Fr. John M. Crothers was the rector at St. John's church from 1978 until his retirement in 1999. The following obituary is from the Church of St. Uriel the Archangel in Sea Girt, NJ.
Fr. John-Michael Crothers, SSC, 82, of Toms River, NJ, entered into the larger life in Christ on December 13, 2020. Fr. John-Michael received the Viaticum and the Last Rites on Saturday, December 12, 2020. His last act as a priest was to give his priestly blessing to Mr. Peter Cavagnaro and Fr. Griffin. Fr. John-Michael celebrated his last Mass on September 27, 2020. He was completely devoted to the priestly ministry to which he was called by our Lord that just hours before his entering into the larger life, he was able view from his home online, the Sunday Mass. Fr. John-Michael was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. He graduated from Concordia University, Montreal with a BA degree; received his Master’s in Divinity from General Theological Seminary in 1966 and his Doctorate in Ministry (D.Min.) Fr. Crothers was ordained Deacon on June 16, 1966 and to the Priesthood on December 21, 1966, by Bishop Jonathan Sherman of Long Island. He served St Thomas’ Parish, Bellerose, Long Island 1966-1967; Curate, St Paul’s, Flatbush, Brooklyn, 1968-1974, Priest Assistant Zion, Douglaston, Queens 1976-78 as well as Priest in Charge of St Alban’s, St Alban’s, Queens; Rector of St John’s, Staten Island, 1978 until his retirement in 1999. Upon his retirement, Fr. John-Michael served as Priest Associate at the Church of St. Uriel’s the Archangel in Sea Girt, NJ until the time of his death. Fr. John-Michael was a member of the Society of the Holy Cross (SSC) and the Guild of All Souls.
Fr. John-Michael was predeceased by his parents Donald and Helen Crothers. He is survived by a sister Margaret Crothers Stuart of Wolfe Island, Ontario.
A Solemn Mass of Requiem will be at 11 am on Monday, December 21, 2020 at the Church of St. Uriel the Archangel, Sea Girt, NJ. Arrangements are under the care of Orender Family Home for Funerals. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a virtual Requiem Mass will be held at 11 am on Monday, December 21st. Mass may be viewed by going to www.urielsg.org. Reservations for attending the Requiem will be required. For reservations, please call the parish office 732.449.6173. Please leave your name and telephone number when calling the parish. Your reservation will be secured only upon the verification from the parish staff personnel.
Jesu miserere, Maria ora