A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Aug. 21 in St. Ann Church, Browns Mills, for Deacon Frank Sherpensky who died Aug. 16. He was 83.

Born in Bridgeton, Deacon Sherpensky was educated in the elementary and high schools of Shenandoah, Pa., and graduated from J.W. Cooper High School in 1949. His first employment after high school was as an apprentice electrician. A year later, he was driving trucks for a coal mining company in Shenandoah.

In 1954, Deacon Sherpensky moved his wife and children to Philadelphia where he worked as a building maintenance supervisor. Since then he held several jobs in maintenance and construction in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He and his family moved to Browns Mills in 1975 and joined St. Ann Parish.

Deacon Sherpensky was ordained a permanent deacon for the Trenton Diocese May 13, 1978 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop George W. Ahr. Deacon Sherpensky was in the first class of deacons to be ordained for the diocese. In St. Ann Parish, he was active as the spiritual director for the Holy Name Society, Altar-Rosary society and Confirmation catechist and coordinator in addition to his duties of assisting at Mass and presiding over sacraments. In retirement, he served the parish as a volunteer office assistant.

Deacon Sherpensky was predeceased by his wife, Joan Eckley Sherpensky, and a daughter, Sister of St. Joseph Judith Sherpensky. He is survived by three sons, David, Thomas and Gregory; six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Burial was in Shenandoah, Pa.