Father Joseph M. Mokrzycki, pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish, Avon, died Jan. 25 at age 69.

Funeral services for Father Mokrzycki include the following: on Jan. 29, his body will be received in St. Elizabeth Church, 424 Lincoln Avenue, Avon, at 3 p.m. where he will lie in state until 8 p.m. when a vigil service will be conducted.

The following day, Jan. 30, a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Victories Church, 42 Main Street, Sayreville. Burial will follow in New Calvary Cemetery, Parlin.

A memorial Mass for Father Mokrzycki will be celebrated Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Second Avenue, Long Branch. 

Father Mokrzycki was born May 26, 1940 in Sayreville. He was a 1953 graduate of Our Lady of Victories School, Sayreville, and a 1957 graduate of St. Peter High School, New Brunswick.

Father Mokrzycki was ordained a priest May 22, 1965 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop George W. Ahr.

Following his ordination, Father Mokrzycki served as assistant pastor, in St. Hedwig Parish, Trenton, from 1965 to 1966, and Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Long Branch, from 1966 to 1968. He then pursued graduate studies in Seton Hall University, South Orange, where he received a master of arts degree in American Studies in 1969. He earned a second master’s degree in history from New York University in 1972.

In 1977, he was appointed to his first pastorate of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Long Branch, where he served for 30 years until 2007, when he was named to his current assignment as pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish.

Father Mokrzycki was predeceased by his parents, Milton Joseph and Mary Jennie Rohal Mokrzycki, and a brother, Christian Mokrzycki, who was a professed Christian brother. He is survived by a sister, Mary B. Mokrzycki Holzworth of Turnersville; two nephews and two nieces.