the "last rites" when one was dying. He also served as chaplain of Saint Mary's Maternity.
Every Wednesday and Sunday, Edward and Martha would pick Rev. John up and play cards all day. Rev. John was a very serious pinochle player (he couldn't talk or visit during the games). He liked his cigars, and Martha would fix his favorite dishes: potato pancakes with homemade applesauce and (sometimes) limburger cheese sandwiches. When Rev. John sat down, he would cover his lap with a newspaper because he had some kind of growth, which as later removed by surgery at Sisters Hospital.
Rev. John suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died on August 23, 1957, at the age of 76. Bishop Joseph A. Burke offered a Pontifical Requiem Mass at Saint Vincent de Paul Church. Rev. John is interred in Lot 250, Section D, at Mt. Calvary Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY, alongside Martha, Edward, John, and Grace Mary. Rev. John's chalice and religious items were donated and used at the Buffalo Diocesan Museum. They were later given to a young, needy priest (name not known).
Text written by Olive Mammoser, niece of Rev. John Bernard Schwert.
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Rev. John Bernard Schwert, with his car.
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Rev. John Bernard Schwert, celebrating mass at Sisters Hospital, Buffalo, NY (1950).
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Rev. John Bernard Schwert, 1953 or 1954.
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Parents of Rev. John Bernard (Schwertfeger) Schwert: |
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Grave of Rev. John Schwert, Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Lot 250, Section D, Cheektowaga, NY.
(Photo by Bernard Patz, 2000. Click on photo for enlargement, 56K) |
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Documents and Other Artifacts: |
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Schwertfamily.net is maintained by Donald P. Schwert, great great grandson of Carl and Veronica (née Modrzejewska) Schwertfeger (Schwert). We seek your assistance in helping us to develop this family history. Correspondence can be mailed to: Donald P. Schwert, 300 Broadway N #204, Fargo, ND, 58102-4720 U.S.A.
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