Reverend Robert Anthony Pachana, Pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in West Orange NJ entered eternal life on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 in St. Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, NJ. He was 45 years old. Father Pachana will be waked at Armitage-Wiggins Funeral Home 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, on Saturday, March 7, 2015 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The wake will continue at St. Joseph’s Church, 44 Benvenue Ave., West Orange, N.J. on Sunday, March 8, 2015 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. At 7:30 p.m. there will be a Vigil Mass. On Monday, March 9, 2015, the wake will continue from 8:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. The Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Church. Following the Funeral Mass, Father Pachana will be laid to rest in Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum, North Arlington, NJ. Arrangements are by Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home 596 Belgrove Drive Kearny, NJ. www.armitagewiggins.com.
Born and raised in the Ironbound Section of Newark, NJ, Father Pachana attended St. Casimir’s Grammar School and East Side High School in Newark, NJ. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Kean University in Union, NJ. He worked as a florist for Lees Florist in Kearny, before entering Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University and was ordained a priest for service to the Archdiocese of Newark in 1998. Father Pachana was initially assigned to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Bayonne, NJ as Parochial Vicar, a post he held for over 16 years. On August 1, 2014, Father Pachana was appointed Pastor of St. Joseph’s Church by Archbishop John J. Myers.
Father Pachana is survived by his beloved mother, Elizabeth, predeceased by his father, Charles. He is also survived by his loving brother Kenneth, and loving sister, Debra Golda, her husband, Richard; his nephew, Thomas Golda and his wife Jennifer; his niece Dr. Allison Golda and his great-niece Brynn Golda. He is also survived by his Aunts, Evelyn Pachana, Joan Strich, her husband Robert, and Jean Hughes as well as many cousins and beloved friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider donations to St. Casimir’s Church 164 Nichols Street, Newark, NJ 07105 and/or St. Joseph’s Church 44 Benvenue Ave, West Orange, NJ 07052.