Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., was principal celebrant and homilist of a Mass of Christian Burial July 11 in St. John Church, Lakehurst, for Father Vincent J. Donadio who died July 6 in Shore Meadows Nursing Home, Toms River. He was 71.

Born Oct. 10, 1939, in New York City, Father Donadio prepared for the priesthood in Pontifical College Josephinum, Worthington, Ohio, from 1969 to 1973. He was ordained to the priesthood May 26, 1973, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop George W. Ahr.

Parishes in the Trenton Diocese where Father Donadio had served as parochial vicar in his 38 years of priesthood include St. Thomas More, Manalapan; St. Justin, Toms River; St. Joseph, East Millstone; Holy Angels, Hamilton; St. Martha, Point Pleasant, and Visitation, Brick.

Other parishes where he was assigned that are now part of the Diocese of Metuchen were St. Ann, Raritan; St. Mary, South Amboy; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bernardsville, and St. Francis, Metuchen.

Among the priests from the diocese who came to know Father Donadio during his years of ministry were Msgr. Ralph Stansley, pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, West Trenton, and Father William Dunlap, pastor of St. Agnes Parish, Atlantic Highlands, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Highlands.

Father Dunlap and Father Donadio ministered together in Visitation Parish, Brick, in the late 1990s. Father Dunlap was pastor and Father Donadio was assigned there as parochial vicar.

 “He was a dedicated priest through the Eucharist, very intense on his presence and style in offering the Mass and always encouraged people to be more prayerful,” said Father Dunlap, who was pastor of Visitation for more than 19 years.

One memory Father Dunlap shared was when he asked Father Donadio to be a little more “relaxed” when delivering homilies. It came as quite a surprise to Father Dunlap and the parishioners the following weekend when Father Donadio, at homily time, carried a portable microphone and walked up and down the church’s 100-foot aisles as he spoke.

“He got very animated,” Father Dunlap said, “and children just enjoyed it.”

Father Dunlap described Father Donadio as being a “keenly intellectually curious” kind of individual, who excelled in trivia and was always well versed in statements and decrees that were released by the diocese as well as the Vatican.

 Besides his assignments in the Diocese of Trenton, Father Donadio also served as a Catholic chaplain for Civil Air Patrol as well as at the US Veterans Association Medical Centers in Boston and Bay Pines, Fla. He also pursued studies in the University of Notre Dame, South Bend., Ind.

Father Donadio moved to Manchester 11 years ago and retired from active ministry in 2009.

Father Donadio was the son of the late Vincent P. and Martha Donadio. He is survived by a sister, Jeanne Donadio of Manchester, and a niece, Lori Warnke of Manchester.

Burial was in St. Joseph Cemetery, Toms River.

Memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society, 1 Humane Way, Forked River, NJ 08731.