Archpriest John Chupeck, retired Rector of Saints Peter and Paul Church, Syracuse, NY, fell asleep in the Lord on February 10, 2021.
Father John was born on May 17, 1944 to John and Mary (Homisak) Chupeck in Simpson, PA. He is the middle of five children: two older sisters Pauline (Somple) and Dorothy (Kantor), younger brother (Archpriest Joseph), wife Ellen (Holowatch) and younger sister Irene (Govrusik).
Father John graduated from Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, PA in 1965. Metropolitan Ireney ordained him to the diaconate on December 19, 1966 and to the priesthood on December 25, 1966 at Protection of the Virgin Mary Cathedral, New York, NY. Father John was then assigned to Saint Michael’s Orthodox Church in Pueblo, CO. In 1969, he received a Bachelor of Arts from Colorado College. Later that year he was assigned to Saint Michael’s Orthodox Church in Old Forge, PA where he simultaneously served on the faculty at Saint Tikhon’s Seminary. In 1978 Father John served at Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Herkimer, NY, then transferred to Syracuse, NY.
Upon arriving in Syracuse, Father John was the associate pastor at Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church for 23 years and served at Saint Michael’s Orthodox Church as needed. Father John was appointed rector of Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Syracuse in 2001 and retired in September of 2020.
The schedule of services for Father John’s funeral is as follows:
Tuesday, February 16
3:00 PM Vesting of the Body, at the Funeral Home, Syracuse, NY
5:00 - 7:00 PM Viewing at SS. Peter and Paul Church, 401 Hamilton St., Syracuse NY
7:00 PM Service for the Burial of a Priest
Wednesday, February 17
9:00 - 10:00 AM Viewing at SS. Peter and Paul Church, Syracuse, NY
10:00 AM Divine Liturgy and Litya
Interment will take place at St. Tikhon’s Monastery, between 2:00 and 3:00 PM.
Due to the pandemic, masks and social distancing are required in the church.
Father John is survived by his two sons; Matthew and Timothy; their wives Jaclyn and Denise and grandchildren: Charles, Alexander, Andrew, and Allison. He also has six nieces and nephews and seven great nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made out to St. Andrew’s Camp Scholarship Fund and addressed to: Diocese of NY and NJ, 33 Hewitt Ave, Bronxville, NY 10708. Please designate what the donation is to be earmarked for in the “Memo” line.
May Father John’s memory be eternal!